The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-02-23
sUpERFhUoUS
~ CHSH ~
BY a. 4. cARNHTr.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

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Upon the breakfast tables of tn
town that morning the early paper
had their everyday fold and sutfere.
the usual Indifferent chances; bu
With the crisp rattle of the openinI
sheets came startled exclamat ton an,
coffee and steak at many tables grew
cold. Neale and Company had failed
For Neale himself the readers did no
concern themselves; he had many
irons in the fire and the falling Of on,
was a bagatelle, but Company" wa,
o different story. Phil Graham's al
was vested in that title, and tn.
town loved Phil. Moreover, the towr
had advised him as to the unluck,
venture, so responsibility weighted it,
sympathy.
Something must be DONE" said
Maj. Anderson, taking q gulp from
his chilled cup.
but what?" asked pretty Nell
Then there was a pause. with family
of wrinkled brows.
AOu 0SNp o0lQ AN}S6 06utO0. WAC
was the majors ward, there IL moth
ing q man is more fastidious about
than the way he is helped"
The Andersons all looked at her
and then took demurely to their
breakfasts. They had suddenly re-
called the fact that this subject was
of more Importance to her than to
anyone else except Company" HIM
self, and they found comfort in the
thought Of her income.
True" and the major smiled a. he
Endorsed her remark, land the greater
his need the more pigheaded Phil will
get"
$50, II I might suggest" colorin9
daintily.
"Yes" The major bent his hand
some gray head in gracious defer
ence.
II should let him alone"
"Oh," said Nell, aghast. mot even
sylnpathize?"
Doesn't sympathy in such case
carry bit of humiliation? As il one
were not equal to emergencies"
The major laughed. "Of course"
he said, "a young lady with three
thousand q year In her own right
knows about the way to nght emer-
gencies."
At this point . note came in for
Miss Benton, which she excused her.
self to read. She grew white over it.
The Andersons after furtive glance
apiece kept their eyes politely to
their plates and talked as fast as pos
sible on foreign subjects. All stood
up finally with breaths Of relief. Miss
Benton followed the major to his
study and closed the door after her.
Il knew his courage" she said, abb
ruptly. but I forgot the weak side
of his PRIDE"
"Ah." said the major, gently put
ting her into = chair, "he releases
your"
(Which is absurd" with a van
smile, what shall 1 do?" /
WELL" walking up and down and
frowning, "as I've said, he's pig /
headed but" a sudden smile fash
ing out, "a beautiful girl"-and he
made little courtly sweep of ha.ds
to show the helplessness of the world
before her will.
No." flushing, he has gone away"
Yes, he had gone promptly away.
A vision of Miss Benton's eyes with
tears among the lashes went along,
but he frowned 1t all down, rejecting
upon the two or three households OF
his acquaintance where the wife held
The purse. A pretty position for
nan OF honor and brains and muscle
% coll on his wife to pay his butcher!
so he hurried west, well from the
light OF Miss Benton and did book
<esping at $1,000 year.
But woman's will is not SO easily
dismissed. Some three months later
here came letter from the one
riend of the old town to whom he
lad confided his address, and it had
his paragraph: You have heard of
dlss Benton's trouble? 1t is rumored
hat she has lost absolutely every
hing, and l judge there can be no
mistake, for she sDold her ponies.
ismissed her maid and is advertise '
ng, poor girl. for a position as gov ,
rneSS."
That day Phil spent studying do
lest'c economy and the possibilities
I twelve hundred year. The next {
ound him with fortnight's leave Of I
osence and seat in an east-bound !
rain. I
IL ought to send you away" said !
liss Benton. with a sigh and q pout I
nd furtive glance Of alteration. I
but cannot"
Perhaps" laughed Phil. you may c
that later; but" with a look In c
nitely satisfactory to Miss Benton. v
money Is not everything" r
Some two years had passed when q
'e major happened in Chicago and !.
lied on his late ward. The street I
as not fashionable one, and the t
ouse. though coy and artistic. was a
nall and plain. t
You don't mean to say" gasped t