El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-05
PAID BACK
(By Luke Bee.)

ssYoUs, Nick CULTIVATE. swung
round in his chair with sur
prise ringing in his voice and written
on his face.
81 hoped you would not recognize
me" said the woman q little YEARLY
Most people don't-those who used
to- 1 shouldn't have come here, but IL
is the only mill in the district where
there seemed a chance. want employ
ment, Mr. Cultivate. There's nothing
more"
won't you sit down, Mrs. Trevor
Nick said. rising
The woman drew her shawl more
tightly round her head. and remained
stiffIy unresponsive TO his courtesy.
you had better treat me. like the
others, Mr. Cultivate" she said. lit
tie bitterly "I am not Of Blackwater
Grange now; I am just mill hand
1 have children; I must work Tor
them"
Nick Cultivate sent Garth away On
an errand that would occupy him the
best part of 90 minutes. Because this
woman refused to be seated, he stood
also.
''You-come back TO work in mills
Nick said. with memories of this wo-
man in a palatia1 home. with an ador-
ing husband, children, servants, and
wealth. q did it once, and almost
came back to it again; but for Wo-
man things are different. What about
your friends?"
81 am not sure that I had any. Al
least I'll have no charity from any
one. I can work: I have done so since
Jim died"
Il could never find out what became
Of YOU. I did not forget; I often won
dered No one seemed to know. You
slipped out of the ole life quite COM
pleteIy-ah, you changed your name"'
he said, referring to the slip of paper
on his desk
Il thought it best, after Jim's death
A suicides wife-weil. people point. 1
had enough to bear without that"
Nick was sympathetically silent.
"A long time ago.. ne began, after
a moment. "Jim Trevor and 1 were
friends wish you would let me help
his widow"
Il win. I want you to give me
work"
.Oh. yes. But that rs not enough"
81 have my pride, Mr.. Cultivate. I'll
have no charity"
Nick nodded. There was subtle
sympathy in his acceptance Of her
rs nothing left of your husbands
roya1ties?''
of his inventions That jacquard I'M
provement, for example, was big
stride forward"
Eyes. but he sold 1t outright-the
other patents as well. There was notn-
ing And his last invention he took
with him." She dropped her voice. Do
you know the story?'
some of it. 1 know that the won
derful loom he promised never ma
terialized What became of 1t!
THAT night when John Jenniford got
the verdict in the courts against him
which meant his ruin-he plunged
into the Blackwater with his siSdei
of the new loom"
WAS that the end of 1t and him.
then? I remember his oody was re-
covered Tt is a pity the model could
not have been found. 1t was going TO
be his great triumph, wasn't 1t! II
would have been yours, of course II
would have made all the difference 10
you and your children
at had no chance: / was turned out
of the house. And 1 was afraid TO
sneak: if it had been recovered there
was somebody waiting to pounce on
it,
"Ab Jenniford, Hasn't Jenniford Of
fered anything to you? He made for
tune out of that jacquard improve
ment"
"He was my husbands enemy. He
occupies our place now; he followed
ne into Blackwater Grange. May he
get there all the Joy he deserves.
IT don't believe he got much. AS
matter of fact. he is not longer there
The place has been for sale this last
three months. I believe that mans
Tr0VnT One
has only to live long enough 10 get
reconverted to ones early beliefs NOW
TO come to business I have an over
lockers job vacant; the wages are 90
shillings. Would you care
.aThe wages are too high" broke In
Mrs Trevor.
.Ye are offering me charity.
Nothing of the sort You don't
know me; 1 am as hard as nails on
business. Only we pay good wages al
this mill: that's why we get good
work. Now I'll just get your name put
down. And a newcomer of accepted
character. always has the privilege OF
drawing half weeks pay in advance.
If YOU will have it so, you know, /
must put you on level with the 9TH
ers."
4 believe you are favoring me- Mr..
Outhwaite."
ooh. nonsensev'
When Garth came back, he waited
for his employers inevitable commu-
nication touching the matter.
That house. Blackwater Grange, Is
still for sale?" he asked.
Garth took up the morning paper,
and looked into the advertising col
umns.
yes, and likely to be. from all ac-
counts 1 cycled that way last Satur-
day afternoon. According to the gossip
of the local inn. the place has curse,
or ghost. or some such skittles."
I'll appoint you my agent in the
matter It is in the hands of some
Liverpool lawyers. Find out their low
est price, and offer two-thirds"
The offer was accepted after short
consideration. which in Nidk's eyes
argued shortness Of money on the part
Of John Jenniford, and in due course
Nick made preparations for assuming
occupation. Meanwhile, he made plans
for the draining of the melancholy
lake at the back of the house, known
as the Blackwater.
But the draining of the Blackwater,
where the Inflated James Trevor found
death and the child Of his brain a
grave, took more than an afternoon,