Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-03-08

wINCE1E
1910. BY W1NCHELL SMITH /.
enough to think Of ones own concerns.
And Duncan was making time to think
about others. notably Betty Graham.
The girl was. as usual. shy. reticent.
reserved She kept her thoughts to
herself, sharing the most intimate not
even with old Sam. who would talk:
But Duncan OWNED that she was I'M
happy.
He saw her go and come. wistfui
shadow on the borders OF his occupa-
tons. self contained. a little ttmid. but
at the same time brave in her own
quiet. accomplishing fashion. And the
distant look in those soft eyes be d.
vined to be one Of longing for that
which she might not possess-the ad-
vantages that other girls had, socially
and educationally; the pleasures they
contrived. the attentions they re-
ceived, the thousand and one slight
things that make existence life for
woman. He saw: her dropping fnsen-
sibly day by day. growing little
paler, shade more aloof and listless.
And he became infinitely concerned
for her,
He told himself be had solved the
problem of her disease. but its remedy
remained beyond his reach. The bust
ness was doing very we'll indeed. but
it was still young and must be sub
jected to as few financial drains as
possible AS it ran there was an in.
come sufficient to board. lodge and
clothe the three Of them maintain the
credit of the partnership and now and
again admit of slight but advan-
tageous addition to the stock of FIX
lures. Things would certainly be bet.
ter in the course of time. but ~
1t came to pass that he left the store
early one evening. excusing himself on
the plea of some slight indisposition.
and lost himself for the space of two
hours.
He found himself shortly after 8 at
pause by the gate to the Rohun place.
An aged negro butler. one of the freed
slaves brought from Virginia by the
Bohuns. admitted him to the hall and
took his card. smothering his own won.
derment, for in those days nobody
disturbed the silence and the peace of
decay OF the Bohun mansion save its
master. Duncan had long to wait.
"Cunnel Bohun will see 20. subj
the servant said and ushered him into
the library.
Bohun received the young man
standing. He was as courteous be-
meath his own roof as he was impos-
sible away from it.
The colonel nodded. AT your serv-
ice, SIR" and waited grimly.
Duncan had his own way Of getting
at things.
MAY l inquire. sir. If you are &C.
Quainted with the firm Of L. ]. Bart
lett & Co. of New York;"
II have heard Of it, Mr.. Duncan"
''Then would you mind doing me the
favor of writing to Mr.. Henry Kel-
logg. the junior partner, and asking
him about meT'
The colonel stiffened. MAY | ask
why I should do anything 80 uncalled
for?"
Because 1t isn't uncalled for, sir. l
mean you won't think so after I've
explained" s-a@
Bohun inclined his head. searching
Mats face with his keen. bright eyes.
"You see. sir. it's this way. want
you to intrust me with q considerable
sum Of money, and naturally you would
not do that without knowing some
thing about me"
Il incline very much to doubt that
l should do it in any event. Mr.. Dun
can" e..
"Oh. don't say that You don't know
the circumstances as yet" Nat jerked
his head earnestly at the colonel. .You
see. you're said to be one Of the rich
est men in town. and I'm certainly one
Of the poorest. so of course turn to
you III case IKE t11S.
Duncan could have sworn that the
eyes were twinkling beneath the saw
agely knitted brows.
"You must understand I'm in bust
ness here in Radville-a partner in
growing and prospecting concern-ah-
doing-very well in point Of fact"
"Yes?''
but we haven't any spare capital
In fact. We haven't got any capital
worth mentioning. But the business Is
entirely sound and solvent
" II congratulate you, sir"
THANK you very much. Now. I'm
interested in rather singular case.
that of young woman-a girl, /
should say-daughter of my partner.
She's good girl and wonderfully
sweet and fine. sir: She comes Of one
OF the best families In these parts"
ION her mothers side" suggested
the colonel dryly.
$50 I'm told. sir. But she's been
neglected. Circumstances have been
against her. She hasn't had q real
chance in life. but she ought to have
it. and I'm going to see that she gets it
one way or another"
you haven't anishedT' said the
colonel coldly.
Not quite. sir" said Duncan. Good
sign" he told himself. HE hasn't or
dered me thrown out yet
To come down to cases, sir. she