Sunday Morning. AurosI 20, 1916
THE WINSTON-SALEM JOUKNAC
rinzn
A Puff of Brilliant Strategy
By Elsie Endicott
I flf iiiflf iiig.i"fcV9 ni ilgftere
' he river boat V.'rr
rib: i swung slowly
into the landing
Ftaao at I'ine Creek,
Ariow liailt-d her
"Got anything on
tonight. Jeff'.'" he
Velll li.
"Don't know of
anvhing." Horslev
rold him. Just then Jackson, the engi
neer, came ttp from below.
"Say," Arlow remarked, after n mo
ment's thought, "think you could run
Bonif gold up to Mullcwa?"
"Rathir a long trip hy water." Jack
son obsrrvfd. P's much shorter to
; take it by road."
'Haven't I worked long enough jni
Ike Yensen?" Allow askd. "Didn't I
send 4"ii cttprot: up by Tim Sheennn's
escort last summer and lose the lot?
Didn't Ike swoop down on the govern
ment escort parly in the spring and
help himself to the-whole domed out
fit, including ny :loo ounces?
"He's on thp warpath again. Held
ttp the Red River mail only yesterday
and got a registered dispatch crammed
with opal. GutsM I've helpit! tr keep
Yensen long piioiir)..
"I've em to get my cold to the bank
at Mullewa, and It's gung by a new
route. Vou fellow s'll have to takj it.
Name your price,"
But neither Jackson nor 'iorsl"y
was particularly c ut linsi.t i over
gold t arrying Idea. One? :u the
they had fallen foul of ik.? Yen. en, and
they were not anxSu.t t.) repeat the
experience.
Thrv knew that I'iuo Crck was full
UK doorbell rang,
fresh -expectation
as she In a i d a l.lil
step In the hall.
She listened alttn
t'vely, "So, I can't come
- in, though I'd love
to. I've i n s t
brought this for your gratimnot ner
from mine,"
A, moment later Daisy pntered, hpr
arms full of radiant pink azaleas.
"From Mrs. Seaton, gran. Isn't ft
BWPPt ?"
Old Mrs. Minter sighed. "That's the
fourth of 'hat. kind, isn't .It?" -'she ask
ed. wi.L a weary glance.
"Yep.." The girl set the-pot'-on the
already crowded table. "You're hnv
in,; a regular feast of flowers on your
birthday, gran. Just think! ;:even
hyacinths, two ferns, three puis of diif
fodiln. two of tulips, roses and carna
tions without end, and four pink aza
leas! The iioitse looks like a florist's
shop. Isn't it nice that everybody re
membpred you with flowers?".
r.
CTCAI.LY," safd Miss
Hilda, "I can't bear
to nave another
mothers', visiting
day with that mite
in the kindergar
ten" ' Her assistant fol
lowed . her eyes
across the circle of
children to where
ihe "poor mite" was investigating his
neighbor's picture handkerchief, his
lit tle face too white and his smile more
subdued than was good to see.
"Poor lamb!" Miss Alice, agreed.
"No father." either."
Miss Hilda shook her head. "Both
went In that awful train wreck." she
said. ' "Too bad one of them wasn't
spa red."
"I don't know," said Miss Alice, re
garding the ring on her third finger;
'they'd probably rather go together."
"Oh, you're incorrigible" Miss Hil
da smiled. "I wish I thought .I'd ever
feel that way about a man." She pat
ted Alice's hand lovingly, and went
l-.'VK tried patent
( f" - medicine and pills,
I1 " "ii --Jc' .1 . . .:..ii.,,t r..
llli'll i nut u in i-m,
Seaver. and -sailed
.by his compass;
but Josh, llitre she
lays, and nothing
seems to budge her.
I've kept the war
neis from her; she
don't need nothing
to upset her any more. I dunno,"
sighed Caleb Stone, "what, next."
"Well," said Joshua Greene, taking
his pipe from his lips, and drawing
closely to his old friend who sat whit
tling aimlessly. "You ain't left alone
to care for yourself, and that's one
;ood thing about, it; you've got her sis
ter to help out, and a mighty smart
one she is, too, clipper built. Where
Is she? Any chance of her hearing
mat' wbisuered Joshua cAUtiously. "I
M
-Now What Did
of his agirMs and that consequently
lie was kept constantly informed of
very ounce of gold that was on the
move.
