The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1924-03-07
By P. G. WODEH0USE
Copyright by George H. Doran Co.
CHAPTER xv-continued.


lie swayed gracefully, conveying a
suggestion of departure without mov-
In his feet. The action was enough
for Sam. Dignity gave an expiring
gurgle, and passed away, regretted by
ali.
Don't go!" he cried.
The idea Of being alone in this In
fernal lane, without human support,
pverpowered him. Moreover, Webster
had personality. He exuded 1t. AL
ready Sam had began to cling TO him
In spirit, and rely on his support.
Don't go!"
Certainly, not, If you do not wish
II, SIR"
Webster coughed gently, to show
his appreciation of the delicate nature
Of the conversation. He was con
sumed with curiosity, and his threat
ened departure had been but a pre-
tense. a team Of horses could not
have moved Webster at that moment.
might / ask, then what 2"
There's been a misunderstanding
said Sam. AT least, there was, but
now there isn't, II you see what l
mean"
II fear 1 have not quite grasped
your meaning, SIR"
swell, I-I-played a sort of-you
might almost call it a sort of trick on
Miss Bennett. With the best motives,
Of counsel"
"Of course, sirl"
"And she's found out. / don't know
how she's found out, but she has. So
there you are"
"Of what nature would the trick be,
sir? A species Of ruse, sir-some Kind
Of innocent deception2"
swell, 1t was like this"
1t was a complicated story to tell,
and Sam, a prey to conflicting emo
tions, told it badly; but such was the
almost superhuman intelligence of
Webster, that he succeeded in grasp
ing the salient points. Indeed, he said
that II reminded him OF something Of
much the same kind in the Nosegay
Novelette,, "All for Her." where the
Hero, anxious to win the esteem OF the
lady OF his heart, had bribed a tramp
to simulate an attack upon her In a
lonely road.
"The principles the same" said
Webster.
"Wen what did he do when she
found outTt &a
"She did not find out, sir. All ended
happily, and never had the wedding
bells in the old village church rung out
a blither peal than they did at the sub
sequent union"
Sam was thoughtful.
"3ribed a tramp to attack her, did
her"
Eyes, sir. She had never thought
much Of him till that moment, sir.
Very cold and naughty she had been,
his social status being considerably in
ferior to hr Sown. But, when she
cried for help, and he dashed out from
behind a hedge, well, 1t. made all the
difference"
II wonder where / could get a good
tramp" said Sam. meditativcly.
Webster shook his head.
7 Ell really would hardly recommend
such q procedure, sir"
'No. 1t would be difficult to make q
tramp understand what you wanted"
Sam frightened.
1--WE got 1t! You pretend to attack
her. and I'll :"
81 couldn't, sir! 1 couldn't really l
should jeopardize my situation"
: -"Oh, come! Be q mani"
/, mo, sir, / fear not. There's a diff
'ierence between handing In your res
'lgnation-I was compelled to do that
only recently, owing to a few words l
Mad with the guv-nor, though subse-
quently prevailed upon to withdraw 1t
IL say there's a difference between
handing In your resignation and being
given the sack, and that's what would
happen-without a character. what's
more, and lucky if 1t didn't mean a
prison cell. No, sir; l could not on
template such a thing"
'Then I don't see that there's any.
thing to be DONE" said Sam morosely.
aOh, I shouldn't say that, SIR" said
Webster, encouraglngly. "It's simply
q matter Of finding the way. The
problem confronting us-you, ! should
say . :"
"Us," said Sam. "Most decidedly
a."
'sThank you very much, sir. I would
not have presumed. but II you say So
The problem confronting us, as l en-
visage 1t. resolves itself into this. You
have offended our Miss B. and she has
expressed a d~isincllnatson I've to see
you again. How, then. is 1t possible.
In spite OF her attitude, to recapture
her esteemT
Exactly" said Sam.
"There are several methods which
occur to n . :.
'They don't occur to mew
"Well. for example, you might res
cue her from a burning building as In
true as Steel /. . :"