The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-12-13

clama;ions OF exultation the amount named
is received by each.
"Now. men, listen to me-" says Danger
field, when the FIST noisy congratulations
are ever. We've made enough money TO-
day TO enable Us 10 live honest lives. Sup
pose we break up camp and turn respect
able? ]. ior one, am ired OF this sort Of
, thing. aad want 10 get out Of IL What say
yon ala 90
No one speaks for lew moments; then
Jake Hawkins slowly answers:
Well, Cap'n, we'll think Of it over night.
Te see, we're Old hands, and its hard To do
what We know nOibin' abeut. Yon'rc dig-
ferent from the rest; you have friends back
there Ia the East-a father aud mother, per
baps, and came to Us becsuse you were
starved cut. and were ashamed 10 write to
'em. i saw the ords OF ;iat preacher chap
touched ye. I'm about right, 1 recilou?"
DaagerfelG answers with = nod-speech
seems impossible.
"All Iight-we won't hinder We; leave
us if ye wantcr; but we can't promise any
| thing in hurry: can we, boys? Say 40
more jgst now, Gavin. Leave us to think
about II; and you'd better think, TOO. Now
who's for a game OF cards Z"
DangeIfield says nothing further bat he
stretches himself at full length upon "A
blanket, and sinks into a light, dream
| hanled sleep.
Some hours after he awalies with q start /:
| his thoughts revert to the events OF the day.
! lie is unable 10 account for the strange in-
descrbable feeling which possesses him
| What did the clprgyman's significant words
and manner mean?
Tie papers he cXclalms, springing to
his feet rs sudden thought occurs TO him.
why did Hot think OF them beiore?n
The candies have burned 10 their sockets
and gone out, leaving the place in daT kness.
/ DaneeTiield Lights fresh one aad sets il on
! the table. Then he takes from his pocket
I the packet Of papers found in the minister s
sachel, unties tile ribbon which secures it,
ard brings 10 light several iegal-Iooking
documents and small envelope, securely
sealed.
frank Dangerfeld!" he falters, reading
the name written in bold characters upon
the envelope. Am dreaming, or have n y
senses forsaken me?"
lie throws himself into n chair, and hur-
riediy, bat with trembling hands, breaks
! the seal and draws forth the contents of the
! packaee-two sheets of note paper closely
written, ard bl0tted here and there One
! giaBce al Inc chlTo2TapBy and The man re-
coils as If dealt a mortal blow, clutching des-
| peiaiely ai the table before him. HIS face
Is deaibly pale, his breath comes in iaboIc,!
gasps, and hiseyes fli with tears as he reads
the following;
MY DEAR, LOST SoN am told that |
am about 10 die. bat shall try to write a
letter to you, IN the hope that it may some
time he delivered into your hands. Your
sudden departure was a severe blow. Your
poor father survived il but a few days, and
Ii have waited for tidings of you in vain.
May you, nay dear boy, never know the
torture / have endured during the past
m0nthsi Frank, how could you bring
such trouble upon US because a silly, frivo-
l0us girl proved false? We have loved you
all your life, she had but for an hour, yet you
broke onr hearts for her sake. Ny boy, ]
tremhle for one who has shown himself 90