The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-29

doubt must be set at rest. Turning his
lNcoat collar in order to protect himself
as far as possible from the flames, he
rushed headlong into the burning nouse
Crossing the mess room, he peered
through the smoke into the various
cubicles Three of them were empty, but
In the fourth, stretched out upon the
floor, was the body Of man. Short,
|AhowevegUas the distance was, it required
Fall his strength and endurance to7ssss5se
out 2 The man he was saving was will
1iams himself. his erst-while bully, and
he was not only tail man, but heavy
one. AT last he succeeded, and they
reached the open air in safety.
Good Heavens, it is Blake!' cried the
manager, who, with several of the hands,
had just arrived at the spot, What does
this mean?" ES5
Blake, however did not reply. He tried
to speak, but sank unconscious into Rad
cliffe's arms When he recovered his
senses he was lying on a couch in the din
ing room, and the managers wife was
bathing his temples Poor frightened
Nelly was watching him from close at
hand while the manager himself was
pouring out glass of brandy at the
sideboard He returned with it TO the
sofa, to find Blake eyes open, and the
young man conscious once more.
AS soon as he had sufficiently recovered
to be able to tell his tale, he explained
all that had occurred.
"You have heaped Goals of fire on VII
liams' head" said the manager. but /
would not have had this accident Ior
ANYTHING. 1t will make things very diff
cult for me-
Next morning he explained the mean
ing of this speech.
at ruts me in an unenviable position"
he said II don't suppose that you have
heard that Mr.. Delacro has sold the sta
ton since you went away. l am TO
hand it over intact to the new purchaser
as soon as he arrives to take possess
sion"
"Sold the station?'' cried Blake, with
every sign of surprise and alarm upon
his face. That's bad news, indeed. 1.
hope the new owner will take you on as
manager"
Radcliffe shook his head.
81 am afraid Delacro won't say enough.
for me-" he answered. We'll, as the.
place has paid, he always had notion.
that it ought to have done better. NO,
he continued lugubriously. Il suppose
it will mean that the wife and children
will have to give up the home they are
so fond of. We shall have to look for.
another ELSEWHERE. This last wretched
business will spoil whatever chance L!
may have had of staying on. I've only
Williams drunken folly to thank for it.
That night, after dinner, Blake and
Nelly found themselves walking among
the orange bushes in the garden. They;
talked of many things. but 1t was only.
when Nelly suggested that it was time
for them to return to the house, that.
the young man came to the point.
4 Nelly he said, drawing little closer
to her. when / was q wretched new
| chum, and the fellows tried to make
me miserable you took my part, and en-
couraged me. Will you continue to
| do SOP
/ what do you mean?" she faltered,
+ though in her heart She knew very well
what was in his mind.
| Il mean that even though / have come
into the title and money, / still want
looking after. No one can do it so well
as you. In plain words, Nelly, I love
you, and I ask you to be my wife. -
What she said in answer does not real
! 1y matter. It is sufficient that when they
re-entered the house his arm was about
her waist and she was telling herself
| over and over again that she was the
happiest girl in all Australia.
An hour later, when Blake had had his
! talk with Radcliffe, and matters We're
definitely settled, the family went into
the little drawing-room. Radcliffe was SO
! excited that he scarcely knew what to
say. He wandered about the room like
an amiable lunatic. ready to shake hands
! with any man.
Nell, my girl he said, kissing his
daughter for about the twentieth time,
IF it weren't for the fact that we've
got to turn out of this old place, L
should be as happy man as could
be found in New South Wales.
'.And with regard to the self same
| turning out saidBlake. I've got some
thing to say to YOU But before do
] SO I want you to witness my signature
to deed If you will allow me will
get it." ~
He disappeared from the room, to re
| turn in a few moments with an innpor-
tant looking document. To this he at
| tached his signature. Then ne invited
| Radcliffe to follow his example. The
| latter wrote his name at the place in