The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-06-26
CHAPTER VI.

Charity Begins Far From Home, and
Z Stroll IN the Wildwood Follows.
Mr.. Rushcroft was furious when he
arose at eleven o'clock on the morning
after the double murder, having slept
like a top through all OF the commo-
ton. He doomed all over the place,
vocal castigations falling right and
left on the guilty and the innocent
without distinction.
II don't see how you managed to
sleep through IT," Barnes broke In.
"You must have an unusually clear
conscience, Mr.. Rushcroft."
II haven't any conscience at all, SIR"
roared the star. " had an unusually
full stomach. that's what was the mat
ter with me. I take oath now, sir,
never to eat again as long as I live.
A man who cannot govern his beastly
appetite ought to defy 1t, IL nothing
else"
II gather from that remark that you
omitted breakfast this morning"
breakfast, sir7 In Gods name, !
implore you not to refer to anything
SO disgusting as stewed prunes and
bacon at a time like this. Ny mind
is"
"How about luncheon7 Will you
join me at twelve-thirtyY
That's quite another matter" said
MI. Rushcroft readily. Luncheon is
an esthetic tribute to the physical in
telligence Of man, II you know what I
mean. ! shall be delighted to Join you.
'Twelve-thirty, did you say9"
1T would give me great pleasure II
your daughter would also grace the
festal board. I think it is too bad that
she has to 60 about In the gown she
wears, MI. Rushcroft," said Barnes.
"She's much too splendid for that. I
have a proposition I'd like to make to
you later on. I cannot make 1t, how
ever, without consulting Miss Thack-
crny's feelings"
my dear fellowl" beamed Rush.
croft, seizing the others hand. zone
frequently reads In books about it
coming like this, at first sight, but,
damme, I never dreamed that it ever
really happened. Count on mel She
ought to leave the stage, the dear
child. No more fitted to 1t than an
Easter lily. Her place IL In the home,
the"
"Good Lord, I am not thinking Of"
And Barnes, aghast, stopped before
hurting out the words that leaped to
his lips. II mean to say this is q prop
osition that may also affect your Z
cellent companions, Bacon and Dilling-
ford, as well as yourself"
At twelve-thirty sharp Barnes came
down from his room freshly shaved
and brushed, to find not only Mr.. Rush
croft and Miss Thackeray awaiting
him In the Office, but the Messrs. Dill
nngford and Bacon as we'll.
II took the liberty, old fellow" said
Rushcroft, addressing Barnes, "of ask
Ing my excellent co-workers to join US
in repast."
Delighted to have you with US, gen.
tlemen," said Barnes affably.
The sole topic of conversation for
the first half hour was the mysterious
staying Of their fellow dodgers. Mr.
Rushcroft complained bitterly Of the
outrageous, high-handed action Of the
coroner and sheriff in imposing upon
him and his company the same re,
strictions that had been applied to
Barnes. They not. to leave the
county until the authorities gave the
word. One would have thought, to
hear the stars Indignant lamentations
that he and his party were in a posi-.
ton to depart when they pleased. II
would have been difficult to imagine
that he was not actually rolling il
money instead Of being absolutely
penniless.
Barnes had been immersed In his
" thoughts for some time. A slight
frown, as Of reflection, darkened his
eyes. Suddenly-perhaps impolitely-
he interrupted MI. Rushcroft's flow Of
.eloquence.
"Have you any objection, Mr.. Rush
croft, to q more OF less personal Ques
tion concerning your own private-er-
misfortunes1" he asked, leaning for
ward.
For a moment one could have heard
4 pin drop. MI. Rushcrot evidently
held his breath. There conld DO NJ
mistake about that.
It's rather delicate, but would yoI
mind telling me Just how much you
were stuck up Tor BY the-erxwas II
q writ Of attachment
1T was" said the star. "A VII,
Of inQuisition, you might as well sub
stitute. The act OF q polluted, impe
cunious, parsimonious-what shall j
sayf Well, ! will be as simple az DOS
sible-hotel keeper. Ninety-seven dol
lars and forty cents. For that pitiful
amount he subjected me to-"
We'll, that isn't SO BAD said
Barnes, vastly relieved. He was GOV
ertly watching Miss Thackeray's half
averted face as he ventured upon the
proposition he had decided to put Be
fore them. Il am prepared and viii
ling to advance this amount. Mr.. Rush,