The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1924-03-07
Three Men and a Maid

OnE wen, never mine lOuli
manage somehow, / expect. Cling to
the upturned boat or something, l
shouldn't wonder. There's always a
way. Yes, that's the plan. When Is
the earliest you could arrange this?"
II fear such a course must be con-
sidered out Of the question, sir. 1t
really wouldn't do"
II can't see a flaw in It."
swell, in the first place, 1t would
certainly jeopafdize my situation. -"
"Oh, hang your situation! You talk
as IL you were prime minister or
something. You can easily get an
other situation. A valuable man like
you" said Sam, ingratiatingly.
mo, sir" said Webster firmly.
From boyhOod up I've always had a
regular horror OF the water. / can't
SO much as go padding without an
uneasy feeling"
The image Of Webster padding was
arresting enough to occupy Sans
thoughts for a moment. 1t was an in
spring picture, and for an instant up
lifted his spirits. Then they fell
again.
"Well. l don't see what there is to
be DONE" he said, gloomily. Its no
good making suggestions, If you have
some frivolous objection to all of
them"
my idea" said Webster, would be
something which did not involve my
w personal and active cooperation,
sir. If 1t is all the same to you, l should
prefer to limit my assistance to advice.
| am anxious to help, but l am a man
OF regular habits, which ! do not wish
to disturb. Did you ever read Foot
paths Of Fate In the Nosegay series,
sir? I've only just remembered 1t, and
1t contains the most helpful suggestion
OF the lot. There had been a misun-
d~erstanding between the heroine and
the hero-their names have slipped my
mind, though / fancy his was Cyril
and she had told him to hop 1t ;"
ITO what?"
t leave her for ever, sir. And
what do you think he did,"
INV AHc ucuCC uO Il KNOW
III kidnapped her little brother, sir,
to whom she was devoted, kept him
hidden for a bit, and then returned
him, and in her gratitude all was for
gotten and forgiven, and never . :"
II know. Never had the bells Of the
old village church :"
"Rung out a blither peal. Exactly,
sir. Well there, If you will allow me
to say so, you are, sir! You need seek
no further for n plan OF action"
Miss Bennett hasn't got a little
brother"
mo. sir. But she has a dog, and Is
greatly attached to It,"
Sam stared. From the expression on
his face 1t was evident that Webster
imagined himself to have made a sug-
gestion of exceptional intelligence. 1t
struck Sam as the silliest he had ever
heard.
you mean l ought TO steal her dogT"
Precisely. SIR"
"Bur, good heavens! Have you seen
that dogT"
The one to which I allude is a
small brown animal with a fluffy tail"
ayes, and a bark like a steam siren,
and, in addition to that, about eighty
five teeth, all sharper than raZors. /
couldn't get within ten feet Of that dog
without its lifting the roof off. and,
IL I did. 1t would chew me into small
pieces"
IL had anticipated that difficulty, sir.
In 'Footpaths Of Fate there was a
nurse who assisted the hero by drug
ging the child"
"By Jove!" said Sam, impressed.
HE rewarded her." said Webster, al
lowing his gaze to stray n~onchalantiy
over the countryside, '~liberally, very
literally"
IF you mean that you expect me to
reward you IL you drug the dog" said
Sam, don't worry. Let me bring this
thing of. and you can have all I've got,
and my cuff-links as well. Come, now,
this Is really beginning to look like
something. Speak to me more of this
matter. Where do we go from here?"
81 beg your pardon, sirT"
IT mean. what's the next step in the
scheme? Oh, Lordl" Sans face fell.
The light of hope died out Of his eyes.
Its all OIL It can't be done! How
could I possibly get into the house? I
take 1t that the little brute sleeps in
TIC house?"
'That need constitute no obstacle,
| sir; no obstacle at all. The animal
sleeps In a basket In the hall.
Perhaps you are familiar with the In
terror Of the house, sir"
II haven't been inside 1t since l was
at school. I'm Mr.. Hignett's cousin,
you know"
Indeed, slr7 I wasn't aware. Mr..
Hignett spralned his ankle this morn
ing, poor gentleman"
HAS he?" said Sam. not particular
ly interested. II used to stay with
him." he went on. during the holidays
sometimes, but I've practically forgot
ten what the place Is like inside. I