Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-07-02

looked upon Its bright. careless sars
face. Something more than ths
thought Of q perhaps dying father had
brought that look there.
One minute only ii flashed upon
him. then. dropping into chair, the
young man hid II in both arms. out
stretched on the table.
why. Travis, old fellow, what has
cut you up sog DO not give up iske
this. God grant you may yet ind
your father alive"
Travis raised his head, with move
ment half impatient
1T was so sudden, Milton" he an.
swered. II has unnamed ne. Thank
you"-stretching out his hand-~for
trying to see the last of me! A beast
ly hour to sail, il il mott"
"Beastly, indeed, But come-you
have no time to lose In what way
can be of service to you?"
only by staying with me while
pack a few necessaries in my port
manteau, and then, IL you viii. giving
me goodbye shake on the steamers
deck"
REST assured, my dear fellow, you
shall not see the last OF me until you
go steaming down the harbor. and then
only for a little while Travis, some
of these days I am going TO hunt up
my little sweetheart. II she Is half as
lovely a woman as she was child, I
shall find many TO compete with me-
for the prize. Tell her she must not
forget my claim"
PLENTY Of time for that" answered
her brother "Avice is but child yet,
scarcely fifteen. Tiff my father dies,
she must add her voice"
A scarlet flush rose to Travis tenn
pies.
''Tf my father lives" he answered.
81 shall still return at once. In any
case, shall not be long abroad"
Travis" Lennox said gravely.
"take my advice and don't come back
yet awhile You viii forgive an old
friend for speaking freely, viii you
not? But there is something / meant
to tell you. which perhaps now is bet
ter left unsaid, and which your stay.
for a time at least. abroad, will let
rest forever in its grave. ] want you
to take back, TOO, the check you sent
me tonight. Not that either you Or
would miss the amount. but want If
possible, TO wash my hands OF my
share in that transaction"
ar = fca1
Travis, haughtily. I'VE made bet.
/ lost, you won. only regret we SO
ligEtly used the name of woman I
have learned to both honor and re-
spect"
And one who is not worthy OF
either"
Dare to say that again 10 me, and
though you we're my brother would
force the words down your throat"
interrupted Meredith. springing 20 his
feet. his face lurid with passion. his
hand clenched.
But equally pale was the man whom
he addressed. Milton Lennox was no
coward. and few men would have ut
tered such words to his face without
the penalty of blow: but by violent
effort he controlled himself.
He had gone SO far; IN self-justifca-
ton he must go further. He had APP
piled the knife to the wound; in mercy
he must not spare his patient.
Travis he said, and his voice was
low and gentle as woman's. Il am
many years your senior. We have
both Of us known that perhaps in the
distant future we might, indeed, be
brothers, were both Ayice and free
on her eighteenth birthday, when We
were to be called upon to ratify or re-
nouuce our childish pledge. You have
known me boy and man. No ordinary
friendship has existed between us.
was led, a few nights ago. to expose
you to such temptation as ! might
have seen you would be powerless TO
withstand. For my part in this for
give your words and will explain why
uttered that which called them
forth"