Barton County democrat., 1912-10-04
CHAPTER XVI.
kah,med Rides Alone.

IL was as II the stiffness OF the oe9-
ert itself had encompassed the two
men. In their ears the slither Of IL
brittle palm-leaves against one an
other and the crackle Of the fire were
no longer sounds. They stared at
Fortune with that speechless wonder .
Of men who had come unexpectedly
upon wrath. What with the faints
glow Of the fire upon one side Of her
and the pallor Of moonshine upon the,
other, she did indeed resemble mans
conception Of the spiritual.
Ryanne was first to pull himself to-
sether.
Fortune, / am sorry; God knows
T. am. I'd have cut out my tongue
rather than have hurt you. l tho1ght
YOU were asleep in the tent"
as II true?"
"Yes." Ryanne looked away.
81 had not quite expected this: the
daughter Of a thief"
"0h, come now; don't look at Il
that way. Smuggling is altogether a
different thing" protested Ryanne.
Women were uncertain; here she.
was, apparently the least agitated ot
the three) why, hundreds Of men
and wcmen who regularly 90 to
church, think nothing Of beating
Uncle Sam out Of few dollars. Here's
Jones, for instance; he would have
tried TO smuggle In that rug. Isn't
that right, Jones?"
"0f course!" cried George eagerly.
though scarcely knowing what he,
said. I'D have done IT,"
And you wouldn't call Percival q.
thief" with a forced laugh. Its like
this, Fortune. Uncle Sam wants al
together too much rake-off. He doesn't.
give us square deal; and so we even
up the matter by trying to beat hin
Scruples? Rot!"
1T is stealing" with quiet conyic-
tiOh. %.
ut isn't, either. Listen to me. Sup
pose ! purchase pearl necklace IN
Rome, and pay fve-thousand for Il
Uncle Sam will boost up the value.
more than one-half. And what fort
To protect infant industries? Bally
rot! We don't make pearls in the
States; our oysters aren't educated up
to it," His lippancy found no re-
sponse in her, well, suppose ! get
that necklace through the customs.
without paying the duty. / mahe.
twenty-five hundred or So. And no
body is hurt. That's all your mother
does"
1T is stealing" she reiterated.
How wan she looked! thought
George.
How can you make that stealingf'
Ryanne was provoked.
THE law puts q duty upon such
things; II you do not pay II. you steal.
Oh; Horace, don't waste your time
in specious arguments" She made q
gesture, weariness personified. 1T iS
stealing; all the arguments In tho
world can not change It into anything
else. And how about my uncle whe
feecos the lambs at cards. and how
about my mother who knows and per.
mits it,,
Ryanne had no plausible argument
TO offer against these queries.
"ls not my uncle a thief. and is not
my mother an abettor? do not know
Of anything so. VILE" Her figure, grew
less erect. To Georges eyes, dimmed
by. the rejecting misery'in hers. she
dropped, as a flower exposed to sud-
den cold 81 think the thief in the
night nuch honester than one who
cheats at cards. A card-sharp; did
you not call It that? Don't lie, Hor-
ace; II will only make me sad"
81 shan't lie any more, Fortune. An
that you believe is true: and would
to God that It were otherwise. And
I've been a partner In many Of their
exploits. But not at cards, Fortune:
not at cards I'm not that kind Of a
cheat"
Thank you. I should have knowuI
some time, and perhaps only half al
truth. Now know all there is toI
know" She held her hands pui be,
fore her and studied them. az ghaHl
never go back"
Good LordI Fortune, you must
You'd be as helpless as a babe. What
could you do without money and com
fort?" -
Il can become q clerk IN a shop. nj
will be honest. Bread at Mentone
would choke me-" and she choked a
little then as she spoke. s''s 9
MY dear Fortune" said Ryanne.
calling intq life that persuasive
sweetness which upon occasions he
could put into bis tones. hare you