Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-20

In this fix. II you stay here you may
clear yourself, but you will never be able
to relieve that young girls character
Of the stigma east upon It. Ill-naturcd
people will say that where there Is
fire there must be smoke. A lie that's
half lie is always the worst to fight,
as that poet that Milly's so sweet on,
says"
~ see all this Grey groaned.
swell, the alternative Is to fling up
the sponge. Just quit and leave the
game in Wixon's hands"
What That would be to confess
our indiscretion. II the very children
are gossiping about us"
"Gammonl There isn't man, wom-
an or child In the city has said one
word about her, except those as
Wixon had at the meeting last night.
There isn't a living soul in the city as
guesses the purpose Of the meeting.
The captain played his cards uncom-
monty smart. lie didn't want no in
vestigation. lie just wanted to ret rid
OF YOU and, II he had not left this
chance for you, he would have had no
price to pay you off with"
And he offers?"
"lIe don't shoot straight at the mark.
lie insinuates that If you will resign
and leave these parts he will keep
everything as secret as the grave"
''lIut how can he? Who could curb
the tongue Of that woman GARRISON, for
instance?"
lie can. That know. He's got Il
hold on her that ull shut her mouth as
tight as squirrel trap"
"And Susan Green?"
Her fathers Wixon's private prop
crty. lie never uses no tools he cant
dull or sharpen as he wants to- That
sham parson Is his, body and soul, and
the lubber Ilolbrook Is already shipped
off to Chicago"
"And Mr. Edgerly?"
"Ah, he's horse Of another color;
honest as the day, but his head will
never ache from the weight Of his
BRAIN Wixon ull fix him, never fear
You agree to go, an Edgerly's all
right"
"And my friends Of the night school,
what will they say?"
THAT you were bought off = sold
them-got your pile and skipped"
"Then | must leave behind me the
reputation OF a villain?'
"As said before, you must either
sink yourself, or sacrifice the girl"
For time there was silence. The
.foung man sat watching the clouds Of
smoke that rose from his companions
pipe, as though in them he would read
his fate In Imagination he saw the
the sweet, innocent, childish face with
the brown hair clustering round it. the
sad look OF those pensivc eyes, the
trembling movement OF that beautiful
lip-and he held his hand out to Wild.
ers and said:
"Jack, IwiH 90"
spoken like white man. cried the
prospector. "Now we can go ahead
with full steam on an no danger sig
nails out"
Long and earnestly they talked TIL
the first shrill scream Of steam whistle
reused the miners from their sleep and
called them to another days duties
when they were but half rested from
yesterdays
Stay minute" Wilders said as his
guest rose to leave. "Millie wants me
to give you this"
He handed the Young man n bulky,
sealed envelope, which he took from
tabe-drawer.
'Iust woman's within nothing
worth mcntioning--but she said you
were TO keep 1t In your pocket an not
open 1t till you were days journey
from 0retown.'
Groy's face was Swallowed as he stood
lingering the little parcel
"Guess It's some of those furze-now-
ers," the prospector added unblush-
ingly. Females Is awful tender
hearted, an chock full o. nonsense
kind o forgct-mc-nots | guess-but take
of them for the little woman's sake"
Twill, "Grcy replied in fearful tones,
"and may God reward you both for all
you have done for me-"
Coin to Chicago for visit, be thee?"
asked honest Mrs, Whitford at break
fast Hast thee volks down / those
parts?'
"No, Mrs. Whltford," Grey replied,
81 have no business my father and
mother died when was a lad, md /
have never known other relatives"
"Praps," interrupted the corporal,
jocularly, 1--WE shall see you tripping
back with trim little wife hanging on
to your arm"
mo, Mr.. Whtford; | never yet spoke
one word Of love to living woman"
Grey declared in slow, impressive tones.
"Lord, but pity your bad TASTE
grinned the corporal. "Why, when |
was a lad in the royal marines, l."
"llowd thy tongue, mon," Mrs, Whit
ford intcricctcd. "Dunnn thee see
how thy foolish clavcr redllcns Elsie's
cheeks" Then turning to the girl, she
added Gan thee hast finished thy
meal, my dear, get thee to thy room an
fettle 1t oop bit. Oh 'ull be wi We
presently"
Grey seized on Elsie's absence us
COED opportunity to finish packing, for
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