Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-04
a belated taxicab, leaving Willie alone
in the murky night, for Hardwick was

a belated taxicab, leaving Willie alone
in the murky night, for Hardwick was
already out Of sight.
Five hundred and fifty pounds
groaned the young man to hlmself as
he walked along the deserted street.
"Heavens! Why, 1 can't raise fifty,
let alone five hundred. Briefless bar
rlsters shouldn't play bridge Sud
denly something lying in the mud ny
the curb caught his eye as the navy
light from a street lamp fell upon IT,
He picked it up. 1t was a silver cigar
case with a crest engraved upon 1t
Hardwick's. He opened 1t, MS hahds
shaking with excitement as he Ola so.
There was no mistake. lnslde-sln1s
ter. crooked, loathsome-lay the gold
mounted traitors thumb.
"Hardwick's luck" he exclaimed.
"By George! He must have dropped
it out Of his pocket and not noticed.
I'll take it round to him In the morn
ing. 1t is too late now
He slipped the silver case into his
pocket, and suddenly WHITES "ords
| as he climbed into the taxi after Ma
| son flashed into his brain. Get Hard
wick to lend you his" hammered ana
churned seething in his head. He
n,,led out the case again. Why not
borrow the thing for a bit?" he told
himself. mot keep it, just borrow u
for q week or two to pull things round
a bit and set me OF my feet. Hard
wick might refuse If l asked him, SO
will say nothing about 1t. IL 1t doesn
bring me luck III return it at once.
At any rate, it Is too good a chance TO
be thrown away.
He closed the case and again put ii
in his pocket as he reached the front
door of the old house where he lived
and pulled out a latch key.
After he had drawn the bolts he felt
in his pocket the last edition of an
evening paper at which he had not yet
troubled to look. He unfolded 1t and
glanced absently through it's QUINN
"By George!" he cried. Florida
has won the Grand National. A 60 to
/ outsider, and l ave a flyer on the
beast. Hardwick's luck has started
me off with $500"
Three months later Willie Stamford,
poor brieness, obscure no longer, en-
gagged to be married to a girl whom ne
had loved for several years, but whom
he had not dared to ask before to
share the fortunes Of a younger son,
stood waiting for the door of Hard:
wick's flat to be opened for him. In
his pocket he carried the silver cigar
case and its withered, crooked con
tents which at last he was returning
to their owner. He was going to make
a clean breast of what he had done
Hardwick, he knew, was never a fel
low to zeal malice. Even as a boy a
school he had been a generous-heartet
lad. Willie felt certain that when ne
explained to him how very tight a cor
uer he had been in when the traitor:
thumb came into his possession ht
would understand and overlook wha
Willie acknowledged to himself ha
been a breach Of honor. though tn:
lapse had made him a rich man risin:
fast in his profession.
AS he thought over these things
growing v and uncomfortable
the door opened, and Hardwick's ma.
appeared.
Stamford screwed up his courag'
and made the plunge.
Us Mr.. Hardwick in?" he asked. :"
want to see hin on important bust
ness"
The mans mask-1ike face twitchet
with a sudden gust of feeling.
Haven't you heard, sir?" he salt
in a voice that only rigid affort KEEP
steady. "Mr. Hardwick was run w
and killed by a motor bus just befor,
lunch time today, sir. It's terrible ba'
business."-New Orleans Times Demo
Graf.