The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-10-10
CHAPTER xI.-(Continued.)

ruption. Though her heart beat fu-
riously, her face was calm. She pre-
tended to have missed wholly the I'M
port Of his last words and she sald
But surely to man like you many
countries offer many fields. With your
youth and strength and intelligence
there is almost nothing beyond your
achievement. Is it impossible for you
to remember what you once were ana
strive to be that man again? Can
you not stir the dead ashes OF your
ambitions and, finding one small spark,
stir it into flame? Can you not say to
YOURSELF In spite of past errors, past
offenses, past crimes, perhaps, l stlll
am I, and my life is all before me to
make Or mar as 1 will Don't you
know the lines-Henley's l think: l
am the Master of my fate, l am the
Captain of my souP?"
More beautiful than ever, she plead
ed with him for his own redemption
and it seemed to her that she must
win, because she desired it so. His
next words, however, were lifeless and
the fire died in her:
Il might do that thing if it were
worth while, but it is not. IN all this
world, Miss English, there is no one
to be benefited by my morality except
mysell, and for myself I care nothing.
I shall attempt to escape in all prob
ability, but merely to avoid the physi-
cal. punishment for my wrong-doing.
For the disgrace of that punishment
care little. could hardly be more dis
graced than l am. The prison garb is
warm in winter. shall wear it, may
be, without qualm.'
THAT is not true!" She spoke
sharply, almost aIgrily.
Thank you for the denial. Never
theless it is measurably true. The
outcast, Miss English, lifts his hand
against all men and the hands OF all
men are lifted against him. Other men
make him suffer, but they can do little
to make him ashamed. They have al
ready branded him by their reproba
ton and pursuit, and fashioning his
clothing according to a certain pattern
and cut seem trivial in comparison.
Let me say, however, that you used
Just now a word which l must repu-
date. You told mellow beautifully
I alone know-that I might raise my
self in spite of past errors, past Of
fenses past crimes Errors l have
many-what man has not? offenses 1
have committed-feW men are blame
less; but no crime, done, attempted or
intended, can be laid to my charge"
"Yet," she said bravely, though it
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
talking to Quirino here. I was told
by Vavara that the object of the OK
petition was to cross a large quantity
of cached goods. 1 have been working
with another part Of his men further
down the river during the three
months l have been with him and
know nothing of his alleged cattle
the other night was the first which we
have undertaken Jointly. am snug
gler, Miss English-or rather 1 have
been a smuggler-but am not thief,
or a murderer. I would not have re-
turned to Vavara under any circum-
stances, and what I have heard here
has only strengthened my determina-
ton"
She leaned forward, her eyes shin
ing, happy smile playing upon her
lips. 1t was only for an instant, how
ever, and he, gazing absently through
the window, 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 so, I believe. There is
q confinement penalty attached to it.,
but it is not always enforced. In the
case of smugglers of diamonds or other
Jewels it is usual to confscate the
gems and infiict fine. I am perfectly
willing to admit that it is an immoral
way of gaining a livelihood, made so
by law. AS for serious harm done to
any sentient thing, there isn't any.
The government is defrauded of a tar
If which it has placed on the goods
The people to whom the goods are sold
at reduced rate are, to some extent,
benefited. There is, Of course, some
harm worked to the legitimate dealer
In such commodities, but that is only
because the government has forced
him to pay tariff. However, right
ts right and wrong is wrong and cas-
uistry won't alter it. Smuggling is
forbidden by law and is wrong. I have
followed it for three months, not for
.gainI cared nothing about that-but
for the excitement that came from
the peril Of it. have. seen you and
Ahal. sanuggIe no more. Having seen
yde lshall live in utter reputableness
or I shall not live. have told you
that could not desecrate your mem.
Org"
Axain he trod upon dangerous