The Portland daily press., 1890-03-08

it,.
cts a good deal to me-" answered
Flicker, ruefully. 81 was fool just at
the wrong time"
And he explained to her that party
of Sykesburg men were about TO go into
Mexico on prospecting trip and had Of
fered to let him accompany them if he
would undertake 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 donkeyw
he concluded, vigorously. 81 won't get
another chance like this in hurry,
though"
''None of the gentlemen at the mine
would advance you any money, thenr'
she asked, knowing what the answer
would be.
mo; they'd-they'd 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 your good
name"
There was 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 go.
Still, when he left she made him prom
Use that he would come again the next
evening.
He went away greatly puzzled over il
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 OF
won and had told him that the money
was of no consequence. She had shed
tears for him; it gave him a feeling he
had never had before in his life.
Meanwhile Miss Kennedy was also
thinking hard. AS Flicker had said, il
was good chance. She knew the mer
to be steady and respectable, and though
Mexico was dangerous country, twas
better for the boy to try to make his way
there than to 60 to ruin in Sykesburg Oh
whatever similar place he might wander
to. She made up her mind that she
would make an effort to save him.
When Flicker came the following night
she told him of the plan she had for help.
ing him; it was that she herself would
give the necessary money, for her father
was very generous to her and gave her
more than she spent. Mr.. Kennedy
warned her that she was only encourage
ing the boy in bad habits, and that the
money was thrown away, but she felt
sure that it would not prove SO.
"You see," she said to the amazed and
overjoyed Flicker, 81 don't intend to
give you up for a bad lot. l want to
help you to be an honest, industrious
man. offer you this money because
am your friend, and don't make any
bargain with you about It. But IL you
are my friend you will do as / would
like to have you do"
Then they had long talk, and Flicker
began to understand how miserable such
bad life was, and why Miss Mabel was
30 anxious to get him away from it; and
he told himself that she should never be
disappointed in him again.
The next few days he devoted to pro-
curing his outfit; then one night he came
to say good-by, wondering sadly when
and where they would meet again, for
who should say how long he might be
gomez
"Pll say one thing" he said; 'sthis
moneys loaned ter me. I'm a-goin' ter
pay it back. The first streak O. luck
get, I'll come ter you ter pay my debt if
/ hev ter hunt you all over the United
States"
And then he tried to thank her and
promised that she should not find her
trust in him misplaced, and, though he
could find but few words, she understood
and was satisfied. The next morning he
went away.
More than three years had passed
when one day fine looking young man,
riding strong pony, drew up in front
OF what had been Wing Lun's hotel and
looked about in confused way. OF the
busting camp nothing was to be seen
but few dilapidated and deserted cab
ins. The only signs Of life were at the
hotel, now apparently a roadside inn. A
number Of horses stood saddled and tied
to the fence, while their owners talked
on the porch SO excitedly that they did
not notice the newcomer until he called
out a greeting and asked:
SIS this Sykesburg?"
WAL" drawled a tall man, EVIL
IDENTIFY the proprietor, coming forward,
sits what's left of it. Was yer pertike-
lerly anxious ter find Sykesburg?" he
asked, looking up inquisitively. "Why,"
he exclaimed; "ef it amt Flicker-little
Flicker! Shake hands, sonny. Don't
yer remember Long Jima Say, bub," he
continued, growing grave and speaking
rapidly, "hev yer struck luck? Becase
eff yer hev, ye've come in the nick O.
time. There's friend O. yourn in
trouble"
eyes, I've had luck, said Flicker, lay
ing his hand on leather pouch that
hung from his belt. "Who needs help?'
"That thar Miss Kennedy" Jim re-
piled, as somehow Flicker had felt that
he would. "Git on yer horses, boys" he
shouted to the men, setting the example
by jumping on his own, and in q few
cloud of dust enveloped the
party as they took the road to San Luis
at full speed, Jim explaining to Flicker
as they went.
A year and half ago the mine had
suddenly ceased to produce anything;
the company disbanded and the camp
was deserted. Mr.. Kennedy and his
daughter shortly afterwards removed to
San Luis. Mr.. Kennedy had been utter
" ruined by the failure Of the mine. He
and Senior Hernandez had quarreled be-
fore this and were not on speaking terms.
and, knowing the senor's character.
every one was surprised when he now
came forward and renewed his friend
ship with MIR. Kennedy, advising him to
open store in San Luis and Insisting
upon loaning him the money needed. and
Mr.. Kennedy accepted gratefully, little
dreaming what a terrible revenge the
willy Mexican was planning for his fan
lied wrongs.
Among the old Mexican statutes was
he infamous one which enabled person,
f he could not obtain money that was
WED him, to make his debtor a peon-
hat is, a servant-until the amount owed |
vas worked out, servitude that is moth
ng but wretched slavery.
Hernandez, therefore, had pressed his |
N'ns on Mr.. Kennedy. --owino that |
I !