Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-10-21
At Squdtter's
Gulch
Copyright, 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Co.,
BY THOMAS B. MoNTFoRT

lot ne nad just added another 10
long series of days of hard and futile
effort in his search for gold
Presently another man came down
the road, logged out in his Sunday al
tire. He was humming light air, his
head well up and satisfied express
sion on his face. Joe Cousins watched
this man for moment, a scowl on his
countenance. then to himself he said:
ID him.
When the man came even with Joe
he stopped and, for an instant, stood
silent, cycling him closely. There was
something of an air of triumph in his
manner that was exasperating.
WELL" he said, presently, "how's
things?"
with forced calmness
Struck nothing YETI"
mo"
TOO bad, isn't it?"
ooh, l don't know. It takes time
to strike fortune. Things will come
around all right, l guess"
Maybe SO. l hope they will, any
missed your chance up there at Rug
gle's Point. If you had done as l did
you would be on Easy street now"
That's true. guess; but l prefer
to get money in some other way.
I'd rather remain poor all my life
than rob a helpless old man."
"Oh. it wasn't robbery, Joe. Moth
ing like it. 1t was just merely sharp
stroke of business. IT'S done every
day."
Perhaps it is; but that doesn't
make it right" Joe replied. 1T may
be business in the eyes of some pep
pie. but to me it looks like dishon-
esty."
The other laughed.
well, look at it as you please" he
said. you have that right. I'm
afraid, though, you'll never get on in
this world if you're always going to
be so particular. 1t don't pay. Such
high notions of honor are commendd-
BILE no doubt, but they don't buy any
thing. Well, I'm off for town. Any
thing I can do for you down there?"
NO"
81 may see Miss Harmon. Just
barely possible, you know. If there is
any word you want to send her I'll be
glad to take it."
Joe's face darkened again.
VERY much obliged" he said
There is nothing you can do for
me-"
The other hesitated for a moment,
then, with an eXasperating air OF
self assurance, said:
81 want to be square with you Joe
30 III tell you something I'm going
to ask Miss Harmon to marry me-"
Joe stood up, a flash Of anger in his
eyes. With an effort he controlled
his feelings and calmly replied:
$50 far as I can see that is none OF
my business If you want her, and
she Is willing to have you, marry
her"
"Of course. But knowing that you
are in love with her, I thought
ought to tell you don't want to appear
to take any advantage of you you know
you are very considerate jim,
very. But It Is not necessary for you
to bother about me- You have a per
feet right to marry Miss Harmon
you can get her"
Thanks! l am glad you feel Sc
about It, OF course, know you car
not expect to win her-not in your
financial condition you know. Tha
is one of the great disadvantages o.
being poor, isn't it?"
The half-sneering, wholly patroniz
ing tone in which these words wer,
uttered was highly trying to Joe
Drawing himself up to his full heigh
he said. warmly:
Poor as | am, Jim Lewis, | would
not exchange places with you for tn
world. Money is a good thing Il
have, but clear conscience is better
Even for the sake of winning Mis-
Harmon l would not want to get ,
dollar dishonesty"
mo! Well. hope you may fine
much happiness in your high ideas
Joe. For my part, I'll risk finding M!
happiness in plenty of money and tn,
woman love. So long"
Jim Lewis resumed his walk dow
the road. His manner was that of ,
man thoroughly satisfied with him
self and the world in general. Hi
bearing was that of victor.
Joe Cousins returned to his seat
and, placing his elbows on his knees
dropped his face into his hands. HI
was very unhappy. He loved Jan
Harmon, and he believed he could viii
her If he dared to try. But he wa
poor, and he was too proud to asl
any woman to marry him and shar
his poverty. He had toiled faithful.
for years and fortune had not smile,
on him So far as he could see. Their
was not the slightest indication %
any improvement n his fnanela
prospects. For thu. reason he re
manned away from Miss Harmon, Civ
ing Jim Lewis the field