The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-01-13

Aoheg gou pIuInlhtu 10 stay away a.
together, and try and get something to
do. Yet here you are once more, n
this time l cannot help you Why,
why do you come? Uncle John would
be furious at finding you here"
But he Is away, Elsie" the young
man answered b%reathlessly. "Girlie,
you must help me. just this once. I
promise solemnly never to worry you
again!"
You have promised solemnly be-
fore, Harold" his sister said bitterly.
Il cannot help you, l say. We are all
ruined. The bank has been robbed. %
The startled look on his white face
caused her to cease speaking.
rs it true, Elsie?" he asked hoarse-
ly. Has the bank really been
r~obbed?"
She told him what she knew, he lis
tening impatiently.
Il must have money. girlie!" he
burst out. Il must have it! l must
get away from here tonight, and /
don't possess a single f%arthing! Quick
dear. Uncle left you some for house
keeping. That will have TO do"
Il don't possess a Single farthing Ell
ther," she persisted. What is the mat
ter, Harold? Why is 1t so terribly
necessary for you to leave Blackmore
tonight?"
Their eyes met-hers clear, straight
forward. honest; his weak and ner-
vous.
Uncle will be coming back to see
about the bank, Elsie" he muttered
queerly. He must not find me here.
No, it would only add to the bitter
ness Of his return. But what could
she do?
Il have it," the desperate brother
suddenly exclaimed. Elsie, this news
about the bank robbery is still exclu-
sive. The editor Of the Blackmore
Times would give you any sum for It.
He is enterprising, and always ready
for something startling at first hand.
This is our only chance, dear"
But Elsie would not see it in that
light for a long, long time. 1t was not
until her brother had fully enlarged on
the grim necessity of the case. not ur-
til he had forced her tOt plainly under
stand the consequences II he did mol
have money at once, that she hnany
consented TO go to the editor Of the
Blackmore Times.
Harold Maitland had a smart. cum
ming tongue; on this occasion he had
indeed used it well. AS he p~rophesied,
the editor literally grabbed at the
copy" especially after he had fairly
convinced himself that his would be
the first paper to publish the startling
news on the morrow. Elsie went wear
lily home with the much-needed money
in her pocket. Harold was awaiting in
hiding for her, and pounced down Gag
erly on the gold.
II.
An hour after his departure their
uncle's manager came to the house ana
asked to see Elsie. When he was ad-
matted into her presence he noticed
with a sharp pang how wan and desc
late her little face had grown.
Poor child! Such things as these
were hard for her to have to bear. How
he wished that he could save her an
care and annoyance in the future! For
with the whole of his stout, loyal
heart he loved her.
He showed her a telegram which he
had received from her uncle.
Returning at once" 1t said. Keep
news Of robbery out Of the papers at
any price till l see you"
Elsie read the words, or, rather. they
chased each other before her dlzzy.
aching eyes. She suddenly tottered
forward and fell in a dead faint.
Next morning huge posters appear
ed from the Offices of the Blackmore
Times, making public the robbery.
Newsboys shouted It frantically from
one street to another. Soon a big
crowd had gathered outside the bank,
clamorlng for the doors to be opened
They wanted their money back,
their hard-won earnings. and they
meant to get it. That exclusive news
sold by Elsie Maitland on the previous
evening to the editor Of the Blackmore
Times had caused an appalling run on
her uncle's bank.
The doors were opened at last; the
crowd surged in, presenting checks 70
the full amount they had deposited in
the bank. They looked astonished
when the gold came over the counter
in their direction. Clearly they had
expected to be turned away penniless.
They thanked their stars for being the
first. The bank could not go on pay
ing out for long, Of that they felt sure.
At noon Elsie and her uncle drove
up 10 the front entrance In an open
carriage. He had insisted on her ac-
c%ompanylng him. despite the fact that
she looked w%retchedly pale and III.
All the way along they had seen
those hidsous posters announcing tAe
robbery.
How did they get the news?" John
Rivers kept repeating. Elsie, child.
how did they get the news? Il is a
mystery to me. II only It could have
been kept from them another twenty
four hours / could have w~eatESEed the
storm"
Poor Islsie's heart ached.
II have done III" she cried. "Tk.
fault 70 mlne-minel Oh. Harold. n
only / could have foreseen all thisi II
only / could have foreseen It alll"
III.
As yet Elsie had not told her uncle
who ornuIfad the news TO the naDpr