La Junta tribune., 1908-02-08

"wILLiN'. BoY!" HE CRIED BoAMsELY.
WILL DRIVE YE orr"
expenses Next year hope to do bet
ter. wish you were near enough for
me TO look after your stockings and
things. lt'll he nice when were to-
gether again. won't It? But don't come
till you're ready. saw Alice last
week, and she's looking we'll"
who's Alicey' asked Moses sympa-
thetically. Your wife!''
NO. not yet" Brent answered soft
ly. He hcsitated Il little. but the look
III the old mans eyes made him open
Alice's letters and read them. too, only
omitting few OF the most endearins
sentences. The last letter closed with:
II saw your mother the other day.
Brent. and she is beginning to look old.
Eut. oh. so strong and patient and full
Of faith In you. ! would not have you
mar your future IN any way through
my impatIence. dear heart. but II you
could arrange to come home. even on a
visit. before long 1t would do her no
much good. But yom know best"
They had all listened attentively. The
old mans hand was shading his eyes.
"An' ye could leave girl like that
an a mother like that an stay here ten
years. he broke ont disgustediy.
Brent was already on his feet. thrust
Ing the letter back Into his pocket with
quick. determined hands.
IL know It," he replied huskily. "but
won't be any longer. I shall start
back Mt once. tonight. My weeks work
f.,,. fta rtn IL ut
TO get me home. II mother could pay
little on the mortgage l can surely
make living for them, AND they will
be glad to see me. That is.' recollect-
Ing himself suddenly, ''if you are will
ing 10 let me go, promised to stay
with you until we cleaned out the de-
posit, so legally | haven't any share
yet II you're willing. though" his
voice trembling. '.you may keep all the
provisions. except just enough to get
me out. and all my share. except lit
tie for the grub stake and to get me
home. don't ask any more"
Moses was on his feet. his eyes
cleaning from under their shaggy
brOws.
"willin', boy. he cried hoarsely.
"We'll drive ye on. Dikker. bring out
the dust an nuggets we've put In the
cache the past week an give this boy
his sheer. It'll be little over
$4,000, know. from the way it
hefted. The grub stake will call for
half. but seem we've got most of 1t
we'll pay that. an we'll pay for his
ticket home. The boy must git to that
farm with $4,000. 'Tain't much, but
it'll sort o. help him TO git started. an
he can work. An. now. there's the
weddin' presents. Here. Dikker. bring
that stun to me-" as the man returned.
staggering under the weight OF his
load. 'Iest watch what take an
count it from my sheer. Now" select
ing nugget after nugget and passing
them to Brent. you give these to the
girl Alice from me an tell her wish
new joy TO go with every one OF EN-.
An'-an' his voice hesitating little
--'.if she'd be wilin' to write me line,
like MS II she WAS folks, I'd be mighty
proud"
.'She will write you long letter. and
be glad to-" cried Brent heartily, "and
no will l. But you mustn't send all
as you say must take"
AN what o tliat!' aggressively.
"Aln't ye wiIIIn' the girl Alice should
have sonething?"
f"Of course. but
"Then sbet up. Now. Dikker nm Sam,
pony up yer presents"
Dikker and Sam passed their Offer
ings Of nuggets to Brent. grinning. He
gzzed from them to the men, the mois-
ture from his eyes now slipping down
bis cheeks.
''ThAnk you" he said huskily. AL
ices fortune will be good deal larger
than mine"
..Of course twill" retorted Moses.
'an' why not? A girl never ought to
be dependin' on a man an have to ask
him for money. II ought to be right
t'other way. II there's any borryin' the
man should 70 to the girl Now sbet
rp yer thankin' an git ready Hur-
~ bout 1t too. Then we're goin' to
1rive ye on"