Barton County democrat., 1912-10-04

turned 10 ner mother, sooner or later
the thunderbolt' would fan. Far better
that'she should fall in love with Jones
than to go back 10 the overhanging
shadow. A smile lifted the corners OF
his lips, sad smile. Perciyal didn't
look the part CT hero. His coat was
variously SPILL under the arms and
across the shdilders; his trousers
were ragged. aud he walked in h,s
cloth pads Ike man who had gout
in both feet. A beard covered his
face, and the bare spots were blistered
and peeling. But there was youth IN
Percivars eyes and youth in his heart.
and surely the youth in hers must
some day respond. She would know
this young man; she would know that
adyersity could not crush him; that
the promise of safety could not make
a coward of him; that he was loyal
and brave and honest. She would
know in twenty days what it takes the
average woman twenty years to learn.
the manner of man who professed TO
love her. Ryanne left the game unfin.
ished, stretched himself upon the
ground. Oh, the bitter cup, the bitter
cupl
Round the fire that night, the camel.
boys got out their tom-toms and reeds.
ard the eerie music affected the white
people hauntingly and mysteriously.
For thousands of years, the high and
low notes of the drums (hollow earth
en-jars or large gourds covered with
goat-skin at one end and the thin, me-
tallic wall Of the reeds had echoed
across the deserts, unchanged. The
boys swayed to and fro to the rhythm.
gradually working themselves into an
ecstatic frenzy.
Fortune always remembered that
night. Wrapped in her blanket, she
had lain down Just outside the circle,
and had fallen into a doze. When the
music stopped and the boys left the
prisoners to themselves, George and
Ryanne talked.
Il never forget faces" began
George.
mo? That's a gift"
And have never forgotten yours.
| was In doubt at first, but not now"
Il never met you till that night at
the hotel"
That's true But you are Horace
Wadsworth, all the same, the son Of
the millionaire-banker, the man used
TO admire in the field"
You still think I'm that .chap?"
q am sure Of it. The first morning
you gave yourself away"
What did say?" anxiously.
You mumbled football phrases"
"Ah!" Ryanne was vastly relieved
He seemed to be thinking.
DO you persist in denying it?"
u might deny 1t, but | shant. I'm
Horace Wadsworth, all right. Fortune
knows something about that chapter
but not all. Stokes you odd, eh?" con
tinued Ryanne, iron in his voice
Every opportunity in the world; and
yet, here | am. How much do yoU
know, | wonder?"
You took some money from the
bank, | think they said"
"Right-0! Wine, Percival; cards
wine and other things. Advice and
warning went into one ear and out ol
the other. Always so, eh? You have
heard of my brother, dare say. Well
he wouldn't lend me two stamps were
| to write for the undertaken to come
and collect my remains. Beautiful his
tory! I've been doing some tall think
ing these lonely nights. Only thu
straight and narrow way pays. b,
good, even if you are lonesome. .Wher
| get back, if ever do, it's a new lea
for mine. Neither wine nor cards moi
women"
Silence. The fire no longer blazedi
it glowed.
who is Mrs. Chedsoye% Georg,
finally began anew.
First, how did you chance to max,
her acquaintance
Some years ago, at Monte Carlo"