The Washington herald., 1911-02-12

when he sat down it was with her beside him and his
arm around her.
"'Yes, ma'am.' III say. Burning Daylight was
pretty good cuss but it's better that he's gone He
quit rolling up in his rabbit skins and sleeping in the
snow, and went to living in a chicken coop. He
lifted up his legs and quit walking and working and
took to existing on Martini cocktails and Scotch
Whiskey He thought he loved you, ma'am, and he
did his best. but he loved his cocktails more and he
loved his money more, and himself more and most
everything else more than be did you And then
III say, 'Ma'am. you just your eyes over and
see how different l amt got a cocktail thirst,
and all the money got is a dollar and forty cents,
and I've got to buy axe, that last being
plumb wore out and can love you just about eleven
times as much as your first husband did. You see.
ma am, he went all to fat. And there amt ary
of fat on me- And I'll roll up my sleeves and show
you. and say Mrs. Harnish after having experience
with being married to that old fat mOneybags, do
yOuall mind marrying slim young fellow like me?
And you'll just wipe tear away for poor old Day
light and kind of lean toward me with willing ex-
preston in your eye and then III blush maybe some,
being young fellow, and put my arm around you,
like that and then-why, then I'll up and marry my
brothers widow and go and do the chores while
she's cooking bite to eat"
But you haven't answered my questions" she
reprOached him, as he emerged, rosy and radiant,
from the embrace that had accompanied the cuimi-
nation of his narrative.
Now just what do you want to know?" he asked.
81 want to know how all this is possible? How
you are able to leave your business at a time like
this? What you meant by saying that something
going to happen quickly? r She hesitated
and blushed. Il answered your question, you
know
whmscaity of his utterance duplicated in his eyes.
You know I've got to make way for that husky
young brother of mine. and amt got long to live"
She made impatient move and he continued serI-
Ously:-"HOu see, it's like this Dede I've been
working like forty horses since this blamed
panic set in, and all the time of those ideas
you'd given getting ready to sprout. Well
they sprouted this morning. that's all. l started to
get up. expecting to 90 to the office usual But
didn't to the office. All that sprouting place
there and then. The shining in the window
and knew it was fine day in the hills. And
knew wanted to ride in the hills with you just about
thirty million times more than wanted to 90 to the
office. And l knew all the time it was impossible.
And why? Because of the office The office wouldn't
let me. All my money reared right up on its hind
legs and got In the way and wouldn't let It's
way that blamed money has of getting in the way.
You know that yourself
And then made up my mind that I to the
dividing of the ways. One way led to the office The
other way led to Berkeley. And l took the Berkeley
road. I'm going to set foot in the office again.
That's all gone. finished and done with and I'm
letting it slide clean to smash and then some. My
mind is set this. You see, I've got religion and
it's sure the old time religion, its love and yOu and
it's older than the oldest religion in the world It's
IT that's what it is-IT. with a capital IT.
She looked at him with sudden, startled express
sion.
You mean she began.
81 mean just that. I'm wipnS the slate clean I'm
letting it all go smash. When them thirty million
dollars stood up to my face and said couldn't go
with you in the hills to-day knew the time had come
for to put my foot down. And I'm putting it
down. I've got you, and my strength to work for
vou and that little ranch in SOnOma- That's all
want and that's all I'm going out along with
Bob and Wolf suit case, and hundred and forty
hair brides. All the rest goes, and good radiance
Its that much junk
But Dede insistent.
Then thiS-thiS tremendous loss is all unneces-
sary?" she asked.
Just what haven't been telling you. 1t is neces-
sary. If that money thinks it stand up right to
my face and say can't go riding with you
NO no; be serious" Dede broke in. Il don't mean
that and you know it. What L to know is from
a standpoint of business is this failure necessary?'
He shook his head
You bet it isn't necessary. That's the point of it.
I'm letting go of it because I'm licked a stand
still by the panic and have got to let go. I'm firing
it out when I've licked the panic and winning
hands down That just shows how little think of it.
It's you that count, little woman and make my play
accordingly"
But she drew away from his sheltering armS
You mad, Elam.'
Call that again" he murmured ecstatically
Its sure sweeter than the chink of millions"
All this she ignored
Its madness. You don't know what you are do
ing
oh yes I do" he assured her I'm winning the
dearest wish of my heart Why, your little finger is
worth more'-
DO be sensible for a moment"
81 was never more sensible in my life know what
| want and I'm going TO get it. l want you and the
open air. TO get my feet off the paving stones
and my away from the telephone. want a little
ranch house in of the prettiest country God
made and want to do the chores around that
ranch hOuse-milk cows and chop wood and curry
horses and plough the ground and all the rest of it
and want you there i'll the ranch house with me- I'm
plumb tired OF everything else and clean
And I'm the luckiest alive for I've got what
money can't buy. I've got you, and thirty millions
couldn't buy you, three thousand millions nor
thirty cents'-
A knock at the door interrupted him, and he was
left deghtedly the crOuched Venus and on
around the at Dede's dainty possessions while
she answered the telephone.
1T is Mr.. Hegan," she said returning. He is
holding the line. He says it is important"
Daylight shook his head and smiled.
please tell Mr.. Hogan to hang up I'm done with
the office and l don't want to hear anything about
anything"
minute later she back again.
He refuses to hang up. He told .ell you that
Unwin is in the office waiting to yOu and Har-
rison, too. Mr. Hogan said that Grimshaw & HOdg-
kins in trouble That looks if they going
break. And he said something about protection"
1t was startling information. Both Unwin and
Harrison represented big banking corporations, and
Daylight knew that if the house of Grmshaw N
Hodgkins went it would precpitate number of fail
ures and start furry of serious dimensions But
Daylight smiled and shook his head, and mimicked
the stereotyped office tone Of voice as he sad:-
MaSO will kindly tell Mr., Hegan that