"Tell you what," Matt said, when he
noticed their hesitation. "I'll give you
$lt'i to make the trip."
"You come with us." Horsley stipu
lated, and Arlow laughed.
"I purposely hoisted out this scheme
to keep my gold away from Yensen,"
he explained, "and if I go with you
some of his spies are cfrtatn to guess
Hint something is in the wind, and
he 11 he down on us before we've gone
1 miles I want you to make this trip
on your own. while I rid- up to Mulle
w& to be ready to take the stuff to the
bank In the morning. Is it a go?"
Hnrsley and Jackson ultimately
reckoned it was. for it would be the
best-paying trip they had ever under
taken. '
"Take your tub tip to eb"w bend,"
Mat instructed before he left. "The
water's deep enough there to let you
run up alongside the bank."
Thus it cam" about that at 11
o'clock the Wertibee, with three;
weighty boxes on board, lurned ttp
stream inline direction of Mullewa
and panted out into the night.
As soon ns.the engine was running
smoothly Jackson ame up from be-,
low.
"What's the cargo worth?" he asked,
as he went across to look at the boxes.
"Can't say." the skipper told him,
'"jut a bit more than we'll ever have."
"Ree.kort if we were like most folk
In these parts." the engineer said,
thoughtfully, "we'd make it nnr right
away." 1
Lois Purdy's Peace
"Very nice." Old Mrs. Minter sighed
again, "Dearie, I wish I coiilii havPj
a window open a trifle.- Se-ma like
I'd relish a mouthful' of fresh air. It
begins to smell kinda sickish in her?."
"Why, gran! I thought it was de
lleioiisly fragrant !" cried Daisy
. However, she. opened thu window for
a half 'moment, then v ent away, leav
ing her grandmother alone. .,
Wearily old Mrs. Minter looked
about her. The room w as full, of flow
ers, the whole House w as full of them,
for Dial matter.-. On' her seventy
ninth birthday she had received noth
ing else.
She had always liked flowers well
enough. At weddings and funerals
she considered them indispensable,
but on birlhdays surely a very few
should suffice. It was not as if she
were unaccustomed to flowers. There
always was a vas fill in the house
somew here. Why was it that her friends
had sent, nolhing else to her today?
Was it because they felt that flowers
were the only gifts possible to her?
Was it because they felt that the use
ful and thp ptitertaining were hence
forth needless and that there only re
Hatton,
across the light, pretty room to the
cupboard. "-When sh came back, her
hands full of gay-colored worsted and
gray sew ing cards, she took up-the
subject again. "The honsekeeppr must
b an idiot!" shp said. Impatiently.
"Think of putting a child of Ronnie's
age into black. It's wicked.".
"I , wish she'd come on visiting
day," said Miss Alice. "I'd like to see
her and talk to her; and I'd like to
have that pathetic baby rpp some one
he knows instead of watching the oth
ers in that heart-breaking way."
' "He seemed to know George's moth
er last time," said Miss Hilda. "Did
you notice?"
Miss Hilda went to the piano.
"They're restless today," she said;
"better have them skip."
Through the short afternoon she
"was busy on Ronnie's problem. Aside
from his pathetic little history he was
an extraordinarily lovable child. Hil
da, bent on being imparl ial, had found
the task hard since Ronnie had en
tered the kindergarten.
"I don't care," Hilda said Anally,'
like her smartness, Caleb, but some
times, I do think she's jest a little mite
too miieK so. She's different from your
wife, would go over her aead forty
times an hour, and Jo you kt.ow -but
where is she'.' Any danger of her
hearing?" ,
"No,. I told her she could have a day
off. i.avNsy, Josh! Mary's so all -fired
capable." t.'ap'alu Stone breathed like
a porpoise as if unburdened uf his se
cret, . ."H'm, sort of gits on to you, Caleb
I've seen It right along." .
"But. what should I do without her?
Sounds ungrateful somehow She sets
in Susan's place, pours my coffee, and
makes it good, too. There ain't a sin
gle thing I heed that I don't have, but.
just Susan ou hand, and I've tried ev
erything." "Y'cs. that's so, but jest, one thinB
don't Ulk about iiilis. I'd throw 'eia
Hnrsley laughed.
I'iue Creek as a community had but
slight respect for any of the command
ments, and least of all for me icnth
lu that town of excessive grred the
men who could be trusted were few.
