The Appeal., 1906-08-04

Inc afternoon was we'll commenced
at Thompson's Bar when, in answer to
MS knocking, the door of one of the
cabins was opened to Hubbard, and a
voice invited him to enter. He went
In, to ask for timed milk, beholding
woman sha5bily dressed and careless
In her appearance.
She ran her fingers through her
golden hair, and smiled in his face.
Don't you know me, Hub?" she
asked. Am changed so much as
that?"
His face was burning hotly. II
reckon l know you, Miss Georgie," he
answered in husky voice. 81 don't
forget easy"
"Oh, I'm glad!" she cried, placing
her hand on his arm, "for you always
was my friend"
He drew away. Il reckon-I've got
to be going," he faltered.
"Oh, you wouldn't go so quick p"
she coaxed, gliding between him and
the door. "You amt a-going to treat
me mean?"
In her eyes he saw the look that
long before had made his heart thump
and his brain reel. 'I've got to get
back to Bullion Hill tonight" he re-
peated doggedly.
"Oh, no." she pleaded, touching his
hand caressingly. "You are holding
things against me, Hub dear, which
you hadn't ought. l was terrible fas-
cinated by Charlie Dow-you ought to
know l was-and didn't know what I
was doing. You amt a-going to hold
that against helpless girl? You're
tired, Hub dear. Set down, and done
go to Bullion Hill tonight"
In his ears was the voice of Bully
Boy, yet he was thrilled by the wom-
an. She seemed more than ever warm
and delicious to the cold man whose
senses were clOuded. He braeed him
self by a summoning of all his will.
Where is he at?" he inquired.
"Who?" she said, "Charlie?-I don't
know. He's went and left me-went
with Spanish Mag. didn't know
what was doing. It was you I was
loving all the time" She looked in
his face with eyes that blazed and
dilated magnetically.
He was weakly disengaging himself
from her clinging arms. .I've got to
be starting" he repeated, with less de-
termination. "Let me co.
ooh, darling Hub!" she pleaded
while the tears welled up in her eyes.
you wouldn't go and leave your lit
tie George here-even if only for the
old love? Wasn't we once happv
dearest? Wasn't we lovers?'. She
added in a whisper. IF you'll stav
I'll make you happier than any man
In the world, and nothing shall ever
come between you and l again.
Her breath was hot against his
cheek. She had drawn him SLOWLY IN
chair, and now her arms crept ahout
his neck. She knelt at his side. her
lips held daringly up to his own.
He felt himself dizzy, intoxicated
Her eyes. were holding his gaze with
an irresistible power 4All the passion
OF his nature was stealing over his
brain. Suddenly his look was concen-
trated on locket on her breast r.
was open, and in it he saw-the face
of Charlie Dow.
From time to time, after dark. the
miners went out to listen for Hubbard
Five o'clock and six came and passed
without sign or sound.
Suddenly, out of the stiffness of rho
snow came muffled cry.
'M-a-h-m-a-h!'
They started oddly. From the drifts
on the hill came an answer.
They rushed from the cabin and
ran to the she'd
'Hey-little Bully Boy!"
h Here you are, little Bully Bow"
they heard in grooming voice
Here's your old Hub here's your fin
gers"
By the light of the lantern they saw
Hubbard lying fiat in the shed. beside
the calf, his fingers in the mouth of
the thin little creature
Scattered from his arm were many
tins of milk, cold and frosted.
sWell, Hub" said miner, 81 reckon
you've saved his life
That's where you're off, = said Hub.
bard, theughtfully. ut was Bully Boy
that saved me-
Copyright. 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.)