The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-04-01
StPERFhUOUS
~ CASH ~
BY E. E. oARNHTT.


mad Jnelr everyday 1Ol0 ana SUFFERED
the usual Indifferent glances; but
with the crisp rattle of the opening
sheets came startled exclamation and /
coffee and steak at many tables grew
cold. Neale and Company had failed.
For Neale himself the readers did not
concern themselves; he had many
irons in the fire and the falling of one
was bagatelle, but Company" was
a different story. Phil Graham's all
was vested in that title, and the
town loved Phil. Moreover, the town
had advised him as to the unlucky
venture, so responsibility weighted its
sympathy.
Something must be DONE" said
Maj. Anderson, taking gulp from
his chilled cup.
But what?" asked pretty Nell.
Then there was pause, with family
of wrin1led brows.
''You see," said Miss Benton, who
was the majors ward, there is moth
ing a man is more fastidious about
than the way he is helped"
The Andersons all looked at her
and tken took demurely to their
breakfasts. They had suddenly re-
called the fact that this subject was
of more Importance to her than to
anyone else except Company" him
self, and they found comfort in the
thought of her income.
True" and the major smiled as he
Endorsed her remark, ''and the greater
his need the more pigheaded Phil will
get"
80, if might suggest" coloring
daintily.
"Yes?" The major bent his hand
some gray head in gracious defer
ence.
81 should let him alone"
"Oh," said Nell, aghast, mot even
sylnpathize?"
Doesn't sympathy in such case
carry a bit of humiliation? AS if one
were not equal to emergencies"
The major laughed. "Of course,
he said, "a young lady with three
/ thousand a year in her own right
knows about the way to fight emer-
gencies."
At this point note came in fol
/ Miss Benton, which she excused her
self to read. She grew white over it
The Andersons after furtive glance
apiece kept their eyes politely tC
their plates and talked as fast as pos
sible on foreign subjects. All stood
up finally with breaths of relief. Miss
Benton followed the major to hi.
study and closed the door after her
II knew his courage" she said, alb
ruptly. "but 1 forgot the weak side
of his PRIDE
"Ah," said the major, gently put
ting her into chair, "he releases
your"
which is absurd" with va1
smile, what shall 1 do?"
WELL" walking up and down ant
frowning, "as I've said, he's pig
headed; but" a sudden smile fash
ing out, "a beautiful girr"-and h
made a little courtly sweep of haad
to show the helplessness of the worl'
before her will.
No." flushing, che has gone away.
Yes, he had gone promptly away
A vision of Miss Benton's eyes witt
tears among the lashes went along
but he frowned it all down, reflectini
upon the two or three households o
his acquaintance where the wife he'll
the purse. A pretty position for
man of honor and brains and muscl
to call on his wife to pay his butcher
So he hurried west, well from tn
~
keeping at $1,000 year.
But a woman's will is not so easil
dismissed. Some three months late
there came a letter from the on
friend of the old town to whom b
had confided his address, and it ha
this paragraphs: "You have heard c
Miss Benton's trouble? 1t is rumore
that she has lost absolutely every
thing, and l judge there can be n
mistake, for she has sold her ponies
dismissed her maid and is advertii
ing, poor girl, for position as go
N erness."
That day Phil spent studying d.
nestle economy and the possibilitie
y of twelve hundred year. The ne1
IOunu MN Win d fortnight , lSdNe
4 absence and a seat in an east-boun
z train.
y Il ought to send you away" sal
y Miss Benton, with a sigh and POI
and furtiye glance of adoratioi
z but 1 cannot"
y Perhaps" laughed Phil, you ma
n do that later; but" with look il
4 finitely satisfactory to Miss Bento
= money is not everything"
2 Some two years had passed whe
y the major happened in Chicago an
8 called ON his late ward. The stree
= was not a fashionable one, and IL
y house, though coy and artistic, W;
y small and plain.
81 you don't mean to say" gaspS
the major, staring from the late Mi
y Benton's simple dress to the vel
y plain furniture of her sitting-roor
. ''you don't mean to say"
q "Hush," laughing, with finger c
y her lips, 81 have never told him.
y The major sat down limp wit
s. establishment.
"a ssVo,, 600 ,ra - cs,s4o -