Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-01-04

wrapped and tied. and on the tabt
was the long sheet Of white paper o.
which the report was being drawn
The packages contained receipts tho:
sands upon thousands of them-for IN,
dollars he had spent in less than /;
year. They were there for the iuSycc
ton OF Sw~earengen Jones. faithful,
and honorably kept. as IL the old west
erner would go over in detail the count
less documents.
He had the accounts balanced up &
the hour. On the long sheet lay til,
record OF his ruthlesSneSs. the epitapl
OF n million. In his pocket was exact
ly ST9.0S. This was To last him fol
less than ~forty-eight hours, ANA then
II would go TO join the rest. II wa
his plan to visit Grant x Ripley on tire
afternoon of the I'D and TO read the
report to them in anticipation of the
meeting with Jones on the day follow.
ing.
Just before noon, after his encounter
with Mrs. Gray, he came downstairs
and boldly. for the first time in days,
sought out Peggy. There was the old
smile in his yes and the old heartineSS
In his voice when he came upon her
In the library. She was not reading.
Books. pleasures and all the joys OF
life had fled from her mind. and she
thought only of the disaster that was
coming to the boy she had always
loved. His heart smote him as he
lcplya1 fntA tba .lnnN a.,wIn. F,s-y4
ened eyes, running over with love and
fear for him.
Peggy, DO you think I'm worth any
thing more from your mother? DO you
think she will ask me to live here any
longer he asked steadily, taking her
hand In his. Hers was cold. his as hot
as fire. "You know what you said
away OF yonder somewhere, that she'd
let me live here IL | deserved il. /
am a pauper. Peggy. and I'm afraid
TIL may have TO get down to drudg
cry again. VIII she turn me out? You
know | must have somewhere to live.
Shall IL be the p~oorhouse? DO you re-
member saying one day that ia end
In the p~oorhouseY'
She was looking into his eyes. dread
Ing what might he seen in them.
But there was no CLEAN of insanity
there; there was no fever. Instead there
was the quiet smile of the man who Is
satisfied with himself and the world.
His voice bore traces of emotion. but
X was the voice of one who has perfect
control of his wits.
us IL all-gone. Monty? 2 she asked.
almost in a whisper.
Here Is the residue of my estate
he said. opening his purse with steady
fingers. I'm back to where | left off a
year ago. The million is gone. and my
wings are clipped" Her face was
white: her heart was in the clutch of
Ice. How could he be so calm about it
when for him she was suffering such
agony? Twice she started to speak.
but her voice failed her. She turned
slowly and walked to the window.
keeping her back to the man who
smiled so sadly and yet so heartIessly.
Il didn't want the million. Peggy"
be vent on. you think as the rest
do. know. that I was a fool to act as
| did. 1t would be rank idiocy on nv
to blame you any more thar the
for thinking as you do. Ap-
pearances are against me; the proof Is
overwhelming. A year z l was call
ed a man: today they are stripping me
of every claim to that distinction. The
says am a fool. a dolt. almost a
,r1minai. but no u believes | am a
man. Peggy, will you feel better to-
ward me II ! tell You that | am going
o begin life all over again? 1t will
,e a new Monty Brewster that starts
'ut again In a few days, or. IL you will.
{ shall be the old one-the Monty You
nee knew"
THE old MontyY' she murmnrad
oftly. dreetaily. 1T would be good
Q see him--so much better than to see
he Monty of the last year"
And in spite OF all have done,
'eggy, you will stand by me? You
7on't desert me like the restf You'll
e the same Peggy OF the other days!"
g cried, his calmness breaking down.
How can you ask Why should
ou doubt meYv
For a moment they stood silent. each
into the heart OF the other, each
icing the beginning Of a new day.
"Child"-his voice trembied danger
usly-"I-l wonder II you care enough
,r me TOTO But he could only !,
the question. +.
ITO start all 9 again with your
le whispered.
''Yes-fo trust yourself to the prodi-
vino has returned. Without you. /
aid. all the rest would be as the
lsks. Peggy, ! want ~yon-you, You
love me. | a see 1t In your eyes; l
Ia feel II In your presence" I
How long you have been In realiz-
ltr' she said pensively as she 4
retched her arms to him. For
any minutes he held her close. find
& a beautiful peace In the world
Jain.
How long hare you really cared7.
asked IN a whisper.
a AI-.~w -~A~ -.- he Nna1