The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29

looked at James Kahn with an ex- pression of dumb loyalty. as if in the world there never could have been man so generous and so unselfish. Then his eyes rested on his adopted daughter
 You see" the look said quite plain ly, what "A man he isY
 No" James Kahn continued, in the quiet tone of one who has nothing in the world to boast himself about. q come tonight as a suppliant. I have loved Miss Vida ever since I set eyes on her, gath ering flowers in the spring time on the boslxy sides of dell which shall ever be sacred to me. l have. 1t is true, allowed Miss Bryan to under stand my preferences, and my inten- tions with regard to her. But I leave il to herself to say whether or not this has not been done at all times with the utmost courtesy, and after the manner of an honest manu
 The words and the manner impressed Dick Finnan. They were exceedingly well delivered-perhaps a trine too well. James Kahn had mastered all things British, save the art of leaving well alone.
 So he could not be prevented from adding. "Of course, 1 recognize that the difference between our positions must be taken into consideration. l will therefore abundantly provide for the old age of both her benefactors, MT. Finnan and MT. Bryan"
 Stop there" cried Billy Bryan; "stop just in this exact place, and look me in the eye, young man, if you can, for wan consecutive minute,
 Now, Dick there can do as he likes. being given over to lords and masters a nd in mi h hin1-g1eh being his nature. But wid Billy Bryan, 'tis some little different. l put no stress on the young lady, that is the daughter av one and the other of us But being responsible for wan full half of her soul, mind, body. and estate till she reaches the age Of twenty-wan years, no more will l allow any oth CT person or persons to put pressure upon her She shall choose accordin' to her free will. If she says No' it shall be 'No-if 'Yes'-'Yes'! And as for that talk of putin Billy Bryan fin a com fortable position for his ould age-that day has not yet arrived. And Billy will do that for himself by the strent of his arrums, and the brains in his head --yuss, and If need be he will provide for both halves of his daughter, just as he did for that wan whole and un- divided Broadwood pi-an-no standing there in the corner!
 Billy said all this to the vivid pune tuation of his clenched fist on the table so that the candles on the sheet of The Border Advertiser were we'll nigh jolted out of their places.
 James Kahn however, was as gentle as suave as ever. He was far too much a man of the world to allow himself to be led into side issues. He had made up his mind what he would say, .l 1-A- leave the room without saying it.
 Certainly, MT. Bryan" he said, mo one dreamed of anything else. All that l meant to imply was that I should be ready to consider every interest, if Miss Vida did me the honor of becoming my wife. I need not again repeat what I have previously told Miss Vida. This IS an affair betwixt men, and if Miss Vida will give me favorable answer. or even a hope of such an answer, I will easily arrange the details with those who have every claim to be con- sidered her natural protectors"
 He stopped a moment as if to allow Vida time to speak, but finding that she remained silent-with the light striking upward on hef face from the candles on the table, and her hair fall ing in a dark mass on the shoulders of her cream colored dressing gown--he went on again, exactly as if making a speech at business meeting.
 'In fact, as I have already had the honor of informing these gentlemen, charge myself with everything. All that I ask in return is that the fact of the marriage be kept secret till I have fulfilled the present arrangements I have with my esteemed chief and prin- cipal MT. Jacob Romer. I ask the right, for reasons that are at once simple and private, of telling him of the marriage at my own time-but within a very brief period of delay, certainly not eX- ceeding six months in all, that being the period over which our present ar engagements runp'
 Dick looked at Vida beseechingly. He was clearly on the side of his master. The mere proposal seemed very won derful to him. He certainly considered Vida a most fortunate girl.
 Billy Bryan was also on the watch, but in very different spirit. He mere iy wanted to be sure to which side .Vida's desire inclined, in order to lend her all the weight of his support backed if necessary, by the revolver which mad first induced James Kahn to speak out his mind that night
 "Well, Vida?" said Billy encourag ingly. lis it yes or no? Will ye be rich in the cracking of a finger and thumb or will ye stay poor yet a while longer? Yes or no, lass? Out with it. And speak just as ye feel, honey. To the poll with you like a free elector in the county of Tipperary, where they care for neither priest nor parson!'
 My answer MT. Kahn" said Vida, with a grave severe restraint, lis, as I told YOU before-No'r'
 You have nothing to add--no ope- no reason?"
 None" said Vida, "at least no reason that 1 can give. l bid you good night"
 And she passed out of sight up the stairs.
 Then Billy Bryan broke loose. He actually danced jig.
 "The brave young lass" he cried, "she deserves coronet Of diamonds she nas chosen to be poor"
 Meantime Dick sorely disappointed, was showing James Kahn to the door.
 "I hope" he said, that this will make no difference between us"
 But James Kahn took himself off into the darkness without word
 CHAPTER XXV.
 The Secrets of Summer House.
 Tn the forenoon Phil Calmont labored with his late master and present friend Vic Morris. There was no lack of oc- cupation Vic had several inventions to perfect and, in, especial an entirely new system of installing electric fans for the ventilation of very deep mines, which he hoped to see adopted on the