Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07

with her heart very warm ana tender toward
these six adventures who had been so true
to her.
TT was to be expected that Hope would
share in his sweetheart's extravagant
gladness, for he loved her deeply, with all
the force of his big, strong, nature; yet he
acted strangely as time went on. Now he
was sad and worried, again he seemed tor
tured by lurking disquietude of spirit that
alarmed the Wag-lady; and SO she set out
to find the secret of his trouble.
The ice was breaking when he made a
clean breast of it, and when he had finished
she felt that her heart was breaking also. 1t
was the commonplace story of young man
tempted beyond his strength. Hopes popu-
larity had made him host of friends, while
his generosity had made of mo difficult
answer He had plunged into excuses dur
ing the early winter; had gambled wildly,
not to win. but for the fun of it. He had lost
company money, trusting to his ability to
make it good from his own pocket when the
time came; but the time was coming, and
his pockets were empty. Spring was here,
the first boats would arrive any day, and
with them would come the ?. {. men to audit
his accounts 1t was possible to cover 1t up, to
be sure; but he scorned to falsify his books.
Il should have stayed in Council City,
he said "but when | heard you were
sick" he buried his brown face in his hands
The girls lips were white as she asked,
SLOW much is it?'
NEARLY twenty thousand
She shook her head hopelessly. Il haven't
nearly that much, Harry; but perhaps they
would let US pay off the balance as we are
able
aIune!" he cried q wouldn't let you!
I'll 60 to Jail first! II suppose you won't
=
Il love YOU more than twenty thousand
dollars WORTH" she replied. well face 1t
out together
@If only had time, | could pay it back
and they'd never know; for have property
that will sell, once the season opens.
"Then you must take time.
al can't. Sternberg will tell
"What has Sternberg to do with it?'
II lost the money in his place-his books
will show. He suspects, even now, and he's
talking about it. He doesn't like me, you
know, since he heard of our engagement.
L their SCARED sides up through the melt
ing snow: the open sea showed black beyond
the rim of anchor ice; but as Nature awoke
and blossomed June faded and shrank until
she was no more than the ghost of her former
self. Then one day smoke was reported
upon the horizon, and the town became
bedlam; for the door of the Frozen North
was creaking on its hinges, and just beyond
Law the good glad world of men and things.
June could stand it no longer SO she told
her sorrow to Llewelyn, who had half
guessed it ANYHOW, and he in turn retold it
to his fellow Ways
The Scrap Iron Kid was for killing Hope
at once, and argued that it was by far the
simplest way out of June's trouble, carrying
with it also an agreeable element of retribu
ton. Hope had hurt the Wag lady; there
fore the least atonement he could offer was
his blood. But Dummy, the foxy old albi
man of the outfit, said:
"I've got better scheme. Hope wants to
do the right thing, and June'll make him if
she has a chance. The company will get its
coin, she'll get her square guy, an nobody'll
be hurt, provided he has time to swing him
self. The ace in the hole is Sammy Stern
berg: he's got the books. Now, what's the
answer"
@Steal the books" chorused the Ways, and
Dummy smiled:
"Why, sure.
"You can't stick up no saloon full Of
roughnecks and sleepers," said Scrap Iron.
Sammy caches his books in the safe when
hos off shift and we cant blow the safe