Mower County transcript., 1904-08-17
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~ By WILL n. aARBEN, ]
IN ID Author Of
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Copyright. 1908. by HARPER a BROTHERS

"Then let's me m you come to an
understanding" said Buckley. II don't
know exactly how to size you up. I've
been thinking about you all this even
ing, and if l don't understand you bet
ter than have done for several years
you and will part. You can keep the
money I've made and saved up, and
If could do it I'd throw the education
you gave me in your face. Ny intelli-
gence has been insulted You have
done all these things for me under the
pretense of love, but it was not that.
Now let's understand each other.'
Hillyer turned as white as death
could have made him. His eyes sank
to the floor, and, with halting step, he
went to the young mans bed across
the room and sat down on the edge
Of 1t.
"You do me a great wrong, George"
he faltered. IF you knowed my
heart
"Well, that's all I'm asking. I want
to know what it all means. tell you
I'm no fool. It's not whisky in me
talking either, for I've puzzled over it
for years, an now that this thing has
happened-an' I don't care whether I
stay In your town anyway-1'm goin'
to be told the truth. What did you
give me my education for, and this
start in the world? Why. az I look
at you gazing at me now it seems to
me you are the very personification Of
the fate that has Knocked me ever s4nce
l was old enough to know was alive.
Curse 1t, what's the matter with you?
Cant you talkT
Hillyer rose to his feet. "I'm goin'
to leave you, George" he said. ITO
morrow We'll talk this over. You are
In no condition to-
Taking a swift, steady stride for
ward, the young man laid his hands on
the merchants shoulders and forced
him back to his seat on the bed. NO"
he said you don't leave here tonight
until you have answered my question
and satisfied me-"
Hillyer leaned forward, his face in
his hands, and groaned.
''Then, George, I'll be obliged to
speak Of something that has not passed
my lips in thirty years, but maybe it is
best fer me to do it, considerin' every
thing. Set down. I kin talk better if
Won won't stand SO close an look at
me so straight. You've had yore rrou-
Bile, an eff you have the heart I think
you have you'll be sorry fer me, an me
an you maybe will be truer friends in
the future. Gi' me time I'll git it
out"
George Buckley threw himself into
the chair at the table. There was a
pause. A train passed on the track
within twenty yards Of the rear door
Of the warehouse, and the floor shook
A pistol shot was heard, followed by
the yelp1ng Of wounded dog at the
other end of the street. The town slept.
George" began the merchant in a
strange husky voice, "you are now
meetin' the biggest trouble of yore
whole life. I was jest about yore age,
an everything was about as promisin',
when my trouble overlook me. George
the old man gulped-"did you ever
hear that I-killed feller jest at the
close O. the war;"
Buckley stared steadily, his brows
raised.
II think-yes, knew about it. But l
didn't think you The young man
seemed unable to formulate his
thoughts into words II knew you
were acquitted and that nobody blamed
you"
"Yes, I was acquitted, but how-ah,
how? You wonder why you was Sc