The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-12-18

Office.
However, in love, as in war, 1t is the
unexpected that often happerz Joe
Redboit proposed, and was refused
point blank.
Now most men, when they see a
dangerous rival put out of court. bury
their animosity and even become gem
erous.
But this was not the case with Fred
Dewhurst. fetty annoyances devel-
oped rapidly into daily insults, until
the morning. as we have seen, he had
found an excuse to cut lis former
scnool fellow adriff.
IL
Joe Redbolt picked up the pile Of
coins. counted them deliberately and
put them in his pocket
Now. Fred Dewhurst.- he said
huskily. I'VE are no longer master and
man, 50 that i can say what think
Dewhurst looked rather alarmed,
and drew small silver bell nearer to
his side.
''oh, don't be frightened,r said Joe,
with smile Of establishment. I'm
not going 10 thrash you, II wouldn't
be fair to ait man your sizei''
Mr. Dewhurst tried to sneer, but
only looked nightly relieved
Il want TO tell you what think OF
you said Joe.
60 on" said Dewhurst. with
grin Seeing that you've had the
worst of II all through. suppose L
mustn't mind few spiteful words
Il want to tell you you're the mean
est cad I've met, and if that poor girl
marries you I'm sorry for herr
IN fact. you're so sorry said Dew
hurst. that you'd even marry her
yourself, Capitall Anu, now you've
said enough, III wish you good
morning"
With a mighty effort of self
restraint Joe pulled kim elf together.
and. resisting the impulse to knock
him down. swung out of the room.
He had lost everything girl he
loved and the means of earning his
living He was alone in the world.
with no prospect but that of CON-
meneing life again in some counting
house. and-then suddenly he re-
memhered- Only two nights before
he had attended drill at the headQuar-
tiers of his volunteer corps The men
had been asked which of them wished
to join the C. l. Y. for the front He
thought OF the glow that had burnt
through MS veins. how he had longed
TO offer himself. and had only been
prevented by his feeling of obliga-
tion to his old friends business. Vow
he was free,
That settled IT. Old England was in
need of help from men such as he.
He was as sound as a 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 1,4O0 men as fit as you
are" he said. I've shall do WELT
Having successfully passed all the
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-ourdened citizens
He had even fought his way success
fully through a mob of enthusiastic
patriots all the way from Bunhin
Row TO Nine Fins. where he was one
of the first TO arrive
There stood the train waiting TO
take them 10 southampton. There.
too. stood the Iong-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 it was all over There
was nothing TO be done but get into
the train and say good-by TO old Lon
don for months-perhaps forever
Once more a gloomy sense of loneli-
ness came upon him Everybody else
had chum OF relative 10 see him
off. And then-an angel came from
heaven? Not quitel But an earth
" angel appeared. in the shape of
slight form in a long black cloak.
who was pushing her way feverishiy
through the crowd eagerly scan
ming the faces of the gentlemen in
khaki
Then their eyes met. and in min
ute he was elssping in his arms the
girl who had refused him month be-
fore and in whose presence he had
always been so shy that he had never
dared TO press her hand.
How had il hsppened2 There seemed
no need-and certainly no time-for
explanations. Why had he accepted
her foolish No" when she never
meant him to- She always thought
he would speak TO her again Why
had he been so awkward and brusque
in the way he had asked her2 He
had given her no chance &c say Yes
And il was only last night she had
learned what had happened II fron
DewhurSt's own iips-and she had