The sun., 1897-05-09

l lts
won't objc;t TO taking hnr share q tho damage
either, or she isn't Van l2o's mother. Come.
gsy ss sSFfd % tSs Sy
furnished suite. Into whose bathroom S:aoy IN.
"b be 6Sot & and @ RaT
diiut how about Barker, the dear boy T. per.
sisted Dcmorest, holding open the door. TELL
About as well as wo all arc" said STACY
quickly, yet with certain dry signflcancs.
Never mind now; wait until YOU see him"
Tho door closed. When Demorest had finished
washing and wiped away tho last rcd stain OF
the mountain road. he found Stay seated by tho
table was spread for supper: a bright fire of
hickory logs burned in marble honrth between
nsS that sea
him. by the light OF the shaded lamp and flicker:
Ing fire. Demorcst had a good look at the face OF
his old friend and partner.
haps an even more hawk.likc activity visible in
the eye and nostril,, but 1t was more ,thoughtful
and reticent In the limos Of the mouth under tho
closely clipped beard and mustache. and when
or burrows across his low, broad forehead. iIe
fancicd, too. that there was n little Of the old
fighting look in his eye. but II softoncd quickly
his curt but honest single syilablcd laugh. lila
You look little less like a rowing Apache than
walters were going to chuck YOU. And you are
tanned Darnod II you don't look like bht the profile
s
luck and welcome back, old man !!
Demorcst passed his arm around the neck of
his seated partner. and graspiinR mis- upraised
now. about Barker"
"Oh. Barkor-damn him! He's the same un-
keri With the devil s own luck, too! Waltzing
into risks and waltzing out OF en-. With fads
snogEh vi to hm IN kean 9 i ont su " r III II
actually believe in themselves and-shakc him!
AnIh haa ifa fhnffa mn intrn fAnl nf hnr.
self. and an shouldn't wonder. in time, Of him!
Demorcst pressed d his hand oyer his partnsrs
really. liked that marriage, simply because, you
thought that old man Carter made good thing
OF it. And you never seem to have taken into
It. For he did love the girl. And he still is
happy, is he not r. he added quickly. as Stacy
uttered n Rrunt.
As happy as a man can be who has his child
here with nurse while his wife is gallivanting
in San francisco. and throwing her money-and
he ida Of i h s9
Demorest laughed. ." That Is happiness
Come Jim don't let us begrudsc him that. But
He built this railroad and this hotel. The
bank owns both now. He didn't care keeping
he wasn't an engineer nor a hotel keeper. and
drew il out to find something new. But here he
he added h. dashed into the
self. You know you and he always get along
best without me-.
In another moment Barker had burst into tho
room. and in his first tcmpestuous greeting OF
Demorest the latter saw little change in his
oSE hm % yon
got bit older since the day when--you rcmem-
ber,,you went over to Boomville to cash your
bonds, and then came hack and burst upon us
YES. laughed BsrSer ana ali the while
sleeve in the shape of big strike
And YOU, Gcorgy." returned Dcmorest.
The fresh color died out Of Barkerfs cheek
mouth. He turned his face for n moment
toward the window, and n swift and almost in
But he almost as quickly turned his glistening
Yes, dear Kitty! You shall see her and the
baby tomorrow"
Then they fell upon the supper with tho appe.
tites OF the past and for some moments they all
hes sas a s all 81 oP theT n fhs s
struggles, hopes and disappoinlments. gave the
strange Importance Of schoolboys to unimpor-.
fsnt S tbs and meaning a to shbeo
delight they had never since given to new; re-
awakened idiotic nicknames and bywords with
and asonized over forgotten names: trifing
dates, useless distances, ineffective rec
economy 1t was the thoughtful and mclan-
choly Demorest who remembered the exact color
and price for se Ss shirt bought hug m
ions; 1t was the financial magnate Stacy. who
could inform them what were the exact days
was the thoughtless and mercnrial Barker who
called with unheard-of accuracy. amid the
Indian squaw who assisted nt their washing.
Even then they We're ALMOST feverishly loath
doubtful OF their own free and full accord in
the present. Then they slipped rather reuct-
scarcely the same freedom or spontaneity; and
1t was noticeable that these records were elected
for the Information Of Dcmorest. often with
chatting and only under good-humored protest.
Tell Demorest how You broke the 'Copper
Demorest how your d-d foolishness in buying
up the right and plant of the Ditch Company
Presently they left the table, and to the as
cloth. common brinrwood pipes. thoughtfuiiy
provided BY Barker In commemoration OF the
past were were IT. & and tn they ranged themselves in
in their old attitudes The two windows on
either side of the hearth gave them the same
made familiar to them-thc league-long val
ley below, the shadowy bulk OF the Black Spur
It's crest.
As in the old time. they were for many mo-
the irrepressbe Barker, who broke the silence.
" But Stacy docs not tell you anything about his
friend. the beautiful Mrs. Horncastlc. You
know, he's the guardian OF one of the finest
women In California-a woman as noble and
generous as she is handsome. And think of It!
He's protecting her from her brute OF n husband,
and and looking after her property. Isn't it good
The irroprcssible laughter OF the two men
brought only. wonder and reproachful indig-
nation into the widely opened eyes OF Barker.
He was perfectly sincere. He had been think
in his ride from Boomville. and, strange TO
say. yet characteristic OF his nature it was tho
equally natural outcome OF his interview with
her and the singular effect that she had upon
him. That he Darker) thoroughly sympathizcd
with her only convinced him that Stacy must
feel the same for her. and that. no doubt. she
must respond TO him equally. And how noble
it was in his old partner, with his advantages OF
position in tho world and his protecting rela-
tions TO her, not to avail himself Of this inhu-
ence upon her generous nature. III he himself
a married man and the husband OF Kitty-was
DO conscious OF her charm. how much greater it
must be TO the free and inexperienced Stacy.
Tho italics were In Barkers thought for in
those matters he felt that Stacy and even Dem
crest. occupied in other things. had not his
knowledge. There was no idea or consciousness
han ll.r al.