La Junta tribune., 1907-06-29

'WhO Ch
III may hazard gness-the Rear!''
Betty was NO angry TINT she marched
forthwith into the next room. wheie
her employer was busy ut his desk.
"Mr. Sterling" she cried. Its an Inn
pertinence for yon to make me pres.
ents. The fact that work for you Il
10 excuse
He looked .iisconcerfed.
Il hoped-you wouldn't know-the
trires came from me-
why did you do itY' she demandssi
hotiy.
You're not used - making your own
way-of course you miss things. And.
then. knew your father. and I wanted
to help you for his sake"
She stared half lncreduiously.
You knew papa? When? Wherer'
"In Nau Ffancinco-l winter. We
met In . business way aud got to b.
friendly He liked 70 talk about Jon,
and once he showed me your picture.
So you seemed like an old friend from
the first"
Betty's eyes had been opened. but
the look OF annoyance did not leave
her face.
Il can supply my own wants Please
do not sand anything more abe said.
and. with her head held high, went
back to her post
Henderson glanced up inquiringly.
his face revealing half . dozen Inn
pulses In MS many seconds. Suddenly
he rose took a step nearer and began
To-. ,,l
Miss vandevere, listen: I'm going
10 tell you a secret. have fallen
heir to fortune. I take the midnight
train for Canada 10 claim the legacy.
No one is To know of this until after
I'm gone-not even Sterling. Will you
come. too-away from this hateful life:
You know love you. Decide at once!
There's no time for dailying. Say
you'll come.'
The startled girl trembled In the hot
breath OF his passion. Every vestise
OF color left her face.
1T is-so- sudden" she faitered. II
must think it over. Give me time"
''I'll call ut your boarding house at
10 o'clock. BE on the watch. And re-
member how much there is at stake.
Eut know ! can trust you"
Retty's voice seemed to have drop
ped down into her throat. There was
no response. \ silence Tell in which
she could hear the mu.iled beating OF
her own heart.
That night Henderson was the first
to leave. Sterling was In the room.
and he could only give Betty n glance
.
She crouched over her desk with
blurred eyes. For time there was no
sound save the rusti. of the paper
Sterling pretended to read. At length.
throwing 1t down, he crossed to her
side.
"Still at work. Miss vandevere:" he
said new note In his his voice.
"I'lI soon finish now she answered
without lifting her eyes Don't wait.
please. I'll lock up
Betty heard him sigh 3s he went out
Hastily locking the door on the inside
she withdrew the key aad returned to
her seat.
An hour dragged by. Now there
were shadows everywhere. The cor
ners were black with them. She felt
sufrocating terror. as II the walis
We're contracting and might shut to
gether and crush her.
Suddenly key clicked in the lock
She had barely time to drop behind
chair before a man tiptoed into the
Office. AS he passed by her hiding
place the light from the street struck
across his face. For minute she
IL
on To the inner room, and after little
while gentle clicking told her that he
WAS working the combination OF the
safe.
Now was her chancei Quaking with
fright. she crept to the door opening on
the landing. One quick step and she
wns outside. Then the unexpected
happened. A food Of light suddenly H.
lumIned the darkness: she saw that
the passage wGA fnll OF policemen
And she had Fashetl straisht Into Tom
Stcrling's arms.
''Yon. Oh, I'm so riad." she gasped
hystericnlly. Quick. The snfe. You
are being robbed Henderson,
But the men In blue had already
dashed past into the office There was
the sound OF a struggle. then a voice
shrieking dreadful curses = the same
voice she had once thought 10 cultured
and refined.
II overheard afternoon" Ster-
ling snid quietly. Il had grown sux-
picious before. II you really love him
he shall go free"
Love him: oh. no. no. BETTY cried
with her face hidden ON the big mans
shoulder. II didn't know until this
afternoon whom loved. but l do
nowr
Making Thinas Clear.
An old PEBBLES worthy and an Eng.