The Sentinel=record., 1911-12-24

PKrR TURNED BACK TaR LAPEL OF Ers
 COAT.
 odd dollars from the bill drawer. stood up and counted them with great delib- eration--
 ''One, two, three, four"
 He smiled winningly at Pete. -Four hundred dollars. Mir. Sherifr. Now win you be good enough to hand over that note and the change and then put yourself and that pickle you're wear ing in your face on the other side of the door7"
 'I aiIl't got the note with me. Mir. Duncan"
 '"Then perhaps you won't mind going to the bank for it?'
 Half suffocated. Pete assented. "Aw' right I'll go and git It Kin have the money2"
 Certainly" Duncan extended the bills, then on second thought withheld them. q presume you're q regular sheriff2' he inquired.
 Very proudly Pete turned back the lapel Of his coat aud distended the chest on which shone, his nickel plhted badge of office. Duncan examined it with grave admiration It's beautiful" he said. with s sigh. Here"
 Glngeriy Pete grasped the biIlg thumbed them over to make sure thsy were real and bolted as for his fife. his coattails level on she breeze T,rre noared back to Duncan and old 2 bis vaiedictory. "WsaL. m be dsa- gastedr
 With a short, quiet laugh Duncan made as though to g. out 10 tie back delivered.
 I'm going" be said hurriedly, "to find me a hatchet and knock the stun- ing out of some of those packing cases. Want to get all that truck in- doors before nightfali. you xnow."
 But old Sam wasn't 10 b, put of by any such obvious subterftige as that de put himself In front of Duncan.
 Nat. my boy" he said. tremulous. '1 can't let this go through can't allow you''--
 ''There, now," Duncan told him un- concernedly. yet kindly. "dont say anything more. It's over and done with"
 But you mustn't. Tu turn over the store to you if'-
 70 Lordw Duncan's dismay was as genuine as his desire to escape Grs- hams gratitude. ''No-don'tl Please don't do thatg
 But l must do something. my boy. l can't accept SD great q kindness un- less" said Graham. with a timid nasn of hope. "you'll consider a partner ship
 That's itF' cried Duncan, glad or any way out of the situation. "Thats the way to do it--a partnership. No' please don't say any more about 1t 1ust now. We can settle details later. We've got to get busy. Tell you wnas I wish you'd do while Pm bursting open those boxes. If you don't mind going down to the station to make surs that everything's" Yes. I'll go; Pli go at once" san groped for Duncan's hand. caught ana held it between both his own "lf-n fate or something hadn't brought you 1 here today | don't know what woulu have happened to Betty and me"
 Never mind" Duncan tried 70 soothe him. 'Just don't you tniiiA about 1t"
 Graham shook his head. still beWh- | dered. Perhaps" he stumbled on, ito a gentleman of your wealth ssVV | Isn't much"-
 No" said Duncan gravely without the flicker of an eyeiash. "nothing' ne remembered we'll the few dollars tna' now represented all his worldly goous' Then he smiled cheerfuiiy. lnsis' that's all right"
 "To me it's meant everything. only hope I'll be able to repay ysI some day. God bless you. my UV' 1 God bless your an
 He managed to jam his hat a"rs ~ hls white old head and find nis ".s | out, his hands fumbllng with one I other his lips moving inaudlDly' haps in prayer of thanksgiving. ,s,r- It was perhaps within the next 1n ty minutes that Betty twho nau ,... Os. left in charge of the store wnne pu "a can. with coat and collar on ss sleeves rolled above bis sl19Mss ss