San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-12

sy 10 come down with them. and If they
seen light ON the cliff they was to put
her out at Nevitt's If they didn't see
no light, they was to carry her ON round
the pint to the wharfboat You see, if
it had been rainin tonight, shouldn't
affixed the little thing to take this
ride. t"
The fire was soon lighted, and by the
cracking. leaping flames Seth looked
into Strong's pale. troubled face. Two
fallen logs furnished them resting places
Strong renewed his proffer Of a cigar,
which Seth accepted and pulled at with
vigor bespeaking unfamiliarity with
tobacco in its most refined manifestation.
You put the lantern in the wagon,
didn't you, Strongs'
yes.
"Well, then, there amt nothin
more to do but wait, and a longish wait
it's likely to be. !" From under the
sheltering cover of his hat brim he was
scanning Strong's face with the tender
est solicitude. There were dark circles
about the boys handsome eyes and
pallor about his temples that didn't
look healthy" all Of which might be
laid to the account Of overstudy, but
those hard, bitter curves about his
mouth were new and puzzling. Across
the flames of the beacon fire Strong flung
a glance that was pathetic in its per-
plexity. .Sethi"
Eyes, Strong.
1--WE great notion to tell you my
trouble, only don't see what good it
will do"
'Just as you please, lad Don't speak
just to crafty me. Only-if it's any
thing about money, don't be feared to
speak out I've been layin little by
from my wages as fathers helper, to
stock Little Neck, but / amt quite
ready to stock it yet, and if the money'll
be any service to YOU
1T is not about money, Seth. At
least, not the way you think Does Lit
tie Neck really belong to you now?"
''Cleanl Not dollar of debt on 1t.
II am glad-very glad You are
worth dozen of me, old fellow. Shakei
hands "
.'Pshawi Givin your old buddy
taffy." But Seth's laugh was a pleased
laugh and his hand grip was hearty
"You amt begun yet We're goin to|
make doctor of you. We're bound toI
have one gentleman in the Martin fam
ily."
Strong made gesture Of impatienoeI
and emitted cultural sound that might
mean anything or nothing They smoked
in silence for few moments, and then,
with violent suddenness, Strong's heart
committed its indiscretion.
Buddy Seth, if any one were to tell
you that had left college under suspi-
cion of being thief, what would you
say or do?''
"a thiefp' Seth roared, sending the
word far into the still night air
"a poor. petty thief of gold trinkets|
and opera glasses and IS billsP'
"Iwould say that the suspicioner was|
burned fool, and if you hadn't done
it for yourself I'd whale the life out'n
him"
Strong laughed unpleasantly.
"Then you would have had to whale
the entire faculty and every boy in col
lege except two. The suspicion seemed
well founded.
''Seemedp Seth sprang to his feet ex-
citedly "You don't mean to tell me,
Strong, that you've come away from
Shingleton without turnin things upsidel
down and inside out to show 'em who
the true thief was? Surely You sifted it
to the bottom?"
81 did not need to sift. knew.
"And didn't tell? Then you re ready
to stand with the angels Let me see if
your wings amt sproutin?'
mo, I'm not angelic in this matter
1t never once occurred to me that could
be suspected Even now it has never
been put into shape so that could take
hold of it. That is the internal side of
the mess /"
but if you knowed who the thief
was. why didn I you hand him over?