The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-02-17

exactly the employment the girl de-
manded for him.
Now, sit down and listen, dad" the
girl said. crossing to sofa.
But, Rose, this is a most desperate
thing to dO-pick up an ex-convict and
put him in bank" Mr.. Lane pro-
tested.
rs he an eX-convict if be was con
victed unjustly?" argued the girl.
Didn't Uncle George say he was in,
nocent?'
mot exactly. He said there was a
chance that he might be-"
But the governor pardoned him."
"Guilty men have been pardoned"
The girl would not be gainsaid
"But want you to give this man a
chance, dada GOOD chance. He risked
his life once to save me from insult"
She patted her fathers shoulder plead
ingly and affectionately
II know: know" declared Mr.. Lane.
"And you must see him." Rose was
becoming fearful of the end.
vi, IL SCc VI SOulSc, Dut W
put him to work in the bank-why,
Rose, it seems like flying in the face
of Providence"
dad, doesn't it. mean anything to
you that l want it done?" Tears be-
gan to gather in the girls eyes.
why, of course" relented the IA
Their. 'Your mother left you 40 per
cent Of the bank stock, and that alone
would make me listen did you see tit
to even ask it, but who knows about
him, and suppose it became known
who he was and what he had done?'
1--WE thought Of all that, and want
you to risk it, and my 40 per cent
wants you to risk it."
And your heart, Rose?" The IA
theirs keen eyes searched the young
girls beautiful face.
Rose returned his glance calmly
YES" she cried. rising and meeting
her fathers eyes unflinchingly with
her own; I've known men who
who talked of themselves and bored
me to death. And one day from
clear sky. when was struggling in
the arms of blear eyed brute who
beat me If | dared move hand, this
man came.
There was no blare of bugles or
anything but utter courage. He made
the ruffian leave me. His voice was
low. l could scarcely hear what he
said, but there was a note of COM
the brute disregarded it. and he mas
tered him, a beast twice his size. He
fought silently and killed him. And
all my life that man owns me-"
Mr.. Lane was only half startled at
the open declaration of his daughter
of her admiration and gratitude for
and sentimental interest in the eX-
convict Jimmy Valentine. His train
ed intuition had already told him that
she was more than casually. concern
ed in the fate of this myStifying
young man. whose record was appar-
emily so bad and whose personality
and ambitions were certainly impress
sive in their good qualities. Truth
to tell. Mr.. Lane was considerably
disturbed at the situation. but he de-
termined to accept it philosophically
for the present and to watch careful
ly the future development.
Rose" the father exclaimed as the
girl concluded her statement. While
he had realized her attraction toward
the released prisoner. he had not
guessed of the depth of her feeling for
him.
Its no good to be shocked, dad"
answered the girl. Its true. And
then he went to prison on the death
rattle of beast like that, and I'm
going to make it good to him If he's
man. And he is: every drop Of my
blood tells me so.''
And you don't even know his
name?"
Ives. do
"He gave you one, 1 know, but even
that
well. what of it? Does a name
mean anything to real men and wom-
en-? No. The one comes-the one in all
the world-and, well-thats all there
is to love-
A pause ensued. The father was
first to speak.
do you think he knows how you
feel?" he asked sympathetically
mo. nor he never will-unless you
some day-believe him-worthy of
me-"
"You. promise that?" relievedly.
81 promise, dad"
'Will you wait until / see the gov
ernOr, Rose? Let us 60 to see him
and ask his opinion of the matter"
GLADLY, and he will believe in him.
I know" said the girl enthusiastical-
~. She heard step behind her, and
she turned.
There, with his hat in his hand, well
groomed and wearing a well cut suit
Of brown clothes-light brown, the
fashionable color-there stood Jimmy
Valentine.
"Mr. Valentine!' exclaimed the girl.
Miss Lane, how do you do?" STEP
ping quickly forward, extending his
hand.
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