Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-09-28
I'm sure I'm much obliged; It wea
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I'm sure I'm much obliged; 1t Wea
awfully good of you.''
She turned still farther from him.
and he made an involuntary step to-
ward her when she leaned over the edge
of the rock. Then he saw that she was
shaking with suppressed laughter, and
penitence very nearly became wrath.
''Why are you laughing at me?'' he
demanded.
Because you're so Ridiculous" she
retorted, facing him suddenly. "What
makes you talk as if Mr.. Thorndyke be-
longed to me? What right have you to
think that he is anything more than a
friend of my fathers, lile-like your
self? How do you know that he isn't
engaged to the young lady in New York
who writes to him every week?"
Protheroe made a praiseworthy at
tempt to be coherent, but it ended
rather tamely. Then you-then l
have been mistaken all along in think
ing Elsie, please come away from that
cliff and tell me you forgive me-"
II won't-not till you catch me-"
And, with hooking laugh in which
there was more joy than derision, she
slipped over the edge of the rock and
was nearly out of sight in the path be-
low before Protheroe gathered enough
presence of mind to accept her chal-
lenge. The chase was short and vigor-
GUS, and when it was ended the process
of forgiveness appeared to be some
what abstruse and complicated, judy
ing from the time which elapsed before
the young man and the maiden present
ed themselves in the cave of the noun
| taineer.
Kilgrow took the news of his good
fortune with serene complacency
born of happy ignorance of money
| values.
"Thess SIS t they-all II femme alone,
is all I keer," he said, and they had some
trouble in making him understand that
his presence was needed at the farm
house. Loving and trusting Elsie, he
went willingly when he understood
what was wanted of him; and Oh the
| way back to the valley he was mindful
enough of his own long-buried youth
to keep well out of earshot Of the two
y
! ney was only too short.
The afternoon sun was shining slant
| wise over the neck of the Bull when
| they reached the house, and after the
| reticent and embarrassed mountaineer
had run the gauntlet of congratula-
ton Thorndyke took him up to the
attic bedroom.
"You understand that I'll have to go
to New York to collect this money" he
began, when he was alone with his
! client. "What am I to do with it, and
how much shall keep out for my fee?"
A smile of child-ike surprise flick
| cred for a moment on the withered face
of the old man. Ger you-uns' pay?--
I thort done toll Ee bout that thar,
long back yonder at the fust. I lowed
to you-uns then thatef SO be We cd raise
| me $4,000 out'n hit"
'But that's sheer nonsense, you
know" protested Philip. II should be
treating you worse than the others to
! take such an advantage"
"Barg'in's bargin," insisted Kill
grow, firmly.
v
what I will agree to; I'll divide this
money equally with you"
"How much dye reckon that ID be ?"
Fifty thousand dollars apiece
The sum was still too large to be COM
prehensible to Kilgrow, and Philip
sought to help him. IF you put your
share into government bonds, the in
terest would be about $1,000 a year."
The old man satin perplexed silence re-.
volving his hat slowly in his thin hands.
II reckon I cayn't figure hit out eff I
try he said, after a little. II visit
you-uns ID do whatsomever We thinks
right weth hit.''
"Ill invest it for you, if you like. and
the interest can be sent to Duncan"
IL reckon that'll be all right" Kill
grow rose and moved toward the door,
stopping on the threshold to ask a
question that troubled him more than
the disposition of his newly-acquired
fortune. "Ye reckon them fellers is
plum shore t femme alone, now, air
yep
"Why, certainly. The things done
and settled, and they've no more reason
to prosecute you now than if you'd
never owned the land"
"Thank ye; that's what I keer fer
more'n the money. D. ye low yell put
hit in them thar bon's?"
'That will be the safest investment
for you"
There was another pause and more
searching for the few common factors
of speech. I'm gettin' sort o. tol'ablc
OIL, these days, an they amt nobody ter
come after me: reckon they amt no
way ye cd fix hit soft the little gal
mought git hit wen I'm th'oo weth
| hit?"
"You mean Duncan's daughter?"
! Kilgrow nodded.
''Why, yes; can buy the bonds in
her name, if you wish.'
'"Thank We; that thar's what rs pint
in at" He nodded gravely and left the
room, coming back again presently to
hold 0nf his hand aoross tho 4ob1o ~