The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-05
Our Daily Sport Story

Harold" she whispered, a frightened ] sob 5n her voice." arn't you glad at what the doctor said. that you will get well?"
 Her eyes grew pitiful as she looked at the long, cadaverous face, grown rough and hairy through months of unfamiliarf- ty with a razor. Shortly the sunken burning gaze came down from the cell ing to her face.
 i----"Glad, Z. .harshly, "when my one thoueht 1 my one hope through all these months | has been that this would be the end, that you could go back to your people in the east and live part of your life as 1t should be lived.''
 But we will go together" eagerly. | That Is the only way I would care to live. We will commence again, and be l so happy"
 I Your people would not accept me. you Know that; and would not in their | place. When a man aims so high aa I nave, and falls so low, the only way Is 10 have his light put out or to put it out himself. There Is no middle course. But l tried to save you from part of 1t, Molly" ring of peeling softening the grtmness of his despair. You know that. When went to Alaska to retrieve myself and failed, and then came here with some wild companions, I thought I was buried for all time. I sent you what money had, with no trace of the sender, and then set about making an end of myself as rapidly as possible. would not live as a failure. If 1t had not been for that wretched affair of the stage coach, you would never have known. You would have thought died in Alaska"
 Blessed stage coach," she exclaimed fervently, even if you--you-" She stopped suddenly, a flush coming to her face. But he understood. She believed he had helped in the hold-up, and his face again became grim. She caught her breath a little, then looked at him square ly. Even if you did have something to do with it, dear" she went on bravely, flor that was what brought me to you. saw an item in a paper stating that several men had been hurt in a stage coach hold-up, and your name was among them. My people objected; but l had the money you sent, and I came straight here. Now you will get well, and we will go away somewhere and commence again and be so happy. But there is the whistle,' with a sudden dis tress in her voice as tho discordant shriek again came through the window, and you haven't eaten a bit."
 You can leave 1t on the bed," grimly T can eat slowly. and 1t will help to Kill time. But you have not eaten anything yourself"
 ''I will take some along" reassuringly. "Good-by, dear" She stopped and kiss ed him. then hurried through the kitchen, snatching up a piece of bread as she ran. Fortunately the bottom factory was only a few rods away, and she could reach 1t before the whistle stopped blow ing. She must not risk losing her job now, for everything depended on the few dollars she could earn.
 After she left the man continued gag ing for some moments, toward the door through which she had disappeared. his face still grim, hard, desparing. Then a convulsive tremor ran through his features, through his frame, and sud- denly he turned his face to the pillow and sobbed as only a strong man who has given up wholly can sob.
 T wish Molly could know my real part in that hold-up," he choked, though l couldn't tell her myself. It wasn't much but 1t was about the only white spot she could put her finger on and look glad. I-Pd like for her to think well or me when it's over, for, of course, I've got 10 change the doctors word some way. Sne must go home to her people,"
 After time the heaving of the weak ended frome grew quiet, and the stean- fast burning gaze returned to the cen- ing. The breakfast remained unnoticed
 The forenoon passed. and half or tne afternoon, and still he stared at the ceiling Then suddenly the outer oooE was flung open, there was swiIt Tusii ash of joyous feet across the door. nis WIG W was by the bedside, kneeling, her Iaee pressed against his. her arms around hlS neck. her eyes wet. her lips treAneinAs' her voice full of joy. and reproaen-
 "oh, Harold" she cried, why oioh