The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1899-05-20

PaAC0
McDougal had noticed the restless :
ness Of his guest and was not unprel I
pared for this outbreak. Neverthe-
less when it came he felt pie though |,
a shadow he had long been conscious /
Of was settling about him. For some !
moments he smoked. on in silence !
before he said glavely, Il know it is !
lonely, Desmond, and can quite |
understand how;it must be almost
uncomfortable to q nature like yours,
but have you thought Of the danger
that threatens you when you leave !
this safe retreats''1
Ives, / have thought of that, Of
course. replied Desmond impatient-
ly, but If I'm to be hung for a
crime never committed then I'm
to be hung, but I've got to see Nita
again if swing for it. You see, my
time would have been out in two
months, and intended to follow the
tribe into Oregon. Nita described
the route they were to take, and now
lean 90 all the sooner. Whv not be
the., with her instead OF here, eat
ing my heart QUIT The thought
came to me like an inspiration this
afternoon. and I'm going tomorrow,
providing, he added. little shame
facedly. you will loan me little
money until i can hear from home.
/ McDougal nodded. ''Certainly,
Desmond. You shall have what you
need If you must go. You will start
/ In the morning, supposed"
Desmond hesitated. II had
thought" he said. looking away
from his friend, THAT might as
well take the freight that stops at
the tank at midnight. It is II now"
| McDougal rose and went into the
house. When he came out with
roll of bills in his hand, Desmond
was waiting. He took the money
and thrust it into his pocket. you
shall have 1t back in few weeks,
he said. "You aren't afraid to trust
me, old boyf"
mo, I'm not afraid to trust you
oot with my money!" but he added,
while his hand grasped the younger
mans shoulder, almost sternly, II
hope it's only my money and never
my happiness need trust to you. -
Then, more gently: Excuse me,
Desmond, if am rude. l did not
I mean to be, but shall miss you.
Desmond did not answer, except
, to grasp the proffered hand warmly.
A moment later he was gone.
In the weeks following Desmond's
: departure McDougal grew impatient
D with himself. The days dragged
, drearily and the evenings grew un
bearable. He struggled against thiI
8 weakness until finally the tho''.h
came like an inspiration, as i
9 come to Desmond-why not WI. >.
}, headquarters for substitute and q,
o to Helen, if only for single dayi
He wrote the letter that night
and in the morning took it owe. t
: meet the west going train. In tn
e box that served as his individual
d postoffice he found two letters-on
J, Helen's weekly message and tn
other addressed in Desmond's char
+ acteristic hand. He snatched then
y hastily apart, to stow Helen's safel.
g in his pocket to be read at home
a Desmond wrote only a word ION tn
= march," he said and Enclosed draf
l. to cover his debt. The letter wa
d not dated and the postmark too din
to be deciphered. On the bench out
Y side the door he read Helen's lette
Q "a long, dear letter, full of happ,
o plans for the future and of love 70
:, him-but through 1t all there ran
"a vein of sadness that somehow mad
d itself felt between the lines In tn
le postscript she added: "Somethin
/ tells me that you ought to be here
" l need you, dear" That was al
O. but in after years, when time an
frequent handling had made th
m pages fragile as dried rose peta
ID he read that plaintive call to hii
70 with an aching throat and throug
blurring tears.
N In due time the official leave cam,
10 dated two whole weeks away. Thos
two weeks passed, and the subst
D. tute arrived. Like Desmond. M
to Dougal took the midnight train an
ht hurried northward to the lit
e, Washington village that was Helen
rs home.
K AS he went ashore he regrette
that he had not told her OF his inte
al ton. 1t would have been an addt
OF happiness to see her sweet face g
ad pectant among the group of stra
gers. He glanced at them carelessl
ne then paused and stepped backwal
ne for second look at a familiar figu
r. just disappearing in the cabin. .
n. certainly looked like Desmond, b.
at that was unlikely, and even If
be were why should he delay One m
ad ment9 A fierce impatienoe hurri'
be him on. At the house he was gree