The Red Cloud chief., 1884-10-10

ment. That = comfort.
another impediment would have
upset YOU rather.
Il couldn't have pat up with that"
Mr.. fitzwalker Tookey looked very
grave and high-mindcd as he made the
assertion. 'But there's nothing of that
kind. It's all open sailing. Now. what
are we 10 live upon. iIst for i begin
ning?'
"fou have lean out there"
Not as things are at present. / am
sorry 10 say. To tell the truth. nv
third share of the old Stick-in-the-MuI
is gone. / had to raise money when il
wa, desirable that | should come with
you.'
Not on my account"
And then l Id owe something. At
any rate, it's all gone now. I should
find myself stranded at Kimberley with
out a red cent"
What can | do"
"Well, | will explain. Poker & Hodge
will buy your shares for the sum named.
JOshus Poker, who is out there, ha- got
my third share. Poker 81 Hodge have
the money down, and when / have ar
ranged the sale, will undertake TO give
me the agency st one per cen on the
whole take for three wears certain.
Thatll be fl,OJJ a year, aud its odd if
! cant find myself again in that time
Gordon stood silent. scratching his head.
''Or II you give mo the agency on the
same terms, it would be the same thing. ]
don't care a straw for Pokar * Hodge"
Il dare say not
"But you'd find me as true as steel"
what little good | did al the Fields
did by looking after my own bust
ness
Then what do You PROPOSE Let
Poker d Hodge have them. and ] shall
bless Won for ever" To this mild ap-
peal Mr.. ToOkcy had been brought by
the manncr in which John Gordon had
scratched his head. Il think YOU are
bound to DO it, YOU know" TO this he
was brought by The subsequent look
which appeared in John Gorion's eyes.
Il think not
'.Mcn will say So"
81 don't ca.e 4 straw what men say,
or women"
and YOU to come back in the same
ship with me and my wife. You
couldn't do il. The Fields wouldn't
receive you.' Gordon bethought him
self whether this imagined rejection
might not arise rather from the char
actc of his trascling companions. I'd
bring back the mother of three little
saintcd babes, and her to walk in upon
every shilling Of property which had
belonged TO their father. You never
could hold up your head in Kimberly
again
II should have To stand abashed be-
fore your viriue?'
..Ics, YOU would. | should be known
to have come back with my poor re-
pcntant wife, the mother OF three dear
babes. And she would be known To
have returned with her misguided hus-
band. The humanity of the Fields
would not utter a word of reproval to
either of us. But, upon my word. |
should not like 10 stand in your shoes.
And how you could sit opposite to her,
and look her in the face on the journey
out, | 4 don't know
at wouid he unpleasant"
.'Dcured unpleasant. | should saw.
You remember the old Roman saying;
Never be conscious of anything within
YOUR own bosom Only think how
YOU would feel when you were swelling
it about in Kimberly. while that poor
lady won't be able to buy a pair of
boots for herself or her children. | say
nothing about myself. | didn't think
you were the man to do it didn't, iu-
deed"
Gordon did find himself novel by
the diversity of lights through which
he was made To look at the circum-
stances in question. In the first place,
there WAS the Journey back with Mr..
To0kev and his wife-companions he
had not anticipated. The lady would
probably begin by soliciting his init
macy. which on board ship he cOuld
hardly refuse. With n fellow-pasSen-
ger. whose husband has been your part
ncr. you must quarrel bitterly or he
warm friends. Upon the whole, he
thought tina: he could not travel to
South Africa with Mr.. and Mrs. Fitz-
walker Tookey. And then he under
stood what the mans tongue would do
if he were there for n month in adj
vance. The whole picture of lie, too.
nj the Fields was not made attractive
by Mr.. Jockeys description. He was
not afraid Ot the reception which might
lee accorded 10 Mrs. Tookey, but saw
that Jockey found himself able to
threaten him with violent evils, simply
because he would claim his own. Then
there shot across his brain some remi-
nisccn c of Mary Lawric, and 4 COM
pariSon between her and her life snd
the sort OF 4 life which n man must
lead under the auspices OF Mrs. Tookey.
Mary Lawrie was altogether beyond his
reach; but il would be better To hare
her Ia think Of than the other to know.
His idea of the diamond-iicldS was dis
turbcd by the promised return of ais
late partner and his wife.
And you mean To reduce me 10 this
miseryg:' asked Mr., Tookev.
Il don't care 4 straw for Your mis-
cry"
what,
Not for your picture of your misery.
| do not doubt but that when you have
been there for 4 month you will be
drunk rs often As ever. and just rs free
with Your fists when a woman comes il
your way"
Never"
"Andl donot see thatIam at all bound
toprovide for YOU and for your wife and
children. lou have seen many ups and
downs. ana will be doomed to see many
more. IS long rs you a get hold OF n
bottle OF wine
Il mean 10 take the PLEDGE do. in
deed. | mus, do it iaGuallv. because
OF my constitution: hut | shall do it,"
al ln,rt -, 81. rN,-. l.- =:
do | believe in any man who thinks 10
redeem himself after such 4 fashion. 1t
may still be possible that | shall not go
back"
Thank God"