The daily Alaskan., 1912-08-27

lis not ytiunR man and will not be able to bear the strain. I shall have the conscicosness Of innocencs and that am saving you through him"
 "i wish" she said, that could stapd in thi, gap'instead q you. Can't you find sonse way to impIicsre me and exonerate fiithery'
 That would not only lle impossible. but. If possible. would deceive neither the courts nor the public Indeed. It is fortunate that our engagement Is not known. It might lesd to the belief that 1 was doing just what t Is proposed | shall do."
 1t was impossible for her to decide for him. He must decide for himself.
 Good night" he said "when you hear ef my decision It will likely be through the newspapers"
 He departed with the conviction that If he decided against the proposed plan no blame was to be attached to him If he decided 10 save her father at his owu expense she would ldolize him. He was young and a man of noble impulses. That means that his judg meut would be warped,
 The next afternoons newspapers con tained an announcement of the dlshon. esty.. the base Iugratitude, of James Cummings. who had been taken up by Ehrlich as |, boy and placed in con. fdential position and had been arrested as mainly responsible for the recent frauds in the custom house. The ar tlcIe went on to state that now the government had got on the right track the rascaiity would be speedily un earthed
 James Cummings was tried. convict cd and sentenced to term of four years in prison The man for whom he made tho sacrifice worked hard to save him and doubtless was influential In securing SO short a term. though the weak point in the case against Cum mings was that 1t could not be shown that his corruption had made him rich, and this initiated In his favor In the matter of his sentence. Ehrlick as soon as his substitute had entered upon his term of imprisonment began to put into operation plans to get him out
 Having means at hls command and considerable influence, there was ev. cry probability that he would have been able to reduce Cummings' term by one-half. But before that time he redeemed hin promise to exonorate his protege. After the affair bad blown over anothet stool pIgeon--this time for a considnration-was hired to con. fess himself the arch culprit Ehrlick saw that Cummings vindieatiou was published broadcast throughout the land and secured a pardon for him
 Cummings left the jail with but one pleasing emotion. That was to be again united with Marion Ehrlick. He had not seen her since the night he had left her with the momentous de- cislon before him, for If he was to stand in her fathers place 1t was I'm portnnt that there should be no sus. picIon that the matter was a family put up game. As was to be expected. the girl received him, worshiping him as an idol
 Thank heaven she exclaimed. you are exonorated!" ,
 Cummings made DO response to this for awhile. but finally said:
 My exonoratIop would stand-that Is, with those who have seen It pub lished or otherwise heard of it-but 1 there is another decision before me of more importance than the one l made with reference to your father. It Is question whether take back the obliduy that voluntarily took upon myself to save him"
 , What do you meanT'
 -As soon as our engagement Is an nounced the public will suspect what was to be feared in the first place It will be said that the family, of which l I was at that time virtually connected. having got Into difficulty l consented to be the scapegoat and that i shall now enter into the enjoyment of mg part of the m gotten gains. The only way in which my vindication will stand Is for uae to leave you forever"
 q hnd not thought of that" she said despoudently. Then, looking up. she asked:
 And your decision is--
 "That you are worth far more to me than a vindication that VIII not stand 1 the test of public opinion"
 He took her in his arms and felt re paid for all he had suffered. When Cummings met EhrIich again | he said. And now. my boy. what can | | do te show my appreciation of your i splendid sacrifcer'
 Nothing"
 "Nothing7" The word was spoken in broken voice
 "I have done this thing, as 1 told | you in the first place, on account of your kindness to ne and because | loved your daughter receive my reward in the consciousness that have repaid that kindness and shall possess the girl love Though there Is noth- i ing more thit you can do for me. there Is something you cau do for your self--restore the money you have taken