Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-11-04
XXIII-(Continued)

CHAPTER XXIII-( (Continued).
 AS ne aid not answer. she faced him with crimsoning cheeks; then. reading his look, she suddenly threw her arms about his neck.
 Hugh" she cried. we belong to each other now! There is no one else to consider. Is there? l want to be to you what haven't been-to bear things with you and help your He kissed her eyes and hair. You have helped. you do help me. Jessica" he urged. But l nm jealous for your love. It must not be offended. The town of Smoky Mountain must not sneer-and It would sheer now"
 "Let it!' she exclaimed resentfully "As If would carer But l would care" he said softly. "l want to climb little higher first"
 She was silent moment, her fingers twisting the fallen leaves. You don't want them to know that l am your wifeT"
 Mot yet-till can see my way"
 She nodded and smiled. and the cloud lifted from her face. You must know best" she said. This Is what l shall do, then, shall leave the san ltarium tomorrow. The people there are nothing to me, but the town of Smoky Mountain is yours, and l must be part of it too. l am going to the Mountain Valley House. Mrs Hallo- ran will take care of me-" She spraug to her feet as she added. "I shall go 10 see her about 1t now"
 He rose and walked with her through the bracken to the road. They came out to the driveway just below the trall that led to the Knob. The bank was high. and, leaping first, he held up his arms to her and lifted her lightly down In the instant as she lay in his arms he bent and kissed her on the lips.
 Neither noted two figures walking together that at that moment rounded the bend of the road little way above. They were Tom Fielder and Dr. Brent Both men saw the kiss and instinctive- ly drew back The doctor noted now the telltale Hush on his companions face.
 We have surprised a romance" he said as the two unconscious figures disappeared down the curving stretch. "Who is the man?"
 He is the one we have been talking about"
 Fielder nodded. His cabin is just below here on the hillside"
 Good Lord-' eJaculated the doctor. What an internal pity! What's his nameY'
 Hugh Stires."
 "Stires?" the other repeated. "Stires' How odd!" He stood moment. tap ping his suit case with his stick. Sud denly he took the lawyers arm and led him into the sidepath.
 Come" he said, ''I want to show you something"
 He led the way quickly to the Knob, where he stopped. as much astonished as his companion, for he had known nothing of the statue. They read the words chlseled on its base. The prod  igal son." said Fielder.
 Now look at the name on the head stone" said the physician.
 Felder's glance lifted from the stone to peer through the screening bushes to the cabin on the shelf below ard returned to the others face with quick comprehension. You think"-
 "Who could doubt 1t? I will arise and go unto my father.' The old mans whim to be buried here had a mean ing. after alL The statue is Miss Holmes work-nobody in Smoky Mountain could do it-and I've seen her modelling in clay at the sanitarium. What we saw just now Is the key to what might have been a pretty riddle if we had ever looked farther than our noses. It's case of a clever ras- cal and damnable propinquity. Tho ward has fallen In love with the black sheep"