The daily Alaskan., 1906-01-06

pang shot through him as a ray of sun light will penetrate some dark and musty corner, and a desire came to him, a desire that vaguely united his wife with this girl. Could he through the one atone for his cruelty to the other?
 little gal" he said, refining in his horse, 'd' ye live in there"
 "Yes."
 with father and mother"
 "Mother-that Is, have been brought up to consider her my mother. But since have grown I reckon she ain't."
 "where is she?'
 She's gone somewheres."
 Do you have to work hard"
 "Yes."
 'I'm looking for a girl like you. How would you like to marry me? I've got plenty of money, and you'd have nothing to do but amuse your self"
 A faint color rose to her face and Q Rleam of interest came into her eyes. She looked the man over from head to foot
 "Tn be mighty kind to yOu," he add cd.
 What would Bill do?"
 Who's BillT'
 My young feller; but he's poor and I'd have to work lot"
 Never mind Bill.'
 Several men were coming, and as Brayton spoke the last words one of them, a fine looking young fellow, stepped out from the rest and said:
 Reckon ye will mind Bill, stranger. I'm Bill and I'd like to know what yere monkeylr round here for?"
 "Oh, only asked the gal if she'd like to marry man that could give her plenty of money. She knows best what she wants"
 Dolly" said the young man re proachfully, have ye been encourag- ing the strangerf"
 Dunno" she replied, apparently un- certain.
 Young man." said Brayton, reckon you will have to fight for her"
 "Tm yer man." replied the young ster, casting reproachful glance at the girl and a vengeful one at Brayton.
 Brayton dlsmounted, the young mans friends arranged the terms, and the principals took positions with re volvers, the girl looking on. They were to begin firing at the discharge of a pistol and continue to do so till one of them dropped. There was no need, however, for more than the first shot. Brayton was too quick for the young man and sent a bullet into his side, which dropped him. Then, after the damage consequent upon her indecislon had been done, the girl plainly showed her preference by taking her Bill in her arms and going into mysteries.
 The lover was carried into the house and Brayton was left standing alone outside. The momentary desire to anchor himself to something better, something akin to his only real love, had but led to a new victim. He sighed. It was the first time he had ever sighed at bringing down an enemy.
 Hearing a footstep behind him, he turned. A woman was approaching who, the moment she saw him, stopped and stared at him.
 Are you Frank Brayton?" she asked.
 ''Yes. And you Mol Bruce"
 "Yes. What ye doIn' here2 Better steer clear O thls house yer standln' before"
 "whyp
 Well, there's some one lives there with me-thats my housewife ye'd rather not see-that Is, If ye got a spark O decency left in ye."
 "DollT' asked the man eagerly, yet with a shudder.
 No. Doll died in luy arms, and as there was no one but me to care for her baby I took her and brought her up as my own. I don't want her to know anything about her father. She's a good girl, and 1t would kill her"
 Then 1t broke upon Brayton that the only worthy impulse that had come to him in many years had been excited by his own daughter.
 "Moll," he said, "go in there. Some pins happened. You'll find a young feller wounded, mebbe killed. Do the best you can for him and let me know if he lives. You can write me at D. Goodby. Here, take this for her, and I'll send more"
 He took a roll of bills from his pocket and, handing them to the wom- an, mounted and dashed away at a gallop.
 After all, Brayton's daughter did not have life of hard work. Brayton was killed a few months later and left her a small fortune. She never knew how 1t had been acquired. And her lover, who recovered, never knew to whom ats wife was indebted.