The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-21
TheSpOilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
Copyright. 1905. by Rex E. Beach.
CONTINUED

west! why, you can throw stone
into Boring strait from here" said Roy,
smiling
ooh, well, the worlds round There's
a schooner outfittin' for Sibeery-two
years cruise. Ne an Dex is fggerln'
on gettln' out toward the frontier fer
a spell"
"Surer' said Dextry I'm beglnnin'
TO feel all cramped up hereabouts OWN
to these fillymonarch orchestras an
French restaurants and such discrep-
ancies of scenery. They're putin a
pavement on Front street, and there's
q shoe shinin' parlor opened up. Why,
I'd like to get where | could stretch an
holler without disturbin' the pensive-
ness Of some dude In dress suit Bet
ter come along, Roy; we can sell out
the Midas"
"I'll think it over" said the young
man.
The night was bright with a full
moon when they left the doctors office.
Roy, in no mood for the exuberance of
his companions, parted from them, but
had not gone far before he met Cherry
Malotte. His head was low, and he
did not see her till she spoke
well, boy, so it's over at last"
Her words chimed SO perfectly with
his thoughts that he replied, Yes; It's
all over, little girl"
you don't mind my congratulations
you know me too well for that. How
does 1t feel to be a winner?"
Il don't know. I've lost"
Lost what7'
Everything except the gold mine"
Everything except see. You
mean that she-that you have asked
her, and she won't?" He never knew
the cost at which she held her voice so
steady
More than that. It's so new that II
hurts yet, and it will continue to hurt
for a long time, l suppose But to-
morrow l am going back to my hills
and my valleys, back to the Midas and
my work, and try to begin all over.
For time I've wandered In strange
paths seeking new gods, as it were,
but the dazzle has died out of my eyes
and l can see true again. She isn't
for me, although l shall always love
L
some do. It's hard to look ahead and
take an interest in things. But what
about you? Where shall you go?"
Il don't know. 1t doesn't really
matter-now" The dusk hid her white.
set face, and she spoke monotonously.
al am going to see the Bronco Kid. He
sent for me. He's ILL.,"
Hes not a bad sort" said Roy.
"And 1 suppose he'll make new
start too"
Perhaps" said she, gazing far out
over the gloomy ocean. 1T all de-
pends" After a moment she added,
what a pity that we can't all sponge
off the slate and begin afresh and
forget
ITS part of the game" said he. 81
don't know why it's so, but it is. I'll
sec you sometimes, won't ~
NO boy; l think not
Il believe l understand" he muir
INJURED, and perhaps it's better so"
He took her two soft hands in his one
good right and kissed them. God
bless you and keep you. dear, brave lit
tie Cherry"
She stood straight and still as he
melted into the shadows, and only the
moonlight heard her pitiful sob and
her hopeless whisper
"Goodby, my boy, my boy"
He wandered down beside the sea.
for his battle was not yet won, and
until he was surer OF himself he could
not endure the ribaldry and rejoicing
of his fellows. A welcome lay waiting
for him in every public place. but no
one there could know the mockery of
it, no one could gauge the desolation
that was his.
The sand. wet, packed and hard as a
pavement, gave no sound to his care
less steps. aud thus it was that he
came silently upon the one woman as
she stood beside the silver surf. Had
he seen her first he would have skunk
past in the landward shadows, but,
recognizing his tall form. she called
and he came, while it seemed that his
lungs grew suddenly CONSTRUCTED, as
though bound about with steel hoops.
The very pleasure of her sight panied
him. He advanced eagerly, and Yet
with hesitation. standing stiffly aloot
while his heart fluttered and his tongue
grew dumb. At last she saw his
bandages and her manner changed
abruptly Coming closer she touched
them with caresSing fingers
It's nothing nothing ut all" he said
while his voice jumped out Of all con
troll When are you going away?"
Il do not know-not for some time .
He had supposed she would so to-
morrow with her uncle and-the other,
to be with them through their travail
With warm impeuosity she began;
1T was noble thing you did to
day Oh. am glad and proud"
Il prefer you 10 think of me in that
way. r. Their than as the wild beast you
saw this morning. for I was mad. per