Wichita eagle., 1888-09-09

treated In weakness and misfortune. Not
one of these widely scattered employers
in thousand would have it otherwise.
But they cannot come and see to it them
selves They must trust it to the chief
to see Justice done. His capital gives
him SO many mems power; he Is ten or a
hundred in one. Here was this man, this
Antoine Hafeifnger, using this power
like despot and barbarian. Here was
an old man whom he had robbed and de-
graded, and who feared him as he feared
cold and hunger for women and little
children In a pressure OF work he had
delayed an entry; through lnfirmity OF
age he had forgotten. AS result, $lo3
of this mans money had fallen into Bren
hands. What should be done! The law
and the common morality said: 1t is Haf-
felfnger's; the course is clear. But was
the right course SO clear? Was this money
Haffelinger's, if truth were told? He
owed Gray ten times tod. His capital,
which his father and this old man had
Jointly made, and the hard times, together
gave him irresistible strength, and he
used it like merciless tyrant. This
money in his hands would be just so
much more power of harm. Had he (Bren)
the right to give it? The centerbits
and pistol properly belong to the
burglar: would he be justified in
returning them to their owner if he knew
they would be used tonight to rob, per-
haps murder, a man in his bed?
Charley had no right to the money.
Bren knew, in his heart, that Traveller
would not have touched it more than fire. J
What should he do with It, then? Was it
not plain that it had been put into his
hands to use as he should judge right?
His happiness for life, he felt sure, de-
pended upon Kate. And was not Hates,
too, at stake? He hoped he was not vain
or self sufficient; but, before heaven, he
did honestly believe he was truer fellow
than Brewer; that he would make her
happier in the long run. And this money
would help to make man of him, help
him to be himself again. And he would
not be greedy; he would give old Gray a
part.
And so it was that Bren played devils
advocate against himself. And it must be
owned that his client had no great reason
to be dispieased with the plea.
In the morning Bren went straight to
his desk. A disagreeable duty, he would
it was certainly not agreeable
when it came to the point. That was
prejudice Dren said. What right had he
to let his likes or dislikes stand in the way
Of justice? Wasn't the right course plain
enough? Yes, Bren, it was plain enough;
else why were your lips white and COM
pressed, and why did your hand shake SO,
when you wrote at the bottom of the led
ger page, on the debit side Of
Hafeltnger & Co. 5. account: "To
Cash to Balance-$827.15," and en-
tered the same on the credit side of
the cash? Bren opened the safe and took
out the package labeled, "uatfel'rs state
mcnt. Cash-$837. To-" He took his hat
and went out and paid the bill, and came
3 nay with a receipt in full and $1S3.79
in his pocket, to which 10 man on earth
could show legal title. He went back
10 the store. Ee crossed a foaming gut
ter, and folded paper eddied into the
sewer below lie sealed $50 note in an
envelope and addressed it in print to Gray
at his lodgings. He wrote note to his
sister Ellen at home, asking her to post
the enclosed letter there, and to say
nothing about it. He enclosed the whole
in larger envelope and dropped it into the
letter box with his own hands.
Bren got off early that afternoon. He
hired q horse and drove round to Quincy
street. He was almost afraid to see her;
he feared she might have changed again;
but he put on brave face. Kate met
him with the old frank smile and Brens
heart leaped. Eyes; she should like very
much" Bren had never taken her to
drive before. The day was bright, the
bay horse free Of foot. Kate was merry
and kind, Bren was happy fellow that
April afternoon. He threw care and
thought to the winds. Avid Joy thrilled
him through. When he had left her at
her door and was driving round to the
stable, it seemed like q dream Of heaven.
He wished it might have lasted forever.
There is no need to follow Bren. He
was himself again; lie was more than
himself. He was over head and ears in
passion of fondness for Kate. lie walked
and worked in sort of golden dream.
The stones were springs under his feet;
he laughed at cold and rain; there was
fire enough in his heart to light and
warm the world. One thought rang for
ever through his brain-Kate was kind,
Kate was kind He had almost for
gotten the unchanged bill; he would
not let himself think Of it. It was pleas
anter thinking what kato had spid and
looked, and planning what he should do
next.
One afternoon, going up from the store,
ho was thinking what he could do to
please her most. He thought he could
DO anything in the world for her sake,
and. unless it was to give up Kate her
self, there were few things he would not
have tried, dare say. His eyes fell upon
Brettenham's brilliant windows. That
was it. He would go over and buy her
ring. BE had a ring of hers on his little
inSer that minute, that he had got in a
game of forfeits and kept out of sport
That would give him the size. That same
evening he called upon Kate. There was
40 one there, as it happened. He held up
lis finger with her ring, and she made
notion as if to catch it away, but checked
herself.
Now, really, Will" she demonstrated,
with comical air of displessure, you
must give me my ring"
open your mouth and shut your
eyes, Bren laughed.
"Oh, come, WILL" she coaxcd. Don't
ease"
Well. then. put out your finger and
shut your eyes"
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