The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-03-10


| cry that might descend upon him
would only be given greater weight.
Valentine desired to talk alone with
Rose Lane, and after a lengthy con-
versation. puncthated by lavish prom
1ses of hunting trips, sent the lad away
to play with Kitty in the new vault,
which for their purpose became a
smuggler's cave.
The assistant cashier stepped for
ward toward Rose, who stood close to
his desk. resting her sable muff on it's
polished top.
ITO what am | indebted for this
pleasure?" he asked of her.
Yourself" She smiled graciously
on him as she spoke.
Valentine drew near to her
How"
Don't you suppose l like you as
well as do the children?: she an
swered gayly.
DO you?' lie asked anXiously.
Yes, but why is it that you never
DO call on me any more?" she ques-
toned rcproachfully.
"Well-because"- he became very
uncomfortable. She must never know
| the true reason for his avoidance of
| her.
DO you think it's fair to use wo-
mans weapon against her? You know
it's woman's birthright to say be-
| cause when She
| 81 meant
"What?'
"Oh-ah-what were we talking
about:''
LAS to why you don't call on me
any more"
Valentine struggled to think of a
swering the question.
"Well, now-don't you see," he STAN
mered "Of course you do" He was
becoming more involved every mo-
ment.
| The girls smile began to fade.
Rather grimly she interrupted him.
mo. l don't see at ALL" was her an
nOuncement. She moved away from
| the desk.
"Well. Miss Lane, p
| The telephone bell rang at his desk.
He bent forward and put the receiver
to his ear. As he hung up the re-
| ceiver a clerk entered.
xviii you have the cash now?" the
employee asked.
"In a few minutes
| No sooner had the clerk made his
exit when a messenger boy entered,
bearing a telegram. Valentine tore
it open. apologizing to Rose as he did
so. The girl saw that the assistant
cashier was very busy. She deter
mined to leave him for the present.
AS Valentine dismissed the boy she
announced that if the press of bust
ness would not continue all day she
would return. Valentine assured her
that in a half hour he would be at
leisure and that he would sacrifice
everything else in order to talk to her
She started toward the door. assuring
him that she would return. AS She
! opened the door she turned and cast
a smile in the direction of the assist
ant cashier.
But Valentine did not notice it. He
did not see it. His eyes were glued te
the slip of yellow paper that he held
in his hand The girl saw that as he
read the telegram an expression OF
tenseness. Of unsubdued excitement
| crept across his face. Wonderingly
she softly closed the door. A few
steps carried her before Valentine
who looked up in surprise. thinking
she had gone.
what is it-that telegram" SHIT
gasped. "It's bad news for you-very
bad" she went on. II must know"
Valentine, undergoing pronounced
shock owing to the contents Of thu
| message which he held in his hand
was almost completely unstrung BY
the interruption OF the girl he loved
Was It not fate that prompted her t.
! appear before him at the very moment
when
"Oh, it Is nothing" he said weakly
"Nerely a little business tangle-tha
is ALL"
4 He stepped out from behind hi