Rumor had It that Horsley and Jack
son were the only honest men ever
seen in the place: and because of this
reputation they were always referred
o as "The Saints." The popular be
lief was lh,a.! Jhey could do no wrong.
The fact was that they had never
been really subjected to temptation.
The Werribee was maintaining a
speed approaching six miles an hour,
when something went wrong with the
engine. Jackson went below to try
and coax It hark into Its regular
stroke, but was unsuccessful.
The grinding and pounding were
deafening, and the skipper, who had
contemplated snatching a few hours'
sleep, was compelled to abandon his
Intention. 8oon bis thoughts turned
to the freight; and then a strange new
feeling gradually crept over him.
"I wonder if that gold's safe there,"
he muttered, unconsciously.
"Seems safe enough," a gruff voles
made answer from the stern.
Horsley'g form grew suddenly tense,
and his great hands gripped the wheel
hard. Slowly he turned his head, to
find himself looking Into the glistening
barrels of two revolvers.
The man that held them -was sit
ting calmly the stern rail, and
Horsley noticed there was a peculiar
stoop about his shoulders. The moon
was at the stranger's back, and con
sequently his bearded Uc wsa not
'dainlv visihla.
mained to her simple eye pleasures?
rt was as If they said to her: "You
are too old for the vanities and the
utilities, of life, but your eyesight ii
still fairly good. Y'ou can enjoy a
bright" pink rose or a gorgeous orange
slashed tulip. The more lively the
color the greater will be your enjoy
ment. Therefore we are sending' the
gavcsL ponies we cau find and the
strongest scented ones, too."
l'oor old Mrs. Minter! Every dash
of color, every wave of odor reminded
her that she waa passing on. She. had
always hated perfumes, she had al
ways avoided bright colors. Her life
had been a thing of delicate tints and
faintly lasting fragrance. She was
modest and quiet to the core, and
these Hounting colors annoyed her.
She closed her eyes. .Sfce would have
liked to have stopped breathing. Her
very soul sickened. Sb.e almost wish
ed she had never lived to see this
birthday. Seventy-nine! And all that
was left to her in the regard of her
friends was flowers! Such flowers!
Suddenly the room began to swim.
The flowers began to chase round and
round her In circles of blurred color
Two Rings and
"I'm going to send a note borne with
Ronnie that will look Just like the
others. Some one can surely come."
Alice looked dubious, but Hilda
picked up the pen and wrote determ
inedly. "Ronnie," she called across
the circle, "Come here, dear."
He came and stood obediently while
she pinned the note on his blouse.
Then he put his small hand on her
knee and said, regretfully, "Hut I
haven't any mother, you know, Miss
Hilda."
Hilda put her fingers Sgalnst his
cheeks, softly. "That's all right, lad
die," she said. "Give It to the person
you live with."
"I just wrote, 'Could you possibly
come to the kindergarten on our visit
ing day, Wednesday afternoon? Ron
nie seems so lonesome,'" she told
Miss Alice as they were getting ready
for home. "Don't you think that's all
right?" .
"I only pray she'U come," said Alice,
devoutly.
Wednesday noon the big boys, boys
Cure
out of the window." The pipe was laid
aside, Joshua scratched his head, and
with an air of finality, exclaimed:
"Jl may be rank heresy, Caleb, but It
strikes me, it's a case of too much
Mary. A sort of overdose, and Susan
needs something so offset it, a kind of
anlidote the doctors call It. H looks
to me like this: your wife has got
used to having everything smoothed
out for her. and she don't see any need
of pulling herself out."
"Hut what can I do? Mary sets as If
she was here, to Btity." .
"Of course, it's an easy berth, and
the money you pay looks good. Now,
Caleb. I think you've got to change
your course, and don't you put it off,"
warned Joshua. .
"Change?" repeated - Caleb. "I've
been afraid I'd have a permanent one."
"No stcb a thing! Cheer up, Caleb,"
exclaimed Joshua, "I ta sen it as it
"I've got the drop on yti." he went
on, "and I want Arlow 's gold. When
Ike Yensen wants a thing, he usually
gets it. My boat's tow, eg alongside;
so, while your mate's below, jus; low
er those three boxes over. v Make a
move."
The muzzles of the two revolvers
began to describe tiny circles, and
Horsley came to realize that It would
not be safe to disregard such a com
mand He lashed file wheel, and. pull
ing off the tarpaulin tleit covered th
three boxes, began to fasten a rope to
one of them.
