The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-08-22

i against Billy, the thing was settled
and the two friends entered stimuli
taneously as cashier and credit man
of the Gale factory. Then it was Mr.
Gales turn to be astonished, not al
Bruce's quick progress-that wac to
be expected of the son of so famous
business man-but at almost super
natural aptness for all manner OF
commercial achievements which Bill,
~ at once displayed. In six months
he was easily the best informed man
| about the place. He coached Bruce
now as he had coached him at col.
| lege, taught him the mysteries of
double entry" and the science of
| journalizing, worked him on the
| books after Office hours and divided
! the work with such effect that the
two young men between them were
soon equal to and familiar with
| every department of the business.
Meanwhile Billy was frequent Wis.
itor at the Gale home. Mr.. Gale
| continued to dislike his cashier, but
| he could find no fault with him. Mrs.
Gale was beginning to need him.
Marjory-but that was her secret.
1t was in November that Billy's
visits to the Gale house suddenly
ceased.
"How is Mr.. Hereford ?" asked Mar.
jory's mother, noticing the silent, sui
len faces of her husband and Bruce.
| Hes gone, absconded, rubbed us!"
roared Mr.. Gale, with an oath. "Got
away with $1,000 before"
"How dare you!" said Marjory,
turning very pale, but her father paid
no attention. Billy, he said, had made
away with the money; an overdraft
| at the bank had betrayed the theft.
There was no doubt about it, Here
| ford either could not or would not
explain. That was enough for them
to know. Mr.. Gale would let him go
his ways, not because he had any
doubts of his guilt, but, well, because
he was Bruce's friend, or had been.
1t was early in June the following
year that the Gales went east for
Marjory's sake. She had been fail
ing for quite awhile, and the doctor
urged change of scene, sea air and
what not. When they were installed
in their cottage at Chelsea, Mrs. Gale
telephoned for phaeton with a
driver to take Marjory along the
shore drive. Her mother cautioned
the man, who was bearded and
bronzed, to be very cautious. He
seemed very nervous, almost ill, and
his hand shook, but the girl climbed
in and the phaeton started. When
it was in the thicket at the foot of
Rogers Hill, Marjory, tears in her
eyes, and her lips quivering, put her
wasted hand on his arm, on "the
drivers" arm, and said:
81 know you, Billy"
81 wish you did, Miss Gale" he an
swered, very quietly, looking out
across the sea.
81 know you didn't do it, Billy" she
whispered, you needn't prove it, I'm
quite satisfied
He looked round quickly, his fine
eyes dilating, his brunei face flushing
beneath the tan.
| 'What-who-did Bruce tell you?
He should not have done it. He prom
ised me he would keep silent. But
you won't hold it against him, will
you, Miss Marjory. 1t was gambling,
nothing else. Bruce is all right, Mar
Miss Gale, Just can't overlook bet,'
as he used to say. He promised me
he'd quit it,
'But-so Bruce is all right but
mean enough to let you suffer for
him? He"
mo, no, he wanted to explain, to
| confess indeed he did" interruDted
Billy, didn't he tell you? 1 wouldn't
let him. He had everything to lose
and nothing to gain by disgracing
himself, and all of you. While 1!
What did it, what did it matter?
have nobody, no friends except
| Bruce-and-"
"You have me, Billy" There was a
long pause before he said: "God
bless you, Marjory. I hoped so, and
and, intended to find out for sure,
but Bruce got away from me too
soon, and then it was too late"
And, though Marjory went driving
every day till September, it took all
her ingenuity and all her eloquence
to persuade her driver that the best
thing to be done for Bruce, for her.
self, for Billy, for all of them, was
to put up her brother on his honor
to square Hereford with Mr.. Gale
at any cost. And he did it.-Chicago
Record-Herald.