The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1911-07-20


of the rock. Then he saw that she was
shaking with suppressed laughter. and
penitence very nearly became wrath.
why are you laughing at me?" he
demanded.
Because you're so ridiculous" she
retorted. facing him suddenly. what
makes you talk as if Mr.. Thorndyke be-
longed to me? What right have you to
think that he is anything more than
friend of my fathers, like-like your
self? How do you know that he isn't
engaged to the young lady in New York
who writes to him every week?"
Protheroe made a praiseworthy at
tempt to be coherent. but it ended
rather tamely "Then you-then |
have been mistaken all along in think
ing-Elsie, please come away from that
cliff and tell me you forgive me-"
81 won't-not till you catch me-"
And, with a mocking laugh in which
there was more joy than derision, she
slipped over the edge of the rock and
was nearly out of sight in the path be-
low before Protheroe gathered enough
lenge. The chase was short and vigor-
Gus, and when it was ended the process
of forgiveness appeared to be some
what abstruse and complicated. judy
ing from the time which elapsed before
the young man and the maiden present
ed themselves in the cave of the noun
taineer.
Klgrow took the news of his good
fortune with serene complacency
born of a happy ignorance of money
values.
"Thess SOS t they-all II femme alone,
is all / keer," he said, and they had some
trouble in making him understand that
his presence was needed at the farm
house. Loving and trusting Elsie, he
went willingly when he understood
what was wanted of him; and Oh the
way back to the valley he was mindful
enough of his own long-buried youth
to keep well out of earshot of the two
young people. to whom the return jour
ney was only too short
The afternoon sun was shining slant
wise over the neck of the Bull when
they reached the house, and after the
reticent and embarrassed mountaineer
had run the gauntlet of coDgratula-
ton Thorndyke took him up to the
attic bedroom.
"You understand that I'll have TO go
to New York to collect this money" he
began, when he was alone with his
client. "What am / TO do with it, and
how much shall keep out for my fee p
A smile of child-lke surprise flick
cred for moment on the withered face
Of the old man. Fer you-uns' pay?--
| thort / done toll We bout that thar.
long back yonder at the fust. l lowed
to you-uns then thatef so be We cd raise
me $4,000 out'n hit"
But that's sheer nonsense, you
know" protested Philip. 81 should be
treating you worse than the others to
take such an advantage"
"Barg'in's a barg'in," insisted Kill
grow, firmly.
at wasn't bargain, but TIL tell you
what / will agree to; I'll divide this
money equally with you"
"ITow much d. We reckon that ID be ."
Fifty thousand dollars apiece"
The sum was still too large to be COM
prehensible TO Kilgrow. and Philip
sought to help him. "If you put your
share into government bonds, the i'm
terest would be about 81 500 year
The old man sat in perplexed silence re-
volving his hat slowly in his thin hands.
81 reckon / cayn't figure hit out eff
try" he said, after little. II wisht
you-uns ID do whatsomever we think S
right weth hit"
"rll invest it for you, if you like. and
the interest can be sent to Duncan"
81 reckon that'll be all right" Kill
grow rose and moved toward the door.
stopping on the threshold to ask 4
question that troubled him more than
the disposition of his newly-acquired
fortune. "Ye reckon them fellers is
plum shore t femme alone, now, air
YEP"
"Why. certainly. The things done
and settled, and they've no more reason
to prosecute you now than if you'd
never owned the land"
Thank yc; that's what l keer fer
more'n the money. d. We low ye'll put
hit in them thar bon's?"
'That will be the safest investment
for you"
There was another pause and more
searching for the few common factors
of speech. I'm gettin' sort o. tol'able
OF, these days. an they amt nobody ter
come after me; reckon they amt no
way we cd fix hit so't the little gal
mought git hit wen I'm th'oo weth
hit?''
"You mean Duncan's daughter"
Kilgrow nodded.
"Why, yes; I can buy the bonds in
her name, if you wish"
THANK we; that thar's what rs pint
in at" He nodded gravely and left the
room. coming back again presently to
hold out his hand across the table to
Philip. 81 cayn't jaw much-you-uns
done foun' that out fore now-but
reckon you-uns kin sort o. lay hit out
in you-uns' min what-all I'd say ef on'y
thess knowcd how. 'Tain't many of
'cm ID "a TUX up fer pore OF to'n-up
vildcattcr nohow"