The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-06-18

! ed TO his imagination, in short dresses
and plated hair hanging down a slim,
! white neck. 1t was a pleasant and
startling surprise to find her a woman
in the full bloom Of her maidenly
| beauty.
Il regret, gentlemen" he began
slowly. but with such evident mean-
ing in his words that the three men
| crowned
Topham. impuIstve and brutal in
speech. interrupted quickly:
You know the ALTERNATIVES"
He placed his hand menacingly on
his hip.
wait one minute!'
CarStack held up Il warning hand
and moved toward the door. The 9TH
ers passively watched him, and Der
| tran instinctively sensed new danger.
The door opened and closed behind the
man. then opened again and admitted
! another Bertran looked through the
| smoke laden atmosphere at the new
conner and then started viSibly.
"Charley-you hereY he said alb
ruptly,
Charley Ross, vigorously supported
by Carstack in the rear, stepped half
willingly toward the center of the
| room His eyes did not look at his
friend and his bronzed face was pale,
Bertran surveyed him silently and ap-
| prehensiveIy.
Charley" he said softly, 81 am sor-
~ that you have come. This is no
place for US. Come away with me-"
For reply the boy-he was not much
more than boy in looks-glanced
swiftly down the row of grim faces
and then pleadingly into the eyes Of
Bertran.
"Charley, are you in this deal, toO?"
Bertran asked sorrOwfully.
The boy, with the eyes of his sister,
nodded his lips refusing to perform
their duty.
And you wish me to make false
| report Of this mines worth to my en-
| ployers so--s0'-
He stopped, the words choking him,
Then, with IA smile on his lips, he said
| firmly:
But cannot 90 it, not even for
! your sake, Charley
"Then-then do It for-for Vera s
sake"
| Had the man struck him in the face
| he could not have made a deeper i'm
preston on Bertran. His cheeks went
suddenly pale and then flushed hotly.
What right had even Charley to use
! his sisters name in such an infamous
bargain? He turned as if to resent it
with all the strength of his nature.
You mean that-for Veras sake?'
! Beptran stammered br0kenly, his eyes
still averted.
"You mean it?" Bertran repeated in
| a hollow voice.
The boy gulped convulsively and
| then, like one repeating a half forgot
ten lesson, murmured:
Eyes, Willard, II mean it-fOr We
ra's sake. We-she needs the money,
and it will make life so different to
her She has suffered much for my
sake-and"-
The lips refused to speak the blum
|
died in a cultural murmur in his
| throat.
Bertran slowly dropped his hand
and unsteadily moved toward the Ia
! Bile With trembling hands he took
a blank sheet of paper from his peck
ct, unscrewed his fountain pen and
slowly, painfully, scrubbed a few
words, Without folding the paper or
attempting to blot the ink. he handed
1t to the boy and said:
| Charley, here is my answer"
Over his shoulder Carstack read the
words. The frown on his face deep
ened, and then a smile broadened his
features. In his eagerness he snatch
ed the paper from Charley Ross hand
and passed it around to his compan-
ions 1t was telegram briefly word
ed:
Messrs. Black wiltshire & Co.. New York
City:
Have made a thorough examination OF
Baldhead mine. 1t is worth about the
offer made-very little more. Fuller re-
port by mail
WILLARD BERTRAN.
you may send that. gentlemen, II
my name,'' Bertran said, with sneer
"and my report by mail will be OF
the same tenor"
Carstack stepped forward and ex
tended hand. Bertran pushed IL
away angrily.
Il do not want your congratulations
nor your money" he said holly, strid
ing toward the door.
but your SHARE" Carstack began
greedily.
Bertran turned at the door and faced
them for the last time, his eyes blaz
1 ing
do you think would touch any OF
your money, you dastardly towards
do it because-because''-
Then he flung himself from the
room. his whole body trembling with
excitement and wrath.
From the shadows Of the cabin 8
| dark figure fitted. crossing a patch OF
moonlight to the darkened blotch OF
stunted trees beyond. Bertran gave q
sudden start and then followed. He