Rock Island Argus., 1912-11-05

they We're new to these men, and they
read them eagerly.
Ben finished his first and sank into
distracted silence. Suddenly he look
ed up to meet Elison's kind eyes bent
upon him.
Feeling low. Fleming?" asked the
other man. u don't want to butt in.
you know, only If 1t will relieve your
mind to tell it to any one why fire
away. 1t will go no further"
81 know that. Yes, there is some
thing, and it's girl too" confessed
Ben.
COMPOUNDED trouble makers-God
bless en- commented Ellison.
II don't suppose I've had your ex-
perience. I've only seen one girl ever
cared much about"
That's enough
There's certainly variety enough In
it." smiled Ben. You see. l didn't
have anything and her folks are pref
ty we'll to do. and when her father ask
ed me how I was going to support her
in the manner he had always done,
why, l just threw up my hands and
said l couldn't do that. OF course-nOt
! just now-but she was willing TO wait
/ for me-" Ben paused.
"Well?" urged Ellison after awhile.
/ "Oh. you see her father laughed
and said money wasn't made SO rapid
/ ly as all that. He said he supposed
| we wanted to be married while we
were young. l said yes-In n year or
so-and he laughed again and said it
would take some time for clerk IN
/ the railroad office TO work himself up
| to be division superintendent or some-
| thing like that. The second time he
! laughed and made me mad. / told
! him I'd come back in year with
money enough to marry her, and
said was SO sure of her love and 10y
atty that l wouldn't even see her be-
fore l went away. l knew she'd wait
for me.
81 didn't count on falling sick in
Seattle and breaking so into my money.
That's how you found me down and
out"
Huh, if you hadn't saved my life
! down there on the river where would I
have been, eh? If there's a balance Of
gratitude it's on the other side of the
ledger. What does the girl say nowT"
II haven't heard a word from her."
said Ben dejectedly. II suppose
ought not to have gone Off without see
ing her. l couldn't say goodby, and.
besides, / suppose l was ripping mad
at the old man
"It wasn't being quite square with
her." admitted Ellison soberly. You
CHI
would have preferred to marry you
poor as you We're. You ought to have
given her the chance anyway
Il realize it. l know it. And the
thought strikes a chill to my heart
that's way below your go degrees. I've
written twice. and I've never had a
word in reply"
There was an instant'S silence. Then
Ellison spoke across the table, and Ben
7 looked up quickly to see the bright
blue eyes fixed intently upon him un-
der the glow of the lamp.
perhaps she's moved away and
didn't get your letter." he suggested
crisply.
"Why, hardly that. You see, her
home was in Cleveland, and she would
not be likely to-
Perhaps her father died and she
| was adopted by an uncle who lived in
California Perhaps she is there F"
The older man spoke forcefully, con-
vincingly.
, "Why, 1t might be. She did have an
uncle In California. It's queer you
should have hit upon that, Ellison"
, 3 d i., .rtp With
Zled expression.
Not so queer, young man. The GU
, rious part of 1t is that ! didn't suspect
you before" Ellison's tone was sharp.
Suspect, What do you meanr'
. Ben paled and arose, leaning across
the table to stare into Fllison's face.
II told you girl sent me up here
to the Yukon country. 1t was my
niece Her father has recently died.
and as her mother. who was my only
sister. is dead | have adopted her.
: She makes her home with me in south
ern California. Grace Ellison Gary is
my niece"
"Grace Ellison Gary Is your nIece?"
Ben chattered tine words incredulous-
. ly. "She sent you up here:"
AFTER yOu-Whnt the deuce ~ your
name? She said Benjamin CarwoOd.
You pose as Ben Fleming"
, "Benjamin Fleming Carwood," said
! Ben dizzily "What-why did she send
| you after meT'
| Because she wants You to come
back, you young IDIOT"
"And You knew she wanted me all
these months we have been together,
and because Of this wall OF reserve be-
tween us-why, I've been so down and
out sometimes I've felt Ike throwing
myself down the shaft. | wonder IL
| there will come chance for me to go
| home soonT" Ben looked wlstfully at
his companion.
: 81 guess there will. I've had an
offer for the mine as she stands now,
, and we better take It and divide.
Then we can go home next month. In
the meantime as your heart Is down
/ at 60 degrees below zero, I'll Just de-
: liver this letter Grace sent up to you
, II / should find you. and l trust the
contents viii thaw you out" And FL
Al. -.