The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-06-21

cool, peremptory tone. II take the re-
sponsibility of that myself"
Darcie was turning red and white,
and his knees were shaking under him.
HAS she said that she will go?" he
asked, avoiding the doctors eye.
Il haven't asked her, and don't pro-
pose to. What does she know? OF
course she'd say she couldn't go. 1t is
time now for the men to do something,
If there are any men left in this das-
tardly mine. Do you know what the
old man has done?" and the fiery little
doctor exploded again over the "cow-
ardly telegram which he said was "a
disgrace to the mine and to every man
connected with it," The doctor refused
to set down that action of Mr.. Bing-
hams to the score of humanity or con-
Germ for the company sproperty, which
shows how loss of reputation in several
ways may destroy mans credit in the
few ways remaining and rob him of the
| last charitable doubt.
did you ever read story called
Better DeadP I don't know the name
of the crank who wrote it," the doctor
added, modestly-he was not literary in
his tastes-'but he hit on good phrase
right there. I've used it to my own sat
isfaction quite frequently since 1 read
the thing. There's friend of ours not
far from this who were better dead.
He is dead. The vital spark has been out
of him so long it's indecent to have
i'm he
frank about it. I've lived long enough
in the west not to have many preju.
dices, but there are one or two things
| cannot stand. | can't stand a coward
and | can't stand a man who doesn't
know how to take care of his women
folks. To see girl like Miss Bingham
mixed up with such an outfit as that!
Now, if she can't be taken out of this
place any other way I will elOpe with her
myself, and that might make trouble
in the family. But there's no need OF
me when here are you two fellows, who
stood by her once before when the old
man went back on her. And she went
under fire for you just as if she'd been
brought up TO it. Her conduct that
night shows what she can. do if re-
qured. It's no SLOUGH of IA trip I've laid
out for you. and Pln sorry, Darcie, You
mad the bad taste 10 get shot, just as
two arms would have been so MORALLY
convenient. Fn afraid the journey
will be rough on you"
Its no use. DOCTOR" said Darcie,
quietly, in the bitterness of despair
that was beyond words; "she will never
go in the world-not with me. They
have shown her that letter, and she
thinks | have lied to her; moreover,
accused her to her face of opening it
and reading it herself"
That was pleasant" said the doctor,
dryly. "Any other little endearments
pass between you? Is this your inter
national style of courtship? I've won
dered how you Englishmen manage to
get on so fast with our girls!
We'll she is thinking about your
safety now, purely on account of the
reparation we owe you at the mine. It
is on her conscience that she wishes she
knew where you are. ! haven't told her
yet; it's just as well to let you stay on
her conscience awhile longer; you'll
never stay in safer place, and she has
got to have something there. But don't
presume upon it. Has it occurred by
this time to your Investigating mind
that there might be ways for lady
to come by the contents of a letter be-
sides helping herself to it? Do you
know that the old mani won't call
him her father-confronted her with
that information you have been col
'eeting and accused her of helping you
to get it, and of being your vile ac-
complish' generally?-on the word of
Abby!"
Don't make it any worse, doctor!"
pleaded Darcie, humbly. 81 know she
can never forgive that shadow of 3
thought in me- Yet it seemed, as she
put it, simple statement of fact"
"Of what fact?"
THAT she had read my letter. I'm
not defending myself"
Il should hope not" the doctor coin
cided, while Darcie was realizing that
he had purchased great relief at the
expense of deeper despair. Suppose
she had read it? She was the Judge
whether she could read it or not; wom-
en- seem to be able to do things that
men can't do, and vice versa. if you've
noticed. Anyhow, when fact about a
g'rl you believe in is impossible on the
foce OF it, | wouldn't NEEDLE with it;
especially if she furnished the fact her
self. Women and facts are the queerest
things when they get thoroughly
mixed; you have simply to choose be-
tween your woman and your facts. In
your case, Darcie, l needn't say I'd take
the woman every time"
You would if it wasn't too late"
said Darcie. 1T all comes to the same
thing; she will never go with me. But
If she must go, perhaps she will go with
Mike. Tell her, doctor, that I'm not
going. l am not going. I'm going to
stay and finish my work. came here
to do it and l shuffled out of it for a
selfish reason; now l intend to see it
through. was spy; she believes that
am one still. If needful l will meet the
fate of spy; it seems to be meant for
me-"
''Oh, come Off the roof, and do as YOU