Mower County transcript., 1908-06-10

He wheeled and went swiftly
through the gate.
CHAPTER XVII.
The Conquest Of the Heart of Sally 3.
Forty years ago, daring surgeons
did not SO often undertake to better
natures work, make joints where
none had been, remake organs that
had not fulfilled their functions.
Alvin Carter, despite his cheerful
ness, had ever silently rebelled against
his crutch. And when the idea was
born to him that he might have his leg
broken and made straight, he never
halted till he found surgeon willing
to add his skill to Alvin's money and
pluck.
Three years with scarcely a days
vacation had won for him promotion
and the confidence of officers as well
as of fellow employees. Thus Alvin
had the great eye and sympathy of the
governor himself behind his brave
venture into unfamiliar realms of
surgery. When Alvin came through
with two straight legs, the trifling
shortness of one being corrected by
high heel, he gladly accepted the d.
version of a trip to the Front while
he was learning to walk on two feet.
Fresh from those exciting scenes, he
presented himself at Sally BIS home.
Not for one moment had he faltered in
his determination to win Viola, if she
remained true, and he never doubted
her. Yet now, sitting in the most
beautiful room he had ever seen, per-
turbed by the obsequious buffers ILL
concealed disdain when he had to send
up his name instead of the requested
card-all in an instant Viola grew re-
mote, his aspiration to her preposter-
Gus. The modest cottage he had
thought out-the plans were in his
pocket waiting her approval-seemed
but miserable hut beside this mag
| nificent palace.
Time for his heart to CONCEAL had
the room, paused a chilling instant.
and came forward with her most i'm
posing society manner.
why, Mr.. Carter! This is elegant
to see you! Elegant weather, isn't it?
When did you come to the Bay? Ele-
CANT time of year to visit at the Bay,
now, amt it?''
With an astonishing swing of her
sable draperies she seated herself back
to the light, her face dimly outlined,
while the late afternoon sun shone full
upon him. ..-".... ...s
Il read of the crack operation the
doctors performed on you, Mr.. Carter.
l congratulate you on it's bein' o. X.
It's an elegant improvement. Won't
you set-sit?"
She did not even look at him, he
thought. Blindly he CROPPED for .
chair, his eyes burning as it she had
slapped them with hard hand. Had
he but known, Sally BIS keen vision
had instantly noted and approved his
erect manliness, his resolute counte-
nance. Her heart warmed to him. He
belonged to her world, appreciated
her. Yet ambition held the rein. She
suspected his errand, and purposely
put him at disadvantage. plying him
with questions, intending to leave him
no opportunity for personal topics.
But for once she met her equal. She
took the one topic that could best fire
him; and in turn he caught her spirit
in the fame of his enthusiasm, and
consumed her society veil in single
sentence.
DO tell me something about the
railroad. I miss it powerfully"
| I've just returned from the Front;
got back yesterday
CT, Sc Che hest re
could see her eyes shino, knew. ( .
was going to say "gosE: All ! $ self
possession flew home again.
In breath Sally e. caught herself.
and went on. IS.
I'm just that hungry. to hear all
about things. Where'd they run the
line? Across by Battle. mountain-I
know that; and where else?''
! "They run 100 lines, i guess; lust
i kept the surveyors sticking rims iuto
the whole American desert TIL they'd
picked out the best one. They've got
the track away by Battle mcun tain
now; past Be-o-wa-we, Argenta that's
the junction for Austin ald Reese
river-oh, they were way by Toano
when [ left
7 knew them places; come acrost
there In 54. Paw emigrated from Ore
gon to Salt Lake, didn't like it there.
i an come over to Californy Cali
i fornia. J" She had almost forgotten her
elegance. -