The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-01
The BILLINGS GAZETTE; FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1. 1899.

were a precious good friend Of mine,
Paul E~nglebert."
"Dat wass long ago." said the trader.
1--WE been thinking" said Kinross,
that I've acted like a fool about those
trees"
dat wass what I was blinking, too,
desc two-dree years." responded the
| other.
take them; they are yours said
| Einross. You can build your fence
there tomorrow"
"Sor' said Englebert with dawning
intelligence. "De Yerman consul has at
last to my complaint listened"
"Hang the German consul! Mop cried
Kinross. II do it myself because | was
wrong; because you were good to me
that time l was sick and lent me the
500 and the trade"
"And you want noding?" asked En-
GILBERT, still incredulous.
II want to shake your hand and be
friends again. old man." said Kinross.
"same as we used to be when we play
ed dominos every night. and you'd tell
me about the Austrian war. and how
the prince divided the cigars with you
when you were wounded"
The German looked away. "Oh. Kin
ross." he said, with a queer shining
look in his eyes, "yon make me much
ashamed" He turned suddenly round
and wrung the E%nglishman's hand in
an iron grasp. II too. wass fool. Ho.
Malta, de beer!"
His strapping native wife appeared
with bottles and mugs. At the sight of
their guest she could scarcely conceal
her surprise.
"Prosit." said Englebert. touching
glasses. ''You know dem six ayers Of de
Pasgoe estate" he said. looking very
hard at his companion: very nice little
place, very sheep, yoost behind your
store?"
Kinross nodded but his face fell. in
spite Of himself. ,
II from the American consul bought
him." went on the German. livery
sheep--$20O Chile money"
Kinross looked black.
"Dey are yours. Pay me back when
you have de money. | buy dem only
to spite you. My friend, take dem"
paul, Paul." cried Kinross. II don't
know what to say-how to thank you!
Only this morning l got money from
home, and the first thing l meant to do
was to buy them"
"All de better" said Englebert, land,
my boy, you blant coffee. It's de GOT
fee dat bays, and l will get you blenty
leetle drees from my friend, de gap
tain In Utumbau plantation. Yoost
n glass beer. Ho, Malta, de beer.w
Kinross tore himself away with DIFF
ficulty and started homeward. his
heart swelling with kindness for the
old Prussian. He exulted in the six
acres he had so nearly lost. and they
now seemed to him more precious than
ever.
Then he remembered he was leaving
Vaiala, and again he heard the hum Of
London in his ears.
He found Leata sitting on the floor
spelling out "The Good News From
New Guinea" in the missionary maya
zine. He sat down beside her and
pressed her curly hair against his lips
and kissed it.
"Of all things in the world what
wouldst thou like most. Leata?" he
asked.
ITO have thee always near me, KIM
rosi," she answered. Before l had no
understanding and was like the black
people in the missionary book, but now
my heart is panied, SO full it is with
love-"
"But If l gave thee q little bag Of
gold" he said, land took thee to Apia.
my pigeon. what wouldst thou buyY"
"First l would give $40 to the new
church." she began. 'Then for my ia
ther l would buy al umbrella and a
shiny bag in which he could carry his
cartridges and tobacco when he goes
to war; for my mother, also an UNI
brella and a picture book like that of
the missionary's, with photographs Of
Queen Victoria and captains of men-of-
war; for my sister, a Bible and a
hymnbook, and for my brother a little
pigeon gun"
Tomorrow we shall 60 to Apia and
buy Them" said Kinross. "This morn
ing the pastor brought me a letter from
Britain with a present Of many dol
lars"
"Oh, Kinirosi," she cried, 1T was
breaking my heart! feared the letter
would make you go back to the white
mans country"
His resolution was taken, be it for
good or evil. II shall never GO back"
he said.-Ainslee's Magazine.