Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-23
The Spitfire
Continued from page IL


a big white fib and said you were not. But
when you came to us, you didn't have a coat
even, and those men were perfectly villainous
wretches to throw you off the tug. I'm not
very rich myself, or else | should send you
more and this is awfully little-yes, awfully!
If it makes YOU feel badly to take it from girl,
you can pay it back when you get started
again: but l don't need it, really, and it
will be all right if you keep it for years and
years.
Now please forgive me. Mr.. Morson, and /
hope to see you again some day; but please
don't say anything about this if you see me
tomorrow, because | should certainly burst
body would know all about it and scold me for
being one. So good by. Think of me some
times, and remember that l don't believe
word of it. Respectfully,
Polly THURMAN"
For a long time Valda sat with the girlsh
scrawl held tightly in her hand; then she folded
it with a sort of reverence and handed it back
to him without word
Dear little Polly" he mur1nured half in
audibly. I'm other circumstances"
YOU'D love her for it," finished Valda,
I though her voice was trembling as she
spoke. "Mr. Morson,' she continued, it was
] who said the horrid, insinuating things about
you, and now I'm afraid to ask-as Polly
asked you-to forgive"
.Oh, that's all right he answered, smiling
tilted in suspecting me all along; and then you
were quite as fine Polly when you thought
me worthless. theving rascal yet held your
not as long as l live,-but want you to know
the rest" He paused for an instant. pouring
little streams of sand through his strong brown
fingers, and seemed to swallow something in
came roll of money,-ffty dollars,-and do
you know, it touched me deep down in the
inside where a fellow stores away the sacred
things of life"
Once more he paused, and Valda noted the
faint suspicion of a tear in both voice and eyes.
though he hid it as best he could. "Of course"
he added, Il couldn't accept it from the child,
God bless her bully little heartNn even if
l was starving-so l wrote her note, lied
beautifully about my financial status. then
pushed the note and money under Pollys state
room door. l heard a noise as was sneaking
out dare say it was you,-so l made for
cover.
And here comes the funny part of it. In
the main saloon which l had to pass through
to get to the dining room, had taken off my
shoes, after the manner of all enlightened burg
lars, and had to come back for them in order
to remove the discriminating evidence. |
waited for half an hour, perhaps and when l
peeped again into the saloon, saw you kneel-
ing before the open safe. You struck match.
and naturally l scooted. Later l returned and
successfully carried off my shoes, together with
certain differences concerning you Now that"
he concluded, is every blessed thing!'
NO." corrected Va1da, lit isn't. Why
didn't you tell all this when dad was asking
questions?"
The Southerner shrugged and spread his
hands. How could /? In the first place, it
would have been a most ungrateful trick to
make back gate of poor little Pollys secret:
and as for my gems-well, l thought you had
them. couldn't imagine why; but that was
your affair, and if you chose to say nothing
about it and see me 60 to jail"
Valda stopped him. And you thought that
of me?" she asked, in pathetic condemnation
of his unbelief in her.
Yes he admitted. Il confess it with
shame, but did. just felt, Miss Valda, that
with you against me l didn't care what hap
pened. l couldn't tell your father was willing
to work among his sailors for your sake.
couldn't tell him-could I?-that didn't try
to get back my gems because you had them.
Why, good Lord, girl! you could keep the
things if you wanted to, for whatever reason
you chose, or anything else owned, or hoped
to own, on the top side of the whole darn earth !
l can't tell you why just now; but you know
what l mean, and I'm going to tell you too. the
very minute l can prove that I'm straight and
clean and not the man to deceive you with
ridiculous lies,-to steal my own property and
be iackass enough to put dried beans in