The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1924-02-15
CHAPTER XIII


Remarkable rs the apparition Of Mr..
Bennett appeared to his daughter, the
explanation of his presence at that mo-
ment in the office of Marlowe, Thorpe,
Prescott, WinsloW and Appleby was
simple. He had woken early that
morning, and, glancing at his watch
on the dressing table, he had suddenly
become aware Of something bright anG
yellow beside it, and had paused, trans
fixed, like Robinson CrusOe staring al
the footprint in the sand. If he hac
not been in England, he would have
said it was a patch Of sunshine. Hardl.
daring to hope, he pulled up tht
shades and looked out on the garden
1t was a superb morning. 1t was as
if some giant had uncorGed a great
bottle full of the distilled scent OF
grass, trees, flowers anN hay. Mr.
Bennett shifted luxuriantly. Gone wa!
the gloom of the past ten days, sWepi
away in a great exclamation.
Breakfast had d%eeppred his content
Henry Mortimer, softcned by the SAINT
balmy influence had been perfect,
charming. All their little difference;
had melted away in the genial warmth
And then suddenly Mr.. Bennett r 2
membcred that he had sem Billie III
to London to enlist the aid of the Law
against his old friend, and remors
gripped him. Half an hour later he
was in the train, on his way to Lon
don TO intercept her and cancel her
mission. He had arrived ~breathles.
at Sir Mallaby'S office, and the first
thing he had seen was his daughter tx
he arms Of Il young man who was s
total stranger to him. The shock tool
away his breath again just us it wa'
coming back. He advanced shakily
into the room, and supported himself
with one hand on the desk, while with
the other he piled the handkerchief or
his superheated face.
Billie WAS the !irst To speak.
why, father" she said, Il didn't
expect YOU
AS an explanation Of her behavior
this might. nc doubt, have been con
Sidered sufficient, but rs an excuse fol
it Mr.. Bennett thought it inadequate.
He tried to convey Il fatlIerly reproOi
by putting like II seal after a long diYe
in search Of fish.
This is Sam" proceeded Billie.
Sam Marlowe."
Mr.. Bennett became aware that the
young man was m"ying toward him
with outstretched hand. 1t took a lot
to discomfort Sam, and he was the
calmeSt person present. He gave evi-
dence of this in Il neat speech. He
did not in so many words congratulate
MIR. Bennett on the piece Of luck which
had befallen him. but he tried to make
him understand by his that he
was distinctly TO be envied as the
prospective father-in-law of such a one
as himself.
MIR. Bennett stared In q frozen sort
of way at the hand. He had placed
Sam by now. He knew that Sir Nal
laby had a son. This, presumably, was
he. But the discovery did not dimin-
ish his INDICATION.
II am delighted 10 meet you, Mr..
Bennett" said Sam. you could not
have come ut a more fortunate mo-
ment. You see for yourself how
things are. There Is no need for a
lnnu INFLAMMATION Vn, -, So
n daughter, Mr.. Bennett. and you have
found q son."
And he would like TO see the man,
thought Sam. who could have put II
more ~cleverly and pleasantly and tact.
fully than that.
What are you talking abOut?" said
MIR. Bennett, recovering his breath. II
haven't got n SON"
II will be a son TO you! | will be
the prop of your declining We, g. :"
What the devil do you mean. my
declining years?" demanded Mr.. Ben
nett with asperity.
He means when they do decline.
father. dear" said Billie.
"Of course, Of course" said Sam.
when they do decline. Not till then.
of course! l wouldn't dream Of II.
But. once they do decline. count on
me! And | should like to say for my
part" he went on handsomely. what
an honor I think II. 70 become the
son-in-law of q man like Mr.. Bennett.
Benactt OF New York !" he added spa
~ciously. cot so much because he knew
what he meant, for he would have been
the first TO admit that he did not. bu.
because II sounded well.
CTO BE C~ONTINUED)