The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-05-29
CHAPTER VI.
Charity Begins Far From Home, and
a Stroll In the Wildwood Follows.

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.
81 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 II had an unusually
full stomach. that's what was the mat
ter with me. | take oath now, sir,
never to eat again as long as | live.
A man who cannot govern his beastly
appetite ought to defy 1t, II nothing
else"
81 gather from that remark that you
omitted breakfast this morning"
Breakfast, sir? In Gods name, l
implore you not to refer to anything
so disgusting as stewed prunes and
bacon at a time like this. My mind
ia"
"iIow about luncheon? VIII you
Join me at twelve-thirty?"
That's quite another matter" said
MIR. Rushcroft readily. Luncheon is
an esthetic tribute to the physical in
telligence of man, If you know what I
mean. shall be delighted to join you.
"Twelve-thirty, did you say?"
1T would give me great pleasure IL
your daughter would also grace the
festal board. think IL Is too bad that
she has to go about In the gown she
wears, Mr.. Rushcroft." said Barnes.
"She's much too splendid for that. I
have a proposition I'd like to make to
you later on. 1 cannot make 1t, how
ever, without consulting Miss Thack-
cray's feelings"
my dear fellow!" beamed Rush
croft, seizing the others hand. zone
frequently reads In books about il
coming like this at first sight, but,
damme, / never dreamed that II ever
really happened. Count on me She
ought to leave the stage, the dear
child. No more fitted to 1t than an
Easter lily. Her place Is in the home,
the"
"Good Lord, am not thinking Of"
And Barnes, aghast, stopped before
blurting out the words that leaped to
htc nc 10, pox thtc te, ,
osition that may also affect your ex-
cellent companions, Bacon and Dilllng-
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.
llngford and Bacon as WELL
81 took, the liberty, old fellow" said
Rushcroft, addressing Barnes, "of ask.
ing my excellent co-workers to join us
In our repast."
"Delighted to have you with us, gen,
tlemen," said Barnes affably.
The sole topic of conversation fol
the first half hour was the mysterious
Staying Of their fellow lodgers. Mr.
Rushcroft complained bitterly of tn,
outrageous, high-handed action Of tn,
coroner and sheriff in imposing uror
him and his company the same re
strictions that had been applied L
Barnes. They were not to leave the
county until the authorities gave ths
word. Zone would have thought, t.
hear the stars indignant lamentations
that he and his party were in posi-
tion to depart when they pleased. i
would have been difficult to imagine
that he was not actually rolling IL
money instead OF being absolutely
pennilesS.
Bar1cs Lad been Immersed In his
own thoughts for some time. A slight
frown, as of reelection. darkened his
eyes Suddenly perhaps impolitely--
I.e ;tr-t-fapted Mr.. Rushcroft's flow Of
sSpisace.
SS.z5aSe ron sny objection. Mr.. Rush
crcfs : more or less personal Ques-