Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-21

ridiculous sense or honesty said Ry.
anne sloomily. !,
George leaned over and laid his
hand upon Ryanne's knee. ''she gets
It the same way do. Ryanne-from
here" touching his heart: land she
10 right"
II believe I've missed everything
worth while. Percival TIL met you
I always had q sneaking idea that
money made Q man evil. The boot
seems to b upon the other foot"
"Ryanne. you spoke about becoming
honest, once ron get out Of this. Did
you mean it?''
II did, and still do"
1T may be that I can give you 4
lift. You worked in your fathers
bank. You know something about hg.
ures. own two large fruit-farms
in California. What do you say to q
hundred and fifty . month to start
with, and begin life over AGAIN."
Ryanne got up and restlessly paced.
Nonchalance had been beaten out Of
him; the mercurial humor which had
once been so pleasant to excite,
which had once given him a foothold
In such moments. was gone. He had
only ono feeling. . keen. biting. bitter
shame. At length he stopped in front
Of George, who amiled and looked up
expectantly.
Zones. when you stick your finger
into water and withdraw it, what hap
pens? Nothing. Well. the man who
gives me . benefit 10 sticking his
finger into water. I'm just as un-
stable. How many promises have I
made and broken! mean, promises
to myself. I don't know. This mo
ment I swear to be good, and along
comes . pack Of cards or bottle OF
wine. and back slip. Would 1t be
worth while to trust q man 30 damned
weak as that? Look at me. I am six
foot two, normally hundred and
eighty pounds, no fat. am as sound
as cocoanut. There isn't boxer in
the States I'm afraid Of. I can ride.
shoot, fence. fight: there isn't game
can't take q creditable hand In. So
much for that. There's the other side.
Morally, I'm putty. When its soft you
can mold it any which way; when It's
hard. it crumbles. Will you trust q
man like that?"
Eyes. Out there you'll be away
from temptation"
perhaps. Well, accept. And II
one day I'm missing. think kindly OF
the poor devil Of an outcast who want
ed to be good and couldn't be. I'm
tagged. I'm going to turn In. Good
night"
He picked up his blanket and saddle
bags and made his bed a dozen yards
away.
George set his gaze at the fire, now
falling in places and showing incan'
descent holes. A month ago, In the
rut Of commonplace, moving round In
oiled grooves Of mediocrity. Bang!
like a rocket. Why. never had those
liars in tho smoke-rooms recounted
anything half 10 wild and strange %
this adventure 6mugglers, card
sharps, an ancient rug. q caravan In
the desert! He turned his head and
looked long and earnestly at the little
tent. Love. too; love that had put
into his difndent heart the thrill and
courage Of a Bayard. Love! He saw
her again as she stepped down from
the carriage; in the dining-room at his
side, leaning over the parapet;' inef
fably sweet. hauntingly sad. Would
she accept the refuge he had offered
He knew that old Mortimer would
take her without question. Would she
accept the shelter. Of that kindly roof?
She must! II she refused and went
her own way into the world. he would
lose her for ever. She must accept!
He would plead with all the elouuence
of his soul, for his own happiness, and
mayhap hera He rose, faced the
tent, and. with gesture not unlike
that of the pagan in prayeY. registered
vow that never should she want fcr
protection, never should she want fol-
the comforts OF life. How he was
going to keep such q vow was a ques
ton that did not enter his head. Some
how he was going to accomplish the
feat.
What mattered the ragged beard
upon his face, the ragged clothes upon
his body, the tattered cloths upon his
feet, the grotesque attitude and en-
semble? The Lord Of Life saw into
his heart and understood. And who
might say with what Joy Pandora
gazed upon her work, knowing as she
did what still remained within bel
casket?
From these heights, good occasional
ly for any mans soul, George came
down abruptly and humanity to the
prosaic question Of where would he
make his bed that night? To lie dowr
at the north side Of the fire meant g
chill in the morning; the south side
the Intermittent, acrid breath Of the
fire itself; SO he threw down his blan
ket and bags east Of the fire, wrapped
himself up, and sank into slumber
light but dreamless.
(To be Continued.)