The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-07

the highway to prosperity In reality il
made his position doubly dangerous.
Living constantly beyond his means. he
now saw himself surrounded by emporium.
tiles for borrowing. His personal note was
considered good by those VINO knew-or
thought they knew--his connection with
the motor company.
Deering remained q mystery to Russell.
In their conversations, which were not fire.
quent, the inventor expressed no gratitude
for what Russell had done in DEVELOPING
the motor. He seemed to think that ali
the credit was due to the machine, and 10
be continually suspicious lest justice might
not be done to this creature OF wheels and
pinions. Russell believed more than once
that the inventor was on the point of
claiming possession for some violation of
the honesty contract. 1t would have been
useless TO resist such claim, for the two
years during which their agreement was
to run were now drawing rapidly toward
their end.
Rejecting upon the approach of that
time, Russell became more deeply despon-
dent than ever. He could form no plans
de had made no valuable connections ex-
cept his acquaintance with Ray, and he re-
solved not to seek any more favors at his
hands. To suppose that he was never
tempted to end his financial troubles by
seeking marriage with Alice Ray, who
was rich in her own right without regard
to her fathers millions, would be to
imagine better man than Russell. He
was surrounded by men who would have
regarded such an alliance as the last possi-
bility in the way of good fortune, who
talked about marrying for money as a
business against which nothing could be
said except that it was ttoo difficult. But
Russell had never ceased to regard such q
thought as treachery to his friend. He
could not help thinking now
and then that Alice had I'M.
proved wonderfully during the two years
since Brown went away. She had devel-
oped more rapidly than even the man who
loved her could have hoped. eff Brown
attributes any part of that to me, thought
Russell. The will overwhelm me with mis-
taken gratitude.
In the last days of winter, when such
thoughts as these were often in Russell's
mind, there came to him q startling piece
OF news. He took morning paper from
his desk one day with no intention of read
ing 1t; he was thinking only to lay it aside
and make room for something else. But
as be held 1t in his hand q dispatch not
four lines long seemed to stare at him out
OF the page more conspicuously than all
the large type and screaming headlines. 1t
announced that Walter Brown, in the en-
pioy of the - company, which had
been engaged in operations in Central
Africa had died of fever in Cape Town on
his way home
Within an hour, and before Russell had
fairly come to realize what he had read. a
man who had known Brown well, came in
to tell the news. He, too, had seen the
Item. They spoke together kindly of the
dead, and in moment Russell was left
alone. He was sincerely grieved. In
thinking on the character of Brown as he
had often done since their memorable con-
versation, he had come to have higher
appreciation OF his genuine good qualities
than he had ever felt when they were to-
gether. He had looked forward with
pleasant anticipations to Browns return,
in spite of the thoughts that would come
when the face of Alice entered into such
fancies.
Evidently it was his duty now to carry
the news to her. He closed his desk. and
took train up town at once The unusual
hour and the serious look on his face
alarmed Alice at once. She feared that
some mishap had befallen her father.
When she learned the truth, she expressed
great sorrow, and spoke with deep feeling
OF her high opinion of the man whose ca
feer had been cut off SO suddenly. But
there was something in her words which
made Russell's heart beat strangely.
Surely not thus would she have heard
what he had told her if she had ever loved
or could haveloved his friend.
The following days brought no new facts
regarding the death of Brown. except a
general confirmation of the report. There
was no ground for hope, and Russell re-
Elected sadly that he had lost a friend in
the hour of his utmost need.
For all things were not well with him.
He had been making a strong effort to