Courier Democrat., 1904-05-19

thetic eyes. but With lips that obst.
nately refused to say one word.
IL left college at nineteen because
my father died." Wallace went on. Il
am now just twenty-one. A large es-
tate descended to me. and I have had
to care for its investment all alone.
have one sister; that is all.''
$50 have Iy cried Thorpe and stop
ped.
"The estates have not suffered" went
on the boy simply. II have done well
with them. But" he cried fercely, 81
hate it! 1t is petty and mean and wor-
rying and nagging. Now. Harry. I
have proposal to make you. It is this:
You need $4,000 to buy your land. Let
me supply it and come in as half part
ner."
An expression Of doubt crossed the
land lockers face.
"Oh, pleasey' cried the boy. II do
want to get in something real. It will
be the making Of me-"
'Now, see here" interposed Thorpe
suddenly. "You don't even know my
name."
II know you" replied the boy.
''My name is Harry Thorpe" pursued
the other. my father was Henry
Thorpe, an embezzler."
Harry" replied Wallace soberly, 81
am sorry made you say that. do not
care for your name, except. perhaps, to
put it in the articles of partnership.
and I have no concern with your an
cestry. tell you, it is a favor to let
me in on this deal. I don't know any
thing about numbering, but I've got
eyes. I can see that big timber stand
ing up thick and tall. and know peo-
pie make profits in the business"
Thorpe considered few moments in
silence.
wallace" he said gravely at last, II
honestly do think that whoever goes
into this deal with me will make mon-
ey. OF course there's always chances
against 1t. but I am going to do my
best"
The mans accustomed aloofness had
gone. His eyes flashed, his brow
frowned. the muscles Of his cheeks
contracted under his beard.
Wallace gazed at him with fascinated
admiration.
''Then you will?'' he asked tremu.
lously.
"Wallace," he replied again, they'll
say that you have been the victim Of
an adventurer, but the result will
prove them wrong. II l weren't per-
fectly sure of this I wouldn't think of
1t, for like you, and I know you want
to go into this more out of friendship
for me and because your imagination is
touched than from any business sense.
But I'll accept gladly, and I'll do my
best!'
"Hooray" cried the boy, throwing
his cap up in the air. "We'll do 'em
up in the first round.'
CHAPTER XII.
FTER Wallace left them the
two men settled again into
H their customary ways Of life.
(D Up to the present Thorpe had
enjoyed a clear field. Now two men
came down from above and established
temporary camp in the woods half
mile below the dam. Thorpe secn sat
isied himself that they were picking
out a route for the logging road.
The two men. Of course. did not both
er themselves with the timber to be
travoyed. but gave their entire atten-
ton to that lying farther back. Thorpe
was enabled thus to avoid them entire
~. He simply transferred his estimat-
ing to the forest by the stream. Once
he met one of the men, but was fortu-
nately in Il country that lent itself to
his pose Of hunter. The other he did
not see at all.
But one day he heard him. The two
up river men were following carefully
but noisily the bed of little creek.
Thorpe happened to be on the side hill.
80 he seated himself quietly until they
should have moved on down. One of
them shouted to the other, who. crash
ing through thicket, did not hear.
"Ho-o-o. Dyerw the first repeated.
'Here's that internal conner over herev'
'Yop." assented the other. coming"
Thorpe recognized the voice instantly
10 that Of Railways scaler. His hand
crisped in gesture Of disgust. The
man had always been obnoxious to
him.
Two days later he stumbled on their
camp. He paused in wonder at what
he saw.
The packs lay open, their contents
scattered in every direction. The fire
had been hastily extnguished with a
bucket Of water, and a frying pan lay
where it had been overturned. II the
thing had been possible, Thorpe would
have guessed at hasty and unpre-
meditated flight.
He was about to withdraw carefully
lest he be discovered when he was
startled by touch on his elbow. It
was Injun Charley.
''Dey go up river" he said. Il come
zee what de row"
The Indian examined rapidly the con-
dition Of the little camp.
''Dey look for somethin'." said he,
making his hand revolve AZ though
rummaging and indicating the packs.