Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-09-29

Ii
If IEW NJ u n a n.
ia <t.-A-I That's wort h
something or
w may be some
JsSc, time"
"Why did you
"Why did you leave leave it?"
WT Hugh touched
his parched lips with his tongue. Again
that nervous, sidelong look, that fear
full glance over his shoulder.
II had no money to work 1t. 1 had
to live. Besides, I'm tired of the whole
thing"
The backward glance, the look of
dread, were tangible tokens. Harry
translated them.
"You are not telling the truth" he
said shortly. what have you donew
Hugh finched, but he made sullen
answer: Nothing. What should
have done?"
''That is what am now inquiring
Of myself" said Harry "Your face is
a book for any one to read. see things
written on 1t, Hugh-things that tell
q ObOAJ VI MlOnBuOlIks 4Ou dIt
afraid"
Hugh shivered under the regard Did
his face really tell so much7
81 don't care to be seen in town." he
said. "You wouldn't either, probably,
under the circumstances" His gaze
dropped to his frayed coat sleeve. In
his craven fear Of something that he
dared not name even to himself and
in his wretched need he remembered
a night once before when he had sidled
into town drunken and soiled to a lux
urious room, refreshing bath, clean
linen and a welcome.
You're the only one in the world /
dared come to-" he said miserably.
I've walked ten miles today, for
haven't a red cent In my pocket, nor
even decent Clothes" he ended.
"That can be partly remedied," said
Harry after pause. He took a dark
coat from its hook and tossed it to
him. "Put that on" he said. "You
needn't return It,"
Hugh caught the garment In an.
other moment he had exchanged it for
the one he wore and was emptying the
old coats pockets.
Don't sneak" said Harry with sud
den contempt. Don't you suppose
know deck of cards when see it?"
The thin scar on Hugh's brow red
dened. He thrust into his pocket the
pasteboards he had made an instinc-
tive move to conceal and buttoned the
coat around him. 1t fitted sufficiently.
Look here, Harry" he began, "you
were a good fellow in the old days.
I'm sorry | never paid you the money
borrowed. l would have but for
what happened. But you won't go
back on me now, will you? want to
get out of the country and begin over
again somewhere. Will you loan me
the money to do it?"
Hugh was eager and voluble now.
The man to whom he appealed was his
forlorn hope. He had come with no
intention of throwing himself upon his
fathers mercy. He had wished to see
anybody in the world but him.
"If you will, I'll never forget 1t, Har-
ryw he cried Never, the longest
day ! live! I'll use every dollar Of it
just rs sayl will. on my honorg'
"Honor!' he said. Have you enough
TO swear by? You are what you are
because you are bad egg. You We're
oorn gentleman, but you choose to
be rogue. Do you know the meaning
of the word honor or right or justce2
Have you single purpose of mind
which isn't crookedY
You're just like the rest, then
Hugh retorted. Just because / did
that one thing you'll give me no more
chance. Yet the first thing | did with
that money was to square myself
paid every debt of honor / had That's
why I'm in the hole now But l get
no credit for 1t, even from you. wish
you could put yourseir IN my place."
Harry had been looking steadily at
the sallow face with its hoof print of
the satyr, not seeing 1t, but hearing
his own voice say to Jessica: II was
my brothers keeper. l see 1t now"
And out of the distance. 1t seemed, his
voice answered.:
Put myself In your place! | wish |
could! l wish to God l couldr'
The exclamation was involuntary,
automatic, the cumulative expression
OF every throe Of conscience Harry
had endured since then, the voice of
that remorse that had cried insistently