Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1901-06-26
IS TIMMY!" called Frank Hepburn,

=. the handsome young book
keeper for Wade Brothers.
.Iimmy. the office boy for the same
firm. as is usual in such cases, did not
hear. 1t is singular fact. not yet ex-
planned. that deafness is more preva-
lent among office boys than among
any other class of wage earners.
Jimmy"
Frank Hepburn called more sharp
" this time, and Jimmy relinquished
his favorite occupation of drawing
cats with red ink on the firms note
heads, and slowly approached Mr.. Hep
burns stool.
Take this letter 10 The post office
and drop it into the box marked City
and be quick, please.
Jimmy took the letter, placed IL
carefully between his teeth while he
put on his hat and coat; he then sur
veyed the envelope closely, and asked:
What is that mark in the corner
for. Mr.. Hepburn"
Clear out, you rascal" laughed the
young man, slightly coloring. Its a
secret society sign. Now go!"
AS the boy passed from the office.
Weaver, the cashier, looked up and
yawned: We'll, it's my lunch time"
and minute later he was hurrying
after the leisurely Jimmy.
I'm going past the post office, Jim, y
he remarked, as he overlook that
youth; give me Hepburn's letter and
I'll drop it in for you"
Jimmy, glad of an opportunity to
engage in an interesting game of
marbles he saw being played round
the corner, willingly gave up the let
ter, and Weaver passed down the
street.
''Ah, that's the way the wind blows,
is it?" he thought. CHANGING at the adj
dress. miss Bertha Wiley, 219 Mad
ison Avenue | thought that that en-
gagement was entirely broken off.
This doesn't look like it; but | mean
to know for certain
Weaver had long been Hepburn S
most persist nt rival. The lady in the
case was prize well worth any mans
earnest efforts to win, and when
Frank Hepburn's engagement to her
was announced, none of her admirers
felt half the chagrin that seized Weav-
er. He had felt almost certain of win
ming her himself al one time, and, in
the expectation of handling her snug
fortune, had incurred certain debts
which. according to the rude fashion
of debts, were now staring him in the
face. Great, then, had been his sa It's
faction when report reached him of
the broken engagement, and he i'm
mediately called on Miss Wiley She
received him cordially, and in the two
succeeding weeks he frequently re-
peated the call.
Il will strike while the iron is hot. =
he said to himself, and. on this very
evening. had determined to know his
fate. when the sight of Hepburn's let
| ter upset his plans.
IL will know what is in VT" he
thought, desperately. 81 can open it
| it's very carelessly sealed. Hepburn
shall not come between us again if
can help it,"
lie hurried home, and holding the
envelope over steaming kettle in his
mothers kitchen, soon had its coveted
contents in his hand 1t ran thus:
We're right. Can | come and be forgiven
l have fine business cffer from house in
ST Paul; II l do not get favora bic reply
! from you Tomorrow 1 shall accept it, and
| go Immediately Life without you is unen-
durable here FRANK"
You will get no answer to-mor-
row., Weaver muttered: land once
safe in the west. my coast is clear
What an idiot to intrust all his happi
ness to letter! But. then. he's sc
terribly proud; he thought it would
hurt his dignity less to write a note
thar seek an interview"
Yes, Weaver was right: Frank was
proud and so was Bertha. \ trivia
lovers quarrel had come between
them. and Bertha. feeling sure Franl
| must see in time he was wrong, die
not try to right herself. She would
gladly meet him half way in any effort
at reconciliation but farther thar
that her womanly self-respect would
not let her go. Meantime her even
ings were lonely; and when Mr.
Weaver called he found her yer,
ready to be entertained
On the day after Weaver obtained
this letter, he watched Hepburn mar
rowly, and saw he was restless ant
nervous. and by night that he wa.
pale and wcah. The next day he die
not appear at the office. and wore
came that he was sick.
Packing up for st. Paul" Weaver
sneered to himself. ITS just an ex
| cuse."
But Frank Hepburn's was no as
sumed illness. "A bad case of brai1
fever" the doctor said. as he gazeC
with more than professional interest
on the young man lying before him
His brown eyes were wide open, an6
restlessly flying from one face to an
other, as if in search of one thai
never came, while his parched tongue
constantly formed the word Bertha,
gently and pleadingly spoken as long
as his strength permitted him to ut
ter it. Then. as he became weaker
only half inarticulate murmu1
greeted the ears of tho anxiou.
watchers who bent above him.
Who is Bertha?" the physician al
last asked the weeping, gray.hairet
mother, who had come from distant
city to care for her only son. wv,
must find her. / have done all l cal
for his body, but only her coming cal
relieve his mind. And" he added
softly, "she must come soon"
IF only knew" the mother an
swered. ''how L would fly to her. L
is breaking my heart to face thos,