The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-22

EZ2HI "You are 8 fool
Egl8gESsZSa}l Lawrie!" roared. A
@-----@an any rate, it is probable
that / roared. Th,
people about the hotel were unanimous in call
ing me a roarer. 1t is possible that thnmped
the table also. "Confound it, boy! Let THU
Jean, or Jane, or whatever her name is, drop
She Is an actress, you say, and that's enough
don't want to hear any more about her. Day
after tomorrow is Christmas. Where shall we
GO? How shall we spend the dayP Well ge
anywhere you like-Sonth Carolina or Mont
real-its all one to me. We can afford to enjoy
ourselves. Matters ont at the ranch were never
in better shape and -
"You bet they wa'n't!D cried hoarse voice,
rs the door was thrust open without ceremony,
and Halloran stalked in.
HallOran was my nearest neighbor when /
was at home on the ranch, which was about
half Of the time. His ranch is the Ace o
Spades mine is the Sunset"
] worked in the days when had to work. /
was poorer than q rabbit when / first went
West-well, good many years ago. IL takes
work, and lots of it-long, hard and unceasing
TO start with nothing and become the owner
o. a great ranch. well stocked. But when he
has got TO hat point, man can afford to in
dulge and pamper himself, if his foreman is
the soul of honor, as mine, Long Ike Hudson.
was.
"Knowed you was in without stoppin' to
knock" beloved Halloran. I'D know that
voice Of yonr'n among thousand. How r. yer,
Colonell Howdy-do, young feller" This 10
Lawrie.
Halloran was barbarian.
TOOK a run East" he continued, making
himself thoroughly at home, "jest kinder be-
cause / conld afford to- First time I've been
East in 10 years. Thought I'd drop in on you
an see if you'd busted blood vessel since /
cav yoa last. That thar temper Will be the
death of you yet, Colonel. Haw! haw! Reckon
III 60 into camp here for about q week. What
say7"
Halloran had a habit Of being positively in
eulting at times. But it seemed good to see
him. His feet were on the table by this time.
Cigars in that box that you are about to
better cigars than You sre used to putting
into your head. Help yourself and then tell
me what's the good word"
"Aurm!" returned Halloran. clearing his
throat. Wal, about that thar Rock Creek
Range business that j wrote you of; $4,000
win get it-wc'll 20 havvers-Sl0,000 profit in
IL in the next eight months. These here cigars
are prime COLONEL"
Thereupon we delyed deep into the Rock
Greek business and forgot all about Lawrie
Went out spell ago." said Halloran, when
spoke Of the lad. You didn't near to no.
tice the young feller-bein' busy jawin' me.
is that the Lawrie you're always talkin'
hDoul. VINO al WEat u ue
"Halloran," said J. take another cigar +"
Halloran took the cigar-and the hint
Every now and then used TO come down on
Lawrie like thousand of brick, but he always
took my abuse as a matter of course. Lawrie
knew me pretty well, yon see.
He? well, he had Katies eyes and the same
little curls clustering on his forehead, and
but, she married another and better man than
T. perhaps. Well, they both died within a
week OF each other-when Lawrie was lit
tie fellow in pinafores. They have been I'M
der the sod these twenty years and more, and
II have always tried to do right by Lawrie.
The lad sometimes said that / had been more
than father to him. Hadn't I right TO love
one person OF all the world that surrounded
mef And, Lawrie-be had Katie's eyes and
Katie's curls
he wrote il those days-wrote stories-aDd
dug and delyed with his pen for beggarly
pittance, when he had only to drop il and take
partnership with me in the ranch. 1t was
his for the taking he knew that.
But Iawric was independent. The income
i called boggarly was ample for his needs, he
said. lie was trying TO make a name for him
self-a name that would be proud of. loved
him better for his independence, / think
j had intended to hear the whole of the
story he had begun TO tell me that night But
Hslloran had come, and Lawrie had gone.
Hallorsn and ] talked over the details of
then he yawnedand posted off to bed in the
next room TO my suite. And i fell to musing
over one thing and another-principally Law
rie. Presently there came tap at the door.
"Come in!" / called. Pretty time Of
night young fellow, for you to"-
And then ! looked around. But 1t wasn't
Lawrie. slender girl, with sad little face.
none too bright with color, and big, appealing
eyes. was standing just within the doorway.
Col. Whitrickf" she asked In half.
frightened way
At your service, ma'am," said T. stumbling
over hassock in trying TO place chair for her
II am Jean Heath" she said, almost as if
abe was ashamed to own it. 81 suppose La
Mr. Lawrie told you about me2"
He had started to tell me when stopped
him." 49,
81 felt that must come and see you" she
continued. :" know i ought to have come
earlier, but ] was obliged to wait till after the
close Of the performance work in the
tbeater, you know"
] wondered what her little game was
Il insisted that he tell you everything" she
went on. in an agtated way. He has told me
great deal about You. know you to be q
just man, and wise onen
You cannot ask lady visitor what her game
ts-it isn't polite.
al know your verdict already she said,
drearily. There can be but one. You will
dc him justice"
You may trust me for that" said l.
IL know know" she answered. Ard
there was something like q sob in her voice.
and her eyes were big and pitiful.
But i never was one of the kind to be
caught in trap baited with tears or smiles
"Well?" i said. Perhaps I was pretty
grim about il.
But do not wish you to misjudqe me-"
she went on, lifting her pale little face brayey.
May tell you my storyf 1t is not long
one"
knew was not to be caught by any story,