He had the first box ready to lower
when the engineer chanced to rcme
slowly and noiselessly up the ladder
from the stokehold. What he saw
caused him to duck down into the
darkness again In an instant; but not
before he had had ample tme to take
In the full significance of that motion
less figure sitting on the step rail.
He had not forgotten Ike Yensen.
From the engine room Jackson got
the rifle he always kept close at hand.
Then, having carefully reclimhed the
ladder, he took hurried aim at Yen
sen's chest and pnlled the trigger. A
cry of anguish followed the report as
the man threw up his arms and fell
tack into the river.
Jackson sprang out aeross the neck
and cut away the boat. It swung round
in the current, and the man strug
gling in the water astern grabbed the
gunwale. After a desperate effoit he
succeeded In pulling himself in over
the bow.
"Did you hit hirh?" Horsley queried.
after a moment of silence.
"Dou't insult me!" Jackson naniien'
Offering
pink, yellow, scarlet She made a
sound and somebody came running.
The next thlug she knew she was up
stairs lying lu her bed. Her son had
curried her there. lie was staudlug
beside her. She smiled up at him.
"I'm all right, doctor." She had al
ways called him doctor since he earn:
ed his medical diploma. "I'm not
Bitk," ..she went on, joking. "I just
took a notion to lie abed. Haven't I
got a right to lie abed on my birth
day?" He laughed. "You certainly have,
dear. I guess you're all right now.
You've had a little too much excite
ment and -"
"Flowers. Dick, don't you let 'em
bring one f those red, pink, yellow
things Into this room. They go to my
head,"
He patted her hand. "Just as you
say, dear," he promised.
Old Mrs. Minter lay comfortably In
her airy room, with its faintly gray
walls and solid, i lustrous mahogany
furniture. Her birthday was drawing
to a close and sh1 was not sorry. She
believed that sheUievei wanted to see
another flower. How could people bo
from the higher grades, brought In the
chairs that were to hold - beaming
mothers. They ranged in a stark row
around the walls, and Miss Hilda,
looking at them, shttririered.
"I detest . this visiting day busi
ness," she said to Alicp. "Dozens of
fond relations, all wondering why you
don't pay more attention to Johnnie;
and the more commonplace the child,
is the longer they'll talk to you after
ward." Miss Alice, sitting small red
chairs In a circle on the floor, laughed
sympathetically.
The first children 'began to straggle
'In, 'cleaner" of face and apron than
usual, and after getting satisfactory
recognition of their existence went In
to the cloak-room. The chairs on the
circle filled up.
"'Thumbs and fingers Bay good aft
ernoon,'" Miss Hilda prompted, and
Miss Alice went to the piano.
One self-conscious parent after an
other slipped into the room and scur
ried, into a seat. Hunnle from his
place beside Miss Hilda looked up
wistfully at each newcomer. Over his
Sue?
ls.( Susan don't need salts, pills uf
waterhags, but Jest 'her will braced up.
Mary's off for the day! Now's your
time. See if you can't rouse Susan.
Go in, and say 'Well, Sue, we've got
things our way. today, and I'm going
to celebrate.' Don't ask her a tlrng.
but suy 'I. want to help you to set up
today.' Then if ll strikes her right,1
call me fu and I'll tie re, she's coit;li
ing now."
Caleb crossed the threshold Into the
bedroom with heavy feet and a heavier
heart. . He was at his wits' end. Six
mouths of Susan's inertia had lad
their effect; aud he felt, as if he had
lost his steering gear and was drift
ing. "Well, Ma, Josh is having a game
with me, and be has offered to make
you a bully glass of lemonade. Tl en
he a,r.d I are going .to hoist you into
bx bis chair aud Uraw you out iilu
Horsley. who was holding on 'o the
v. 1 1 for support, was trembling vio
lently. .
. "Guess you'd better turn in for a
while," the engineer advised. Tben he
kicked the tarpaulin over the gold and
turned toward the wheel.
The skipper stood for some time
looking absently out to where the
host showed a mere speck in the dis
tance. Then, without a word to his
mate, he walked into the tiny cabin.
Jackson leaned against the wheel,
with the river stretching far ahead
like a great ribbon of glistening sti
ver. Try as he would to avoid them,
thoughts of the gold kept coming Into
his mind Fnon he found It lpi possi
ble to think of anything else.
