The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-16
CHAPTER VIII.


 A tall man, with long, swinging gait. in. 1harp contrast to the slow amble of the soKnspeople, came hurrying up the walk. Betty was in his arms before he reached the floor.
 She's all right, papa. The doctor saye she is doing well, but her arm Is broken Mr. Kent was going to run no risks, and New York physician was to arrive on the following train. When he did arrive he ex- amined the arm, said that all was as well as could be and departed with a goodly fee, but leaving, Mir. Kent feeling well repaid in the added security. Katy came siding m and, after a few prellminaries, made friends rapidly, for Mir. Kent was as much lke Betty as a big man could be like little girl Seated by Bonnle's bed, with Betty on one knee and Katy on the other. MT. Kent listened to an account of all the small trials and the happy Saturdays and sundays or the past weeks. Last of all, for Bonnie had Insisted on keeping 1t to the last, came the story of the gold sediment.
 Well, I'll be swamped," said MT. Kent Rs, highly amused, he examined it.
 ''It's gold, isn't it, papag'
 ''Why, of course, it's gold," turning It over In the palm of his hand.
 Betty clapped her hands. s'Now the As tors will be rich, won't theyY
 Mot so fast, Betty B. We'll have to look over the ground before making nasty asser- tions, but it certainly looks like good haul''
 A knock at the door and the trunk of t'furbelows," as Mir. Kent termed them, was brought in.
 Watts ferbeos?'
 Pretty things Katy did"
 Bonnie and Betty laughed in pleasure and amusement when the trunk was opened. Not. In 10 years could they make use of thls shining rainbow mass of ribbons fans, silk stockings, feathers and lace galore.
 ~l,k hot -t.aA d ...A you might give to the other girls"
 Mot on your life," returned Betty. "I'H give some to the little ones, but the big girls have been mean and nasty.'
 "Hoity, tolty, spittirel We're pretty good people, and, true, they haven't seen 1t. Now, suppose we try showing them the way, and I'll bet we'll find they're pretty good, too' Betty hesltated. Bonnie can do things nicer"
 "You can't go through life hiding behind your sister, curly head. So begin." Betty plucked up courage and rapped at Mary Randall's door,
 Papa has just come," they heard her say, ''and he's brought lots of pretty things, and"-a pause-"we'd like lots and lots to have you come and choose something"
 Mary Randall might make mistakes, but she was little thoroughbred, and the re- sponse came instantly:
 Betty, that's mighty sweet of you and don't deserve 1t, for I haven't been nice at all."
 r Betty put up her face and Mary, stooping. kissed it. They could not but admire the ease with which Mary returned MT. Rents salutation, and then said, bravely, with a smile to Bonnie:
 Bonnie, we've treated you shamefully. You see, we've got used to one kind of nice people all our lives, and we got to thinking that all nice people must be just the same" I think, with keener appreciation of the daintiness of dress, Mary got more enjoy tment out of the aunk tlIan our B's; and Katy departed decked like an oriental prin cess. You may be sure that the faithful little champions, their classmates were not forgotten, nor even the servants, who took their gifts shamefacedly and still trifle doubtfully.
 But the best of my story Is to come.
 Mir. Kent kept his word and looked the ground over. He found that the stream had brought from somewhere in the bowels of the earth, whence 1t came, fine powder of gold and had filtered it into the bed in the gorge. By the aid of capital, which MT.