The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-07-26
CHAPTER xx1Ir.-(Continued.)


I'm sorry for all this, Martin-sorry
you and came to blows"
"You played me false about the money,
said bitterly.
Yes, yes" he answered gently; u
don't blame you. You were bound to mt
BY no ties. OF course you saw my planT'
II supposed your excellency meant te
keep the money and throw me over"
Not altogether" he said. "Of course
was bound to have the money But II
was the other thing, you know. As fal
az the money went, would have taken
care you came to no HARM"
what was it, then?"
~ thought you understood all along,
he said with some surprise. Il saw you
were my rival with Christina, and my
game was to drive you out OF the country
By making the place too hot for YOU"
"She told me you didn't suspect about
me and her till quite the end"
did shei" he answered with a smile
II must be getting clever to deceive two
such wide-awake young people. OF course
I saw it all along. But you had more
grit than thought. I've never been SO
nearly done by any man as by you. I'm
sorry, Martin liked you, you know. But
likings mustn't interfere with duty" he
went on, smiling. What claim have you
at my hands"
Decent burial. suppose" answered,
He got up and paced the room for
moment or two. I waited with some anx-
iety, for life Is worth something to a
young man, even when things look black
nnt and 7 never was A hero. tAs&
II make you this Offer" he said at last.
.Your boat lies there ready. Get into her
and 20 Otherwise
4 II see," said l. "And you will marry
her?"
"Yes," he said. s|fi,tss a6A4
Against her willT'
He looked at me with something like
nifty. -.asssss@s sssir fss
'Who can tell what woman's will will
be in a week? In less than that she will
marry me cheerfully. hope you may
grieve as short a time as she will"
In my Utmost heart knew it was true.
I had stalled everything, not for wom-
ans love, but for the whim Of girl For
I moment II was too hard for me, and l
bowed my head on the table by me and
hid my face. Then he came and put his
hand on mine, and said:
Eyes, Martin young and old, we are all
alike. They're not worth quarrnling for.
But natures too strong"
MAY see her before 60" ! asked.
YES" DO said.
"Alonew
aYes,u he said once more. "Go now
II she can see you" sa
went up and cautiously opened the
door. The Signorina was lying on the
bed, with shawl over her. She seemed
to be asleep. I bent over her and kissed
her. She opened her eyes, and said in q
weary voice:
us it you, JackP
Eyes, my darling" said I. II am going
/ must go or die; and whether l 90 or
die, must be alone" '47
She was strangely quiet, even apathet-
ic. As l kneIt down,,by her she raised
herself, and took my face between her
hands and kissed me, not passionately,
but tenderly.
s '.My poor Jack p she said; ut was no
use, dear. 1t y no use to fight against
him" $50 9sEAf5
"You love me?" cried in my pain.
Yves" she said,. ''but am very tired (;
and he will be good to me-"
Without another word went from her,
with the bitter knowledge that my great
grief found but a pale reflection in her
heart. et'
II am ready to Co." said to the Presi-
dent.
"Come then" he replied. Here, take
these, you may want them" and he thrust
a buadle of notes into my hand (some of
my own from the bank l afterward dis
covered).
d Arrived at the boat. Isgot in mechan-
ically, and made all preparations for the
start. Then the President took my hand.
"Good-by, Jack Martin, and good luck.
Some day we may meet again. Just now
there's no room for US both here. You
bear no mslics?" sta
!, mo, sir" said !. "A fair fight and
you've won." Af #E 8S&E
As 1 was pushing of he added:
when you arrive, send me word"
I turned the boats head out to sea,
and went forth on my lonely way into the
night.
CHAPTER XIV.
AS 1af As am concerned, this story
has new reached an end. With my depart
ure from Aureataland I re-entered the
world Of humdrum Afe, and since that
memorable night nothing has befallen me
worthy of a polite readers attention. /
have endured the drudsery incident to
earning living; have enjoyed the re-
laxations every wise man makes for him
self. But I should be guilty of unpar-
donable egotism if supposed that 1, my
self, was the only, or the most, interest
Ing subject presented in the foregoing
pages, and feel shall merely be doing
my duty in briefly recording the facts in
my possession concerning the other per-
sons who have figured in this record and
the country where its scene was laid.
I did not, of course, return to Eng
land, on leaving Aureataland. 1 had no
desire to explain in person to the drec-
tors all the facts with which they will
now be in position to acquaint them
selves. l was conscious that, at the last
at all events, l had rather subordinated
their interests to my own necessities, and
i knew well that my conduct would not
meet with the indulgent judgment that it
perhaps requires. After ALL men who
have lost three hundred thousand dollars
can hardly be expected to be impartial,
and l saw no reason for submitting my