Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1900-11-29


Office.
However, in love, as in war. 1t is the
unexpected that often happens Joe
Redbolt proposed, and was refused
point blank.
Now most men, when they see
dangerous rival put out of court. bury
their animosity and even become gen.
erous.
But this was not the case with Fred
Dewhurst. retty annoyances devel-
oped rapidly into daily insults. until
the morning, as we have seen, he had
found an excuse to cut ais former
school fellow adrift.
H.,
Joe Redbolt picked up the pile Of
coins, counted them deliberately and
put them in his pocket.
"Now, Fred Dewhurst," he said
huskily. 1--WE are no longer master and
man, so that l can say what / think"
Dewhurst looked rather alarmed,
and drew a small silver bell nearer to
his side.
"oh, don't be frightened" said Joe,
with a smile of astonishment. "rm
not going to thrash you II wouldn't
be fair to nit man your sizel"
Mr.. Dewhurst tried TO sneer, but
only looked nightly relieved.
81 want to tell you what think OF
you." said Joe.
go on!" said Dewhurst, with a
grin. Seeing that you've had the
worst of II all through, suppose
mustn't mind few spiteful wordsl"
81 want TO tell you you're the mean
est cad I've met, and II that poor girl
marries you I'm sorry for herl"
I'm fact, you're so sorry" said Dew
hurst, that you'd even marry her
yourselfl Capital! Anu, now you've
said enough, III wish you good
morning"
With mighty effort OF self
restraint Joe pulled him elf together,
and, resisting the impulse TO knock
him down, swung out of the room.
He had lost evcrything-the girl he
loved and the means of earning his
living. He was alone in the world,
with no prospect but that OF com
mencing life again in some counting
house, and--then suddenly he re-
membered. Only two nights before
he had attended drill at the headquar-
ters of his volunteer corps. The men
had been asked which OF them wished
to join the c. |, " for the front. He
thought of the glow that had burnt
through his veins, how he had longed
to offer himself, and had only been
prevented by his feeling Of obliga-
tion to his old friends business. Now
he was freel
That settled II. Old England was in
need OF help from men such as he.
| He was as sound as bell In wind
and limb; he had done his turn at
volunteering and could shoot more
than little.
Within half an hour his name was
entered as one of those who were
ready for service at the front, and he
was ordered to go before the doctor.
That gentleman laughed at him.
"If we get i,4OO men as fl as you
nre," he said, 1--WE shall do welll"
Having successfully passed all tho
tests, and been duly enrolled as one
of the city OF London imperial vol
unteer corps. he felt slightly easier
In his mind
At last the final moment came. He
had attended the service at ST. Paul
and sung the national anthem until
| he was hoarse. He had been slapped
on the back by hundreds OF warm
hearted but heavy-burde citizens.
He had even fought his way success
fully through mob OF enthusiastic
patriots all the way from Bunhill
Row to Nine Elms. where he was one
OF the first to arrive.
There stood the train waiting to
take them TO Southampton. There.
too, stood the long suffering band, and
every minute groups OF breathless,
excited men in khaki, who had also
fought their way through the crowd,
rushed onto the platform.
OF course IL was all over. There
was nothing to be done but get into
the train and say good-by 10 old Lon
don for perhaps forever
Once more n gloomy sense Of loneli'
ness came upon him. Everybody else
had n chum or a relative 10 see him
of And then-an angel came from
heaven? Not quitel But an earth
ly angel appeared, In the shape Of q
slight form in long black cloak
who was pushing her way feverishly
through the crowd. eagerly scan.
ming the faces OF the gentlemen In
khaki"
Then their eyes met, and in a min
ute he was clasping In his arms the
girl who Ind refused him a month be
fore and in whose presence he had
always been 40 shy that he had never
dared to press her hand,
How had II happened? There seemed
no need-and certainly no time -fol
explanations. Why had he accepted
her foolish mo" when she never
meant him TOT She always thought
he would speak To her again. Why
had he been so awkward and brusqu'
In the way he had asked herr liz
had given her no chance to say Yes.
And It was only last night she hac
learned what had happened - from
Dewhurst's own lips-and she hat
cried all night at the mischief she hat
done, and would he forgive her7 Anc
did he care for her little bit7
Take your seats, there" roared al