Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1912-11-07
Copyright 1911 by Bobhs- Merrill Company
CHAPTER XVI.
Mahomed Rides Alone.


ert itself had encompassed the two
men. In their ears the slither OF the
brittle palm-leaves against one an
other and the crackle of the fire were
no longer sounds They stared at
Fortune with that speeches. wonder
of men who had come Unexpectedly
upon a wrath. What with the faint
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-
gether.
Fortune, I am sorry; God knows
I am. I'd have cut out my tongue
rather than have hurt you. I thought
you were asleep in the tent"
"Is it true?"
Eyes" Ryanne looked away.
81 had not quite expected this: the
daughter Of a thief