The Red Cloud chief., 1879-12-04
4 SHADOW On 4 WALL.

Philip Trapirr laid a letter before him
ON his writing-tablc, aud studied the
signature carefully. II was a familiar
signature to him alrcady-his u~nclc's.
lie had read many a letter before this
signed Keith Trapicr. So much the
easier WAS his task of copying the name.
lie did so next ou the face of a bank
check, which hc filled up for the sum of
two thousand dollars, payable Ia his own
order.
\ forgery,
He id this with a white face, but
with a steady hand. His uncle was in
E"ropc, and he had been intruStcd with
the care of his property. lie WAS posi-
tiyc that there was moncy enough in
bank {" meet this check. lie needed it
fo- an emergency, but not for his own
necessities. Within a week hc You'd Ice
able Ia replace the money.
This was the emergency. \ distant
cousin, sydney Lee, had died suddenly,
leaving two daughters Ia fight the world
two girlS who would in ANY case have
appealed 10 Philip both a. his kimS-
women and as women, but who were,
moreover, young and beautiful, and one
If whom, Helen, had touched Philips
heart.
These mirlS' father had never been i
lirh man, but before his death hc had
bccnmc greatly involved. There WIS Il
mortgage on the family place which
would tall due within Il month after the
death of Mr.. Lee. His daughters had
no mclnS whatever t" meet it.
Philip WAS a poor man himself. He,
however. owned a small piece of land
which would sell for fifteen hundred
dollars: five hundred dollars he could
cantrive Ia raise. He instantly put his
place in the market and succeeded in
Finding u purchaser. But this man
could not make the payment rs soon rs
hc 4, first expected. Ii would fall sew
cal DAYS behind the time when the Lees
must either pay off the mortgage on
their home or give it up. Their cred
IInr WAS a hard man, and anxious tn
close a bargain 81 eminently advan-
ta"ruuS Ia himself. At any other time,
perhaps. the girls cnuld have borrowed
the money better. Bat never had there
b,cn such Il depression in the money
market rs now. Friend after friend Ia
whom they applied had told them that
il world be impossible Ia advance them
Sllcn Il sum II plt>'ilt-
When Farmer Giles entered Philip
Trapirr'S office and told him that he
could MOI PAY him the cash down f"r
his lots until the first of the month,
Philip felt IL though he had been dealt
a blow between the eyes. But no, those
girls should nat hc turned out. Then
he had weighed the risks. and the re.
suit had been ne had forged his uncle,
name.
DO Won dcSpiSc him? \ forgcr-a
common criminal,
will in ~cNtcnuatio.s not ~ much a,
URGE, | will simply state, the fact thai
he was then Int 2l wears of age. lie hat
ALWAYS been regarded aS a prodigy il
the family-an astonishing person, VIII,
WAS a man before he WAS a boy. Hi,
Uncle Keith had given 4 proof of hi,
confidence in him by leaving him il
charge of his property when he sale,
for Europe. This had inspired othe1
people with confidence. Philip had son,
into the real estate business, and wa
doing well. He had had 4 very indiffcr
ent education; his father had died il
his early childhood, and left his mothe
very poor. 1t had been As much rs Sh
and Philip could do 10 pay for food an,
raiment, To say nothing of books, unit
Mrs. Trapier had died, six months ago
The five hundred dollars he had on han,
now were the first bank deposit Philil
had ever owned in his life. The Ian,
had also reverted to him after his moth
er'S death through a relative of hers
He had wondered once why; he knew
now. Hitherto he had only cared {
make money for his mothers sake.
Some men invariably fancy womer
who are their seniors. Helen Lee wa
certainly FIVE years older than Philir
But she had all the charm and FRESHNESS
of an immortal beauty, and she had
strong character and a cultivated min
besides. This love is of the heart, TN
mind, the SOUL" Philip said to himself
In a word, she established an %influenc
yer him. He would gladly have gon
10 the stake for her. He sold his honor
poor wretch. for her sake.
He walked in upon her abruptly on
June afternoon, rs she sat on the piaZz
reading a novel. He could not quit
bring himself to sign his uncle's nam
to borrow his uncle's name, he Gale
it. If he only dared TO put the case (
her. But of course this could not be-
Her pure hands must not touch pitc
even in thought.
ssEFow much should a man be willin
TO DO for a friend?" he asked her sud
denly.
ssThere is no limit TO a true friend
service Helen replied, instantly.
AMY Lees voice fell in: "Yes, ther
is. Wrong-doing is the limit. Yo