The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-01-07

find witnesses who could certify that
Kilgrow had not been in Allacoochee
on the Goth of May, 1885. And when all
these expedients had been pushed to
fruitless conclusion, he had secured the
services of New York detective. who.
after three weeks of painstaking inves-
tigation, threw up the case in disgust
and went back to the metropolis.
The forests on Jubal mountain were
beginning to hoist the ensign of au-
tumn when the professional thief-taker
boarded the train for New York. and
Thorndyke was already sitting his
brain for fresh suggestions. when the
laconic wires, supplemented by the tar
der but more explicit mail, brought
news of the failure of Hallam's bank.
It was an assignment, and-so wrote
Mrs. Thorndyke, hopefully-the pub
iished assets were much in excess OF
the liabilities, but letter from Col. Van
Colt went nearer the truth. When the
affairs of the bank should be settled,
said the solicitor, there would be mon
ey enough to satisfy the depositors and
other creditors, with possibly small
dividend for the stockholders. AS tn
the latter, however, the colonel init
mated that Philip would do we'll to
leave it out of his plans for the future;
in the meantime, and for present neces-
stiles there were few hundred dolla rs
which he, the colonel. had taken the
liberty to transfer from Hallam's to
his own bank out of the last semi-an-
nual dividend, which sum was subject
to Philips order.
The same mail brought letter from
Helen. The securities which had been
set aside for her marriage portion were
still safe, and her letter from begin
ming to end was an urgent appeal 70
Philip to divert the settlement to his
mother. Blinded by the dull rage
which lashes out unfortunately be-
cause its real object is out of reach,
Philip was in no mood to search for af-
fectionate subtleties in letter which
should have stirred his better nature
to it's more hopeful depths. He read it
with unreasoning bitterness; wrote a
formal reply, thanking her for her dis
interestedness. and asking to be re-
leased from an engagement which, in
view of his losses, was no longer sup
portable to him; scrubbed a hurried
note to his mother. giving her the
barest outline of what he had done;
Duncan farm to tell Elsie of the new
misfortune.
He got speech with her alone, for 4
wonder, and she listened and answered
with ready sympathy, concluding by
asking him what he would do.
"For the present, and until can get
justice for Kilgrow, just what I've been
doing all summer. After that it will be
for you to say"
81 don't understand" she said shrink
ing a little from the half-menace in his
reply.
Philip was disposed to be perverse,
and the thought came to him quickly
that Helen could not be so obtuse if she
tried. "You ought to know by this
time" he began, his resentment finding
its way into his voice. 'I'll not say it,
though; I'll not say anything now, be-
cause I'm in no frame of mind to meas
ure words with you or anybody. Just
the same, you mustn't begin at this
AoIS ia ~ " CluCc luc ldCL tudC you
are responsible for what I am"
1t was brutal speech, and Thorn
dyke was sorry for it when the ride
back to town gave him time to reflect;
but he had gone to Elsie with the
thought that she would in some way
make haste to set herself over against
his troubles, and he was disappointed
and irritated because she had given
him nothing more than the sympathy
which she might we'll have poured into
the wounds of father or brother.
Now that the wheels of the retrospect
i've machinery were set in motion,
Philip told himself that Elsie's ardor
had been steadily waning since that
day. three months before, when she
had armed and sent him forth to the
battle. 1t was impossible that he
should understand that the change in
their relations was inevitable; that
the candle which may suffice to light
the fires of enthusiasm is still candle
after enthusiasm has become a devour-
ing conflagration. Still less could he
grasp the fact that the change was
chiefly in himself; that with new am
billions and returning health he had
outgrown the need for such ministra-
tons as may save the life of sick man.
On the contrary, he blamed Elsie for
not being what she had never been, save
in his own Imagination; he condemned
Helen for withholding the affection
which his letters to her had steadily