The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-13
r O K HER
By FREDERICK UNITE


heart was full of love and pity. ...
IL never forget it," he said. you
know I'll never forget it, Maggie, and
some day Ill try to make it UP to you If
you'll let me-
There was truth and feeling in his voice
and she believed him gladly The some
day was vague and indistinct, but. she
knew he meant it, and when the time
CO me she would be ready
You must go now, she said after a
time. II don't want the girls to find us
here. I'm not bit ashamed'' she added
hastily. thinking she might have hurt him,
but it's just you and me and the beauti-
fui world all to ourselves to-day, and
won't have it spoiled"
II hate to leave you; Maggie he said.
LET me help you up to the house. You
look tired
NO. she answered. I'm all right,
and We'll see each other again. I don't
go home till Tuesday, you know
+ you're not going on Tuesday," he an
nounced. you're not we'll enough, and
you're not going anyhow
'"Oh, yes, am she answered, laugh
ing. We've three whole days together if
you intend to come to see me again." she
added, glancing up at him.
"To-morrow morning here But you are
not going on Tuesday," He drew her to
him and kissed her 1t was the first time,
and she released herself, blushing pref
tily.
Tomorrow she said, moving away.
"Early.'' said Shorty, picking up the
neglected rhododendrons and tossing them
to her. She caught the. fragrant branch
and held it before her face. IF you
should fall and hurt yourself going home,
let me know, and perhaps I'll come
down. she said.
Shorty started toward her, laughing.
MOI she commanded. TO morrow.
perhaps and Shorty stopped obediently.
'Goodby," she said and moved away.
"GOodby,' he called after her and stood
bareheaded until, with a last wave of the
hand, she disappeared behind a cump of
bushes. Tomorrow" he said softly to
himself, and went slowly down the noun
tain. His head and heart were full, and
he wanted time to think.
One thing he was determined upon.
Maggie was not going home yet. She was
in no condition for work, and she must
stay here until she was we'll and strong.
He would arrange it with the people at
her house SO that she would never. know
it was his money.
He Waded the stream and noticed with
surprise that the water was unusually
deep and greatly discolored. 1t had
looked showery up north all day, but it
must have rained heavily to bring about
this change There was a rumble OF
thunder in the air now, and the clouds
were piling up overhead
When he reached his room, he unlocked
the valise in which he kept his few be-
longings and drew out a leather wallet.
He must get some money. Tomorrow he
would need it for Maggie. He took the
roll of bills and began to count. One.
two, three-he did not know he had so
| many small bills-four, five. Surely there
We're some larger ones-siX-there was
one twenty, he knew-seven. His fingers
| ~ H.
was 81 note. Nine dollars! Scarcely
enough for himself if he went away at
once. And Maggie. How could he help
Maggie now? He cursed his folly, his
fatal carelessness in money matters.
1t was growing dark in the room. Once
in while there came flash of lightning
and roll of thunder. The restessness
| of the coming storm was in the air, and it
affected Shorty. He wanted action. He
| wanted to- do something.
| He changed his wet shoes and went
| downstairs. Buckley and another man
| We're. taking ON the porch: Guess we're
! goin' to ketchi heavy" Shorty heard the
| farmer say.
bad fer Hawkins new DAM" said the
other. Met him this afternoon drivin'
back from Newton. Said he'd been down
to the bank. Said he had forty 'dagoes'
Workin' on his place. I'd hate ter have
ter have to pay forty 'dagoes to-morrer,s
he added, with a chuckle.
Seems to me. jerry said Buckley.
''Hawkins is kind Of reckless lettin' q
man like you know he had that much cash
in the house over night. an the church
| needin' a new roof, too
The other man laughed appreciatively,
"Them city folks is awful careless about
| money he said. by Jim,' he added,
| look at that rain comm down the VAL
| ley"
| Shorty drew back from the shelter of
| the doorway unobseryed and went quietly
| to his room. Was this, then, an answer
l to the question he had been asking him
self? Was he to do this for Maggie? It
| must be so. He had been worried-trou-
bled-and the way had been shown to
him.
He opened the valise again and this
| time took out some shining tools. He sat
down on the bed with these relics of his
| former life before him.. In a vague way
he had thought never to use them again,
but this was evidently mistake. The
necessity-the opportunity had arisen,
and they were here, ready for him,
What would Maggie say If she knew
She need never know. He did not want
1t for himself. 1t was for her.
| The rain was driving furiously against
the window. The thunder crashed and
the lightning was incessant. It would be
a wild night, and something Of the mad
ness of the storm stole into Shorty's
brain. He would do it. He knew the
house. He could do it easily Confidence
and sense of his own power came back
to him. The old excitement animated
him.
He would do it tonight, and tomorrow
l-Maggie.