, 1906-04-04

You re not going 10 drive He
away"
Raymond looked at him in silence.
mo. I'm going to put you to work"
The boys face threw off its shadow.
"That's BULLY Now I'm all right.
Give me a pen" He wrote
I have found Rob We're all o. K.
Don't worry. LOUIS.
As he handed it over he said gayly.
"Will that do?'
"That's satisfactory. Now rush it."
AS they walked out Raymond stern
ly asked: "Want to stay with me, do
your Well. everybody works where l
live. We don't allow oilers. If you
had something to DO you'd keep out
O. mischief"
Louis twisted his small right arm.
"I'm ready for anything"
Got your outft-your whole kit?"
1--WE got one Gamers and my draw
ing materials"
Raymond packed his hand bags or
the horse, and together they set out up
the trail. At first the lad exulted and
cried out like a blue Jay, but his
breathing grew labored as they rose,
and at last Raymond turned. "Now,
see here, Louis, this air is pretty thin
till a fellow gets used to 1t; you'd bet
ter mount. You'll enjoy the scenery
better"
With a feeling that he vas succumb-
ing to an unmanly weakness, Louis
clambered to the horses back and
perched among his possessions, while
Raymond. striding ahead, led the way
mp and up till the whole world seemed
coming into view. "Oh, this is fine!
Jupiter, this is the place for me!'
He was unfeignedly delighted with
everything-with the new shacks, with
the slab tables and the plank chairs
and with the liberal and smoking din
ner which Mrs. Kelly provided-but
he drew a kissing breath of admira-
ton over the grand figure of old Mat
thew Kelly. Gee, but you're a Won
der! | must do you"
Kelly was puzzled and a little m
b%arrassed by this outspoken admira-
llOu dllu ltSdldCu IOulh WIN uClAillC
disfavor till he presented him with a
pencil drawing Of the lads playing on
the doorstep, and then he said: 1.-The
Lord God has made a power o. people
that the Kellys have not seen. This is
wan of them. Now, isn't that a Won
der? He put the whole thing together
in five minutes" The eafter he ac-
cepted the boy for the cunning that lay
in his fingers.
Raymond wrote that night to Ann as
formally as the riot in his brain would
permit:
1 planned to take myself out of YOU
life as completely as if l were dead, but
Louis would not have it SO. When l
met him on the hill today and he told me
how long he had been from home, l de-
termined to hustle him back to the
Springs, but he asked to stay a day or
two, and here he is. VIII you trust him
with me? He will tire of it here by and
by and go hack to you of his own accord.
Just now he is mad over the life and the
scenery. AS for myself, am a new man.
with new aspirations. They may not
seem very high to you, for | am striving
now to acquire gold, but that is only a
means to an end. There is something else
in the world for me to do. l don't know
what it is to ~be-perhaps my care of this
wonderful boy is a part of it. AT any
rate, he is here and not to be driven away
without great risk to him and deep pain
to me. So, unless you object, l shall keep
him. Our life is rough, but not contain
mating. I will see that no harm comes to
him.
There was nothing more personal in
the letter than this, but AIMS heart
warmed to the writer unaccountably.
And yet the thought of Louis i'll a min
ing camp troubled her. Il ought to go
and fetch him away" she said to Don.
mo, no! You remain here, and l
will go over and see the little scamp
and bring him back if possible"
The next morning Raymond put into
action a measure he had formulated
during the night. He called Louis to
him, and together they assembled the
Lookout" as Kelly called the ledge
back of his cabin. See here, lad, I've
brought you up here to ask you a few
questions said he.
Louis braced himself. Fire away"
"As l understand it, you and-Ann
are alone in the world mean you are
closer to each other than to any II
else-she's your best friend. You've
given her a great deal of anxiety, my
lad, and that isn't right. You must go
straight back to her and apologize and
ask her permission to come back. If
she consents, then I'll make a place for
you here"