News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1911-04-05


congressman then. The great man,
great no longer broke down complete
ly. He cried like baby. 1t was all
true-all true. He had not meant to
steal at first. He had been led into
using the money in his business. Then
he had meant to send it to the heirs
but he didn't know their whereabouts
Captain Cy smiled at this excuse. And
now he couldn't pay-he couldn't. He
had hardly that sum in the world. He
had lost money in stocks. His prop
erty in the south had gone to the
bad. He would be ruined. He would
nave 20 go to prison. He was getting
to be an old man. And there was
Alicia, his daughter. Think of her!
Think Of the disgrace And so on.
over and over, with the one recurring
J burden-what was the captain going
to do-what was he going to. do? 1t
was q miserable, dreadful exhibition,
and Captain Cy could feel no pride in
his triumph.
"There, therev he said at last. "Stop
| 1t, man; stop it, for goodness sakes!
Pull yourself together. l guess we can
fix 1t up somehow. l amt goin' to be
too hard on you. If 1t want for your
meanness in bein' willin to let Bos'n
suffer her life long with that drunken
beast of a dad of hers I'd feel almost
like tellin' you to get up and forget it.
But that's got to be stopped. Now, you
listen to me-"
Heman listened He was on his
knees beside the bed, his face buried
in his arms, and his gray hair. the
leonine Atkins hair, which he was
wont to toss backward in the heated
periods Of his eloquence, tumbled and
draggled. Captain Cy looked down at
him.
This whole business about Bos'n
must be stopped" he said, land
stopped right off. You tell your law
yers to drop the case. Her dad is only
hangin' around because you pay him
to. He don't want her: he don't care
what becomes of her. If you pay him
enough he'll 60 won't he, and not
come back"
The congressman raised his head.
"Why, yes" he faltered; 81 think be
will. Yes, | think 1 could arrange
that. But, Cyrus
The captain held up his hand
II intend to look out for Bos'n," he
said. "She cares for me more'n any
one else in the world. She's as much
tn oh an,111 ho
and I'll see that she is happy and pro-
vided for. I'm religious enough to be-
lieve she was sent to me, and intend
to stick to my trust. AS for the
money
Eyes, yes-the money!
"Well, l won't be too hard on you
that way, either. Well talk that over
later on. Maybe we can arrange for
you to pay it a little at a time. You |
can sign paper shown that you owe
it, and well fix the 'payin' to suit all |
hands. faint as if the child was in |
want. I've got some money of my
own, and what's mines hers. l think |
we needn't worry about the money |
part"
God bless you, Cyrus! r.
Eyes, all right. I'm sure your askin' |
for the blessin' IL be great help |
Now, you do your part and I'll do
mine. No one knows of this business |
but me- l didn't tell Everdean
word. He don't know why l hustled |
out there and back nor why | asked |
so many questions. And he amt the
kind to pry into what don't concern
Now, if you don't mind, l wish you'd
run along home. Pm-I'm used up,
sort Of
MI Atkins arose from his knees.
Even then, broken as he was-he looked
ten years older than when he entered
the room-he could hardly believe
what he had just heard.
you mean," he faltered-"Cyrus, do
you mean that-that you're not going
o reveal this-this''-
THAT I'm not goin' to tell on you?
Yup; that's what I mean. You get
id of Thomas and squelch that law
'ase and I'll keep mum. You can
rust me for that"
"But-but, Cyrus, the people at
lome? Your story in the Breeze?
You're not
mo; they needn't know, either. It'll
)e between you and me-"
God bless you! I'll never forget
THAT'S right You mustn't. Forget
in is the one thing you mustn't do.
md, see here, you're boss of the polid-
al fleet in Bayport; you steer the
chool committee now. Phoebe Dawes
int too popular with that committee.
d see that she was popularized."
Eyes, yes; she shall be. She shall
lot be disturbed. Is there anything
lse l can do?"
"Why, yes, guess there is. Speakin'
f popularity made me think of it.
hat harbor appropriation had better
o through
A very faint tinge of color came into
be congressman's chalky face. He
esitated in his reply.
IL don't know about that Cyrus"
e said. 'The bill will probably be
oted on in few days. 1t Is made up
nd
Then I'd strain a pint and make It