Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-09-26

leess; but no crime. done, attempted or
intended, can be laid TO my charge"
Yet" she said brayely, though 1t
hurt her sorely, you were with the
band which crossed the river to loot
Glynn's cattle. What is cattle-theft
but crime?"
He flushed deeply, but his voice was
even and his eyes still kindly as he re-
piled,
THAT learned for the first time in
taking to Quislno here, | was tcli by
Navara that the object of the eXpedi-
ton was to cross a large quantity OF
cached goods. have been working
with another part OF his men further
dowr the river during the three months
have been with him and | know moth
ing Of his alleged cattle-lifting opera
tons. The expedition of the other
night was the first which we have un-
dertaken Jointly. am smuggler.
Miss English--or rather have been
smuggler--but | am not q thief. or a
murderer, would not have returned
to Navara under any circumstances,
and what | have heard here has only
strengthened my determination.
She leaned forward, her eyes shining
a happy smile playing upon her lips. II
was only for an instant, however, and
he, gazing absently through the win
dow, had not caught her look She
put her hand to her mouth to hide its
expression and asked demurely:
And isn't smuggling crime?"
He did not turn toward her as he re-
Piled, Hardly 80, | believe. There Is
IA confinement penalty attached to it,
but it is not always enforced. In the
case of smugglers OF diamonds or other
jewels il is usual to conhscate the gems
and intlict fine. | am perfectly will
ing TO admit that IL is an immoral way
.of gaining 4 livelihood, made so by
law AS fer serious harm don &c any
sentient thing there isn't any. The
government is defraudad of tariff
which ii has placed on the goods. The
people to whom the goods are sold at
la reduced rate are, to some extent,
benefited There is, OF course, some
harm worked 20 the legitimate dealer
In such commodities, but that is only
because the government has forced him
to pay a tariff However, right il right
and wrong is wrong and casuistry
won't alter it, Smuggling is forbidden
by law and is wrong | have followed
il for three months, not for gain--l
cared nothing about that-but for the
excitement that came from the peril OF
it | have seen you and | shall smuggle
no more Having seen you | shall live
in utter reputableness. or | shall not
live | have told You that | could not
desecrate your memory"
Again he trod upon dangerous
ground and again she shifted her posi-
ton.
But do you know that you will be
tried for attempted cattle-theft, and
what the penalty is likely to be?'
Surely | know it, since talking with
Quirno | know, too, that conviction
would be certain In Western Texas
court what chance would be afforded
John Britton Weston, lieutenant of
Vavara's band? That rascal is known
the entire frontier along Therefore
| shall not he tried, If can prevent 1t.
do not think that could endure it.
Your face would be with me in the dock
and | might unman me"
| He spoke in low, even voice, not as
| il he were wooing, his tone unstirred
! by passion. He was simply stating q
| fact Not considering for moment
that such woman could look upon a
man In his condition with any deeper
sentiment than pity, he expected nc
return of the worship he lavished upon
! her. She was to him a thing apart
! from him and above him. to be knelt
to from afar She looked at him, her
wonderful eyes tender and dewy Then
she rose and held out her slim white
hand.
Good bye until tomorrow, Mr.. Wes-
ton" she said. Il want to shake
hands. You are so much better than
| thought you, am afraid am III dan
ger of not thinking you bad at all
He took the hand as reverently az
he might have taken the hand OF some
sovereign lsdy, bent over 1t and touch
ed 1t lightly with his lips. Next mo-
ment she was in the dark of the hall
way, hurrying to her room, holding
that hand to her cheek with the other
fondling it
ITO be Contlnued)