"Fifteen thousand dollars!". he mut
tered to himself. "Fifteen thousand
dollars!"
Then he began to conjure up strange
visions of what that sura would buy,
and as a natural consequence was
soon well on the way toward breaking
the Tenth Commandment.
Eventually he lashed the wheel and
went across to look at the boxes. He
handled them almost lovingly and
carefully tested their weiiit.
"You beauties!" he said, half aloud,
the light of Insatiable greed leaping
suddenly Into his eyes. '
The lust of gold had him In Its grip.
"Fifteen thousand, dollars!" he was
muttering. liiBanely, when a pair of
strong arms pulled him away from the
boxes. . I
"What're you doing? a hoarse voice
, demanded.
Jackson faced Horsley, but the gkip
ner's eves fell before the other vuv.
so lacking In perspicacity?
Two things she wanted and had fool
ishly hoped tJ receive ou her birthday.
Therein lay the disappointment ; she
had not received them. . it was child
ish, perhaps, to want them; it must be.
for they were nothiug old ladies are
supposed. to need Out Word from her
and she would Have them. Palsy and
Mildred, tveu her stately daughler-in-law,
would go to the nearest depart-"
metit store to grant this foolish wish
of hers, lint she did not want It grant
ed so. She did not WHUt to ask for It;
she wanted somebody to perceive It.
And nobody had! A tear started down,
her cheek.
"I'm a foolish old woman," she said
"What do I want of a Japanese" silk
kimono? I'm ashamed of myself for
desiring such a thing. As for a box
of chocolates. It would only make me
ill. Dear, dear, what notions old folks
do get. No, my friends know heller
what Is good for me than I do myself.'''
A. Japanese silk kimono and a box
of chocolates! She who had a fulness
of riches was miserable fot want of
those two foolish things. It was al
most as bad as crying for the moon.
a Heart
head Miss Hilda looked t Alice.
The row of chairs was well filled up
when the door opened again. A man
stood in the doorway, and after a
quirk survey of thp busy kindergarten
he came quietly in and"' sat down. Ron
nie gave a hauny gasp and put his
hand on Hilda's knee, "There's my
uncle," he said, his small face beam
ing. Miss Hilda, almost as happy as
he, smiled down at him.
The session over. Hilda and Alice
were surrounded by a crowd of inquir
ing mothers. From the corner of her
eye Hilda saw that Ronnie's uncle wag
slaying, and was glad. "I Just want
to talk to him about Ave minutes," she
whispered to Alice, "and see If I can't
make things brighter for Ronnie." '
She had her wish, for after the last
mother had gone Ronnie's uncle came
toward her.
"I'm Ronnie's uncle, as I suppose
you heard," he said, smiling. "Mr.
Hatton. I was glad to gPt your note.
I didn't realize. I knew Ronnie wasn't
much like me at his age, but T thought
that perhaps It was from living In the
the sun. You never saw a prettier
day."
"Where's Mary?"
"She has gone, you know, and Josh
and I are going to be muses today.
Josh is a fliat-elass nurse, lie has bad
lot o of practice."
. An apology of a smile broke over
Susan's paleface, ai ilnse words.
"Three w-hes, Ma," Caleb whispered.
"Two too many for me."
"You may come to It," groaned
Susan.
. "Not a bil of It! Sue, I've got an
Idea. You and I are going to steer out
own craft, jest as we have done for fif
ty yea rs."
"What about. Mary?" moaned Sufan.
. "I've got a plan for Mary, too. She's
off now, and I sort of enjoy being
Captain again."
S'.cj.s were heard approaching aim
the cli.nkw of if e in the lenjoaade
W ithin the cabin Hoisliy had beeu at
tcnip'ing to reckon up the vain of
the gold, and now tire same thought
flashed simut'aneai sly into both
minds The skipper voiced it first.
"Who pays us for being honest?" he
asked.
"Give it up," the o'her answered.
"That's what I thick we ought to
do with the honenty proposition. Hon
esty may be the bst policy w lien
you've got nothing else on tap; hut in
these parts It seems to be just unadnl.
terated lunacy. What's your opinion?"
"What about throwing the boxes
overboard and picking them up again
on the down trip?" Jecksnn sqggestcd
getting right to the point at the first
attempt.
"What shout the honesty policy."
"Isn't our present state of chronic
poverty a whrMe argument and a half
against it?"
Without further discussion they
both turned toward the gold, snd T'r.e
Creek had claimed them for i's own
With a length of rope they tied th
three boxes se:urely together and at
tached an smpty oil drum to serve as
a buoy.
Then they unshed the whole tl 'ns
overboard and stood there waMrng
the drum that marked the spot bob
bing up atid down In the Werrihce's
wake When It was no longer vieiiile
Horsley turned to his male.
"The devil's claimed us. Jackie,"
was all he said.
Arlow was waiting for ibem when
" Ihey-,, swung into the Mullewa Utnd
tug Stage.
"Met p dollar vou've seen Ike Yen-
2y tnos
Mildred lucked lit at the door.
"Gran!" she whispered. "Oh,- 1
thought you w err asleep. There's an
olher present come a ,xx -) eaprcXM
- just y little box. Hut It looiii, In
teresting and I thought u.a In, y .e'd
like to open it yourself. lr you i ll
bring It up,"
"Does does It look as .If It contain
ed flowers?" faltered M"S Miloer.
"Oh, no! 'It's different frmu it flow
er ho"
"lliitig it up," said Mrs. Minter.
Mildred flew down and Hew back
wllh Ihe box. She brought Ihe scis
sors and then she v i ' 1 1 1 away 'avilully
and left Mrs. Minter U enjoy uii,h,in.,
her ow n gift.
Mrs. Minter sat up In bed mid
studied the outside of the box "I toie
Aries! I don't know a soul In Aries ex
cept Uils I'tudy. tut .she wonlili.'
send me anylnlng. Why, we've s'M e,
ly spoken ir .vsejry years!. .i , ,e.
wouldn't send um anything, I . - . ei
who has?"
' Ohi Mrs. Minter puzzled over 'he
outside of the parcel delightfully. net
then she opened It. Inside the wrap
pers was a white box. She lifted the
By Annette
city "
. Miss Hilda shook, her . head. "H'i
kept In too much," she said. "Vou
have a housekeeper, haven't yon" I
think pprhaps If she. wouldn't dress
him In black and would let him play
outdoors mot he'd be happier. He
shouldn't be helped to grieve," she
said, earnpstly; "he should be kept
from It."
"A bachelor and an old maid aren't
much good at bringing tip a child, at
that," said Mr. Hatton-"n very old,
old maid. ' It's an awful responsibility.
Miss Ilurke Is really too old to be of
milch use. Would you might I -" hn
said, and stopped short.
"Might you come talk to me about
him?" said Hilda gently. She put her
hand on Ronnie's head. "Of course,
you might, soma evening. Starling
children happily Is our business." She
gave him her address In her quiet
voice and Ronnie's lawyer uncle went,
rather dazed from his first mother's
viRiting day.
So Ronnlr's uncle went to Miss Hil
da to learn how to bring his small
By Will
sounded most refieshing Joshua gave
Caleb a reassuring slap on Ihe. shoul
der and w hispire.il. "Call me, ami I'll
be on deck."
"I'll fetch your bfd-shoes, anil thai
dressing-gown woli posies on it. Mary
fUcil your hair. It's as curl as ever.
Tro'lv hair,, Sue."
"Y".. must uni'i me up, Caleb, Phi
Mat :-.ii 1 ioi;h ?ii up"" his wife
a.C'i
"Ma; win ronlUlit git a 'chill if you
sho.iM.v o;il all day," the Captain an
s,r:i'i cwlttt; In r question, "..losii,
lnT! ., i,., . Mi! t ir.i .'"
Th: s'm iner rliair was wheeled up
on th i i i ; a ! ov rlookd the sea.
Th? "jp'aln. and Joshua lifted Susan
from her mj r'ad wraps and when the
prerise angie was found where the
lighi would not be fu.' strong, Caleb
sai'i:
"New tettb the lemonade, Jssh, aaa
sen!" he yelled from the end of tb
tiny wharf "I can tell by your pray
ertul looks tha' you've been fingering
his visi'iio: eaid."
"Guess vou've just about struck
Jackson assured him. .' '
"Thought it was you he'd been wop
rying." Ma:t rejoined. "The mounted
police got him early this mornlig on
the road from Cine Creek. He was
badly wounded and died an hour ago
".laeky shot him as he swung wjf
in his boat with the gold," Horsrejj
hastened to explain. j',
Arlow laughed long snd lotM.
"Pon't get your tails down ovtr
business," he said. "Come ashore a:
a ads.
have a drink."
".Say," Arlow observed when thOH
had named their poisons up at the sa
loon. "I'm going to throw my chest lOf
this place for a week. I'm reil prou9
simply ( raw led all over Yensen wlta
my brilliant strategy.
"flown at Cine Creek, after TOul.
last night. 1 let out to the crowd w
Hogan's salror about the boxes
were tak'ng Up, knowing well th
some one was sertaln ti let Yans
t 1 W1 1 1 L . 1
mh'w ich .wan oiiii uiu me moil i
"Then, while Yer.sen was out Of thm
way dealing with you, I brought tbi
gold up by ioad When Yensen lan$4
eil, afor chanlng you out. Us materf
must have cloured with the? thred
boxes, leaving him to die r.n Ihe roadj
Heekon tliose rial agents though
th"v'il tapped something worth while1
Anyhow, they won't get amazingly rloB
i i-'t of that v.Baii-nn
"There isn't such a franMc salt
leol in this ilerned country." he Ml'
moty
cover I'tideineath ws further ay
it ty In the .shaie of tissue paper. And
loidi-rneaili tha "Well, fortveiA
iioi "!" mvaihed old Mrs. Ytnter. I
l or It was a kimono of softest crep
Ciay a mist, with while herons fly I nut
o, er it amiil a ruin of pink cherryl
I'lossoms. Tucked' Into Its folds wa4
a lou;'. flat I" ,x of chocolates and 1d
si le the l.'ox of c.ioeolateg was a card))
It lead; ' '
" Io n two persons get to be sevens
ty-nine they ought to be better frlenoa,
I ban J iu and' I have been for mma
lime. . ir sending you a pee.ee of-
feting. ..o vortiun ever gets too old;
to I n.' S' me lung pietfy for the out-i
s'de of r-.idy hint something sweeti
f ir the t.s.'l,-. to;' 'lalural sweet tooth
vanished-long g , but my dentist haa
!one si well !) ;ne that I can stiltf
'.inch nong&'l rs and enjoy tliem
. oil I lake ! .'. f granted that It's th
lame wiih you. Your affectionate eaM
eniv DOIS I'URDT." '
Old Mrs. Minter laughed so hartf
that all the family ran up to see whatj
was ih" matter.
And so her birthday ended mopf
pleasantly than it had begun, ! j
Anger.
nephew tip happily. Hilda, hsrlnf d
cMed views on the subject, Imparted
them rather fervently -Ronnie -was"
such a dear, and Mr. Hatton so opn tflh
suggestion, j
"I feel as If we'd only begun tottllt,
he said, tentatively, after the first evj
tiing And the next day Ronnie wor
a bine waist to school. m '
By March the color had begun tHj
come into Ronnie's face, his cheek,
were rounder, and his eyes brighter.;
lie laughed aloud instead of Under
his breath, and, wonder of wbnders,,
he was beginning to develop a dsddej
spirit of mischief. .
One mm long In June Miss Hlld
came Into the kindergarten and wenft
over to the low table where Allcs i
working. She sat down tipon It.
"1 hale to stop teaching," she Sal.
As Alice looked up at her In surprise
she continued. 'Tcrhaps, since wo'r
going to live so near the school, I'll
keep it up-llll Ronnie goes Into first
grade, at least. And," she looked
away, "you're not the only one vfltli
new ring." j-
I
.'.Ml
Seaton
.. . I
let her finish If." i
"tiood, ain't it?" ie asked his wlft
as she lingered over the last. dropt
" l akes Josh to turn out a good drink.'
Caleb siispccii-d (here wag a little mlt
of something si l onger than lemon la
the draught.
Whalevi't Hie cause, Susan's cur$
seemed to date from that day. First
Ihe hour ou the plu.zu. then a wheel
into I lie living loom, mid before tha
week was over she sat in her old plac
at the liiiile,. w bile Caleb's face shona
upon her like a beacon.
W hen, at' the end of a month, MarjH
arrved. she found her sister mixing
cake. She exclaimed: t
"What cured Sue?" . .
And Susan for the Tfe of her eoulf
not answer, hut Caleb came la at tb
moment, and said: j
"Maybe It was Josh's letnon4,