Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-02-07

saw that though it was smaller tha0 be
had fancied, it was prodigious still. But
he was committed to his useless huTSbue
now, and could not go back from it.
six million dollars?" he said, like Q
man amazed. "Twelve hundred thousand
pounds? Oh! l am glad did not know
that, or 1 should have never dared tc
speak. l knew" he went on, to softer
down his blunder, lest it should have
dangerous consequences later on-"I knew
that you must have money, and the
thought frightened me. If / had known
the truth, 1 should never have dared"
II am glad, then" she answered, hid
ing her face in her hands, that you
didn't know"
ut frightens me STILL" he said. 81
can scarcely dare to think of it."
But you do love me, don't you" she
whispered, struggling her shoulders with
a childish shrinking gesture of appeal
and looking up at him through her hands
Love you" he cried, and throwing
both arms around her he drew her to his
breast. She lay there quite contented
and he, looking over her shoulder with a
smile that was almost wild, said to him
SELF you have won, Hector-you have
won. You're a made man."
She put up her lips to be kissed In as
matter-of-fact a way as if she had been
child, though she blushed very prettily
as she did SO. O'Rourke put his arms
around her and kissed her, and suddenly,
with a little cry, she whisked away from
him, and ran quickly into the shelter of
the trees. The love-maker, thus abruptly
left, stared after her until she had dis
appeared, and then, turning, started to be-
hold the near figure of an elderly man
who was walking away, with firm reso-
luton not to have seen anything express
ed in the very curve of his shoulders,
The slowly retreating figure was that Of
Dobroski, whom he had imagined to be
far away in London arranging for the
destruction of empires. What could have
brought him here?
But in a little while, making up his
mind that he had certainly been seen,
and resolving to take the matter in the
boldest way, he marched at good round
pace after the retFeating Dobroski, and
by and by came up with him. There was
faint twinkle in the eye of the old
anarchist, though but for that he was
as grave as a statute. The mere fact
of brisk motion seemed to have restored
O'Rourke to his usual condition. He
took the bull by the horns.
"You saw me a minute or two back,
sir?"
The twinkle in Dobroski's eye broad
ened into smile.
Forgive me-" he said; II tried not
to see you or to be seem"
II am going to be married SIR" said
O'Rourke. "And that is my business
over there. 1t is a secret at present, at
my future wife's desire"
II wish you happy" said the old man,
with an almost fatherly look. "a good
woman is a crown unto her husband. If
you have chosen well your wife will not
hold you back from the great work to
which you have set your hand" O'Rourke
said nothing, but he listened with an air
of Difference. 81 am here" pursued Dob
roski, ION purpose to seek you. Can
you give me- now, little of your time?"
II am always and entirely at your ser
vice, Mr.. Dobroski," answered O'Rourke.
LET me ask you one question to be-
gin with. Did you know the policy of
Mr.. Frost and his associates?
II have never worked intimately with
them" said O'Rourke, but know their
general policy"
1--WE have broken apart" said Dob
rOSki, mournfully. II have had to tell
them that we cannot work together"
O'Rourke sighed and threw his hands
abroad with a hopeless gesture. They
might fight it out between them now, but
he had to look as if he cared for fame
A little longer, and then he would be free.
He could already hear the perfervid ora
tory which would pursue him into his re-
-irement, and he knew that it would be
powerless to disturb him for moment.
"At least" said Dobroski, "you and l
will go on working together?" He did
not guess the current of his companions
should he?-but the ST.
ence seemed to hurt him.
YES" said O'Rourke. He would rath-
er not have said it. but it had to be said.
I'VE must go on working, win or lose"
"And l may trust to you until the
end?" the old man asked, laying both
hands upon him and bringing him to a
halt.
O'Rourke lifted his eyes and looked
him in the face. "You may trust me-"
he said, until the end"
Ito be coutinued.)