Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-05-14
THE STOLEN KISS

Wv
her own thoughts.
Ralph Underwood was coming that
night to ask her to be his wife. she felt
sure, for his manner at the Fletcher
dance the other evening had been I'M
mistakable.
What answer should she give himf
Could she ever love a man she did not
altogether trust?
All, Il only Jack could speak she
knew what answer she would give II
be ever asked the same question, but
Jack never would now. though years
ago he had shown In a hundred little
ways that he loved her.
But that was before his father died
ana Briarsmere was found to be mort
gagged and all the Affairs terribly In
volved. So now Jack was a poor man
and had even undertaken work as Un-
derwood's agent to pay or the mort
gage which Ralph held.
Esme was rich and could do as she
liked with the fortune she had inher
tied from her mother, but was power
less to help Jack because of that un-
written law that "a man is to WOO, 4
woman to be woOed."
The rain poured down and at last
aWoke Esme to sense Of what was
going on around her.
The rain was coming down in tor
rents, and an ominous roll OF thunder
10 the distance made Beauty tremble.
IL was lonely part Of the road.
Only q little cabin, much out OF re-
pair, was In sight. She FASTENED to-
ward 1t, not knowing II Mrs. O'Grady
still occupied the place or whether she
had already gone to live with her sis
ter In Kerry.
On trying to lift the latch Esme
found 1t was locked, but discovered a
shelter In the peat shed at the back.
As she stood there caressing her
horse to allay its fears she was star
tied to hear key fltted into the lock
Of the door In front Of the house.
The boards Of the mud covered walls
were III fitting and rotten, and Esme
could distinctly hear two men talking
as they entered and shook the water
from their clothes.
"a good thing we were so near the
place." said Underwood.
Yes" answered q voice which made
Esme blush in the semidarkness; at is
a bad storm, but 1t viii soon be over.
/ am not sorry It has come now, as
you win see that something must be
done to the place before another ten
ant occupies it. II isn't at for dog to
live in, much less a human being"
Il shall do nothing. It's no use
spending money ON property of this
kind. These peasants are used to pig.
ging 1t. Leave the place alone"
THAT is, Of course. your AFFAIR, Mr..
Underwood" said Jack. "In my posi-
ton as agent it was my duty to point
out to you what was needed, but I
cannot make you do 1t. Only tell you
as man to man that the neglect Of your
tenants interests is a disgrace to the
neighborhood. l have worked as your
agent in order to work OF the mort
gage which you hold on my property,
but suppose the foreclosure you
threaten must come now, for I cannot
work for you any longer and have not
money to redeem the estate"
"And pray why am l to lose your
valuable services?' said Underwood.
"You know that during my manage
ment your profits have nearly doubled,
but when it comes to distil1ing liquors
in underground distillerIes and expect
ing me to be a party to the fraud
draw the line"
How dare you speak like this to
meP' said Underwood. choking with
rage. "You pauper. IL had not en-
ployed you you would have starvedg
"You are exaggerating my poverty. :"
said Jack in a calm tone. ''It Is true
by honest work / hoped to regain my
property, but when you expect dis
honest work you have come to the
wrong man.
"By the way" continued Jack, and
Esme could hardly catch his words.
for he was already in the road, Il have
ordered back the pipes and stills"
1.-THE dickens you have! roared I'm
derwood as he paced the miserable
room.
A quarter OF an hour later Esme
was in the cory ONCE OF her friend
and adviser. Mr.. Rance.
"It is a large sum Of money TO In
vest in landed property, Miss Esme."
81 know" said the girl in her quick.
bright way, but what does that mat
ter? have ever so much more when
that Is spent Besides, l happen to
know the mortgage win be foreclOsed
II this money is not paid, and have
other reasons as well"
Beauty, trotting along In the twi-
light, was within a mile Of her own
warm stable when she suddenly
swerved from a dark figure walking
rapidly along IN the shadow.
Esme, who had been sitting loosely
In the saddle. thinking over her after
Moons work. was taken unawares and
flung violently TO the ground
STOPPING over her. Jack-for II was
he who had unwittingly frightened