Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-04-04

thank you for your trouble. 1t was just
in the way of friendship, wasn't itp'
''That's it'll" he replied quickly, repeat
ing the words with pleased look. "In
the way o. friendship"
"And we're good friends?" she said,
holding out her hand.
''That's what we are" he answered
emphatically, and pressing her hand
gently he went away as happy as a
king.
After she left the hotel and went to
live in the house her father had been
building their friendship still lasted. Mr.
Kennedy assured her that she would be
disappointed in Flicker-that he was
lawless and unreliable and, worse still,
that he had been known to drink and to
gamble; but, though greatly shocked
she believed that she could influence
him to his permanent good, as he had
notably improved in appearance, man.
ners and language since he had known
her.
She even persuaded the boy to promise
that he would try to get his living at
some regular employment instead of by
any means that came to hand; and her
friend, Mr.. Lanyon, gave him place in
the mine, where he had once before been
employed and had been discharged.
Flicker had quite made up his mind that
the young New York gentleman would
marry Miss Kennedy some day, as the
boy well knew it was because she asked
it that he was allowed to return to the
mine, which was against the wishes of
both Mr.. Kennedy and his Mexican part
ner, Senor Miguel Hernandez.
The senior, who was a constant visitor
at Mr.. Kennedy's house, was the al
calde of San Luis, little town about
six miles away, for under the treaty by
which New Mexico was ceded to the
| United States many of the Mexican laws
and customs remained in force, and San
Luis, among whose population of $50 not
more than three were not Mexicans,
continued to elect its alcalde, an official
whose power is much more despotic than
that Of any American governor. There
were many stories told of the senor's
harshness and cruelty, and these, with
his cold, hard face and forbidding man.
| '4NA' Ali''b liiAil 3Sl'&ll lttlltNl
For many weeks Flicker worked stead
| lily and told his friend that he was saving
his wages. as she advised, and every
thing seemedto be going smoothly
one evening he presented himself in re-
sI'ouse TO message, looking gloomy and
| disturbed. He did not seem inclined to
talk, but when, after awhile, she ques-
tinpA1 hin, IL, e..
fessed the truth. He had been gambling
the night before.
She looked at him incredulously for an
instant; then, to his utter CONSERVATION,
she burst into tears
Don't! don't he begged her, in dis
tress. Please don't cry"
How can help it?' she said.
Il thought you'd be angry and give
me up for q bad lot. | never thought
you'd cry, said Flicker, wonderingly, as
the tears still came.
"l am SO dreadfully disappointed, she
said, afJer a while. Il hoped better
things from YOU
GLOW did YOU know lost my MONEY!"
Flicker asked
IL didn't know it; it's the loss of your
honesty and right feeling that troubles
me. The money is a very small part of
it."
Its good deal to me-" answered
Flicker, ruefully. Il was fool Just at
the wrong time"
And hc explained to her that Il party
of Syllcsburg men were about to go into
Mnyipn ON g, rrogrnctincr t,;,, .,l h.,,l ,,r
fered to let him accompany them if he
would undertake q small part of the ex.
penses; and his profits, if any resulted,
would be in proportion. Anxious to
make his share as large as possible, he
had gambled in the hope of increasing
his capital, and had lost every dollar of
his savings.
"And served me right for donkeyT
he concluded, vigorously. II won't get
another chance like this in a hurry,
though"
"None of the gentlemen at the mine
would advance you any money, them
she asked, knowing what the answer
would be.
mo; they think it'd go as
the other did. They don't take no stock
in me-" he said, flushing hotly.
"No, they DON'T" she replied. And
now you see what it is to lose vour good
name.
There was "A long silence. Miss Ken.
nedy seemed to be thinking of something
else; Flicker thought she was tired of
having him there and he had better 60
Still, when he left she made him prom
Use that he would come again the next
evening.
He went away greatly puzzled over it
all; he could not make out why she had
cried. To be sure, she had often told
him how she abhorred gambling, but he
had supposed she meant when people
were unsuccessful; but she had cried
before she knew whether he had lost or
won and had told him that the money
was of no consequence. She had shed
tears for him; it gave him feeling he
had never had before in his life.
Meanwhile Miss Kennedy was also
thinking hard AS Flicker had said, it
was good chance. She knew the men
to be steady and respectable, and though
Mexico was dangerous country, it was