The state-line herald. (North Lemmon, Adams County, N.D.) 1907-1912, 1911-03-24

thpr tall well built, with beard and
brown hair streaked with outcroppings
of gray. smiled induiaentiy upon her.
He had agreed on tef account to place
Valentine i'm a good salaried position.
but as YET he had doubts aS to whefh-
ar he dared to secure for the exconyici
exactly the employment the girl de-
manded for him.
Now, sit down and listen, dad the
girl said. crossing to a sofa.
But. Rose, this is most desperate
thing to do-pick up an ex-convict and
put him Ia bank" Mr.. Lane pro-
tested
is be an ex-convict III be was con-
yicted unjnstlyT argued the girl.
Didn't Uncle George say he was in
nocent:"
Not exactly He said there was
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.
Il know; | know" declared Mr.. Lane
And you must see him." Rose was
becoming fearful of the end
'Oh, III see him, of course, but to
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 | want it done?" Tears be-
gan to gather in the girls eyes.
Why. of course" relented the ia
ther, Your mother left you 40 per
cent of the bank stock. and that alone
would make me listen did you see lit
to even ask it, but who knows about
him and suppose it became known
who he was and what he had done?"
"l've thought of all that. and want
you to risk it. and my 40 per cent
wants you to risk it,
And your heart. RoseT' 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 unfinchingly with
| her own; I've known men who
| thought they were heroes all my life,
who talked Of themselves and bored
/ me to death. And one day from a
| clear sky. when was struggling in
! the arms of blear eyed brute who
! beat me il dared move hand, this
! man came.
/ There was no blare of bugles OF
! anything but utter courage. He made
! the rutfian leave me. His voice was
low. | could scarcely hear what he
said. but there was note of com
mand and Il threat of death in it, ard
the brute disregarded Il. and he mas
i tered hilH 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 fol
and sentimental interest in the ex
convict Jimmy Valentine. His train
| she was more than casually concern
ed in the fate of this mystifyinl
! young man. whose record was appar
| entity SO bad and whose personality
| and ambitions were certainly impres
! siye In their good qualities. Trutl
/ n Iar h liz
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 thu
girl concluded her statement While
he had realized her attraction toward
the released prisoner, he had no
guessed of the depth of her feeling fol
him.
Its no good to be shocked, dad,
! answered the girl. Its true. Anl
then he went to prison on the deati
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 m!
blood tells me So
And you don't even know hi.
names
Yes, | do"
He gave You one, l know, but ever
that
We'll. what of it? Does a nam.
mean anything to real men and won
en-? No. The one comes-the one In al
the worId-and, well-that's all ther,
Is to love-
A pause ensued. The father wa!
first to speak.
DO you think he knows how 20,
feeiT' he asked sympathetically.
NO, nor he never will-unless 70,
some day-belieye him-worthy O.
me-
You promise that?' relieyedly.
Il promise, dad
will you wait until l see the gov
ernor, Rose? Let us go to see hin
and ask his opinion Of the matter"
Gladly, and he will believe in him
! know" said the girl enthusiastical
ly She heard step behind her, ant
Fl q hn s.yr