The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-29
THE ADVERTISERS A x M
 .x .s DAILY SHORT STORMY
Copy right. ,soe. by Daily Story Pusnshins Gel

50, but was well preserved.
 That morning before Turley vent to bed he took serious counsel with him. self regarding the question Miss Cray in the far Western cottage came before his vision. but they seemed dull in the light of the flashing ones of Miss Graymont.
 "She was right" he said to himself. She would never be fitted for life here"
 The next day he wrote the Western girl a letter. You were right" he said: 'as you always were. You would not like 1t at all here in this great. whirling city. and doubt if we ever would be contented."
 He hurried to Miss Graymont the next evening and pressed his suit. She put him off with the proposition that be possible to consider marriage. She did not disguise the fact that she liked him immensely. but luxuries were a necessity to her and she suggested that they wait and see if he could not execute a coup of some sort that would line his pockets.
 He turned to the card table with new feverishness-andl lost heavier, in consequence. Night after night he got deeper in debt to Mackay. who was un- failing in his offers of accommodation taking always. however. his I. o. U. Finally, a1e was compelled to face the cold fact that not only were his sav- ings all gone, but his future was mort gagged for years to come.
 About this time Mackay came to him one day and asked a private interview.
 Your fortune and mine are in sight" said he. "Slow & Company are making one of the biggest deals ever made on the board. They control the market absolutely. You are on the in- side and so thoroughly in their confi- dence that you can find out what the plan Is. If you will let me know to- morrow I can round up a million apiece for us. I will furnish all the money and credit necessary. All you need do is to give me the information. You will not be known in the matter at all--and as bonus we will tear up those little I. O. us of yours.'
 Hurley was tempted to strike him, but, remembering his indebtedness, re- trained, but coldly refused.
 Mackay then called his attention to his relations with Miss Bernice Gray mont.
 "She will never marry you without money. It would be impossible from her standpoint, although I know she is deeply in love with you. Here is the chance of lifetime. Are you going to miss it?"
 Finally, Mackay persuaded Hurley to go with him to Miss Graymont's apart ments. There the question was re- viewed thoroughly. On the one hand Mackay, who was deeply interested, coldlv threatened to push for payment of his gambling debts should Hurley refuse to assist him. On the other Ber- nice. with ill-concealed joy at the pros- pect, lent all her allurements to urge him to take this way out of their troubles. Hurley knew if Mackay should push him for his gambling debts his position with his house would be forfeited, as Slow & Com pany believed gambling (except on the Board of Trade) to be an unpardonable sin. Torn by contending emotions, he promised to go into the deal.
 Hurley found no difficulty the next day in ascertaining the pians of his firm. So strong was the confidence in him that 1t required little finesse to accomplish this. Taking a cab, he hurled toward the place he had agreed to meet Mackay.
 During that brief ride, conscience, which had been pricking him ever since he left Miss Graymont's apartments, broke into active rebellion, and mem- ory long lulled to sleep, opened its flood gates. The enormity of the offense he was about to commit burst upon him; the insane folly of his life in Chicago became clear to him; he saw the dreadful, pree.piee over which lie V as hanging; all of the struggles and suc- cesses, the sacrifices and triumphs of his long and arduous life in the south west came back to him. A vision of a girl with brown eyes arose. He thought he heard again her words of advice and encouragement, constantly dwelling upon the advisabiity and necessity of being true to ones self, regardless of loss or gain. All at once he saw in front of him the abyss of shame, dis grace, humiliation and hopelessness into which he was slipping. Then which had won him success in the West. In an instant his mind was made up. In another, the cab was whirling toward his apartments. With in two hours he was hurrying back to- ward the cattle country as fast as steam could carry him; his resignation was in the hands of Slow & Co.,, and Mackay had a note informing him that the deal was off; that he had left the city, and that those I. O. us would be good as soon as he got on his feet.
 He went straight to the girl with the brown eyes and told her the whole story, relentlessly, sparing not a de tail. He told her of his awakening from the nightmare of excitement and dissipation, through the memory Of her goodness and beauty and strength. He told her he had come not for for giveness but for advice. When he had finished, she said:
 Well. Teddy, guess we can begin over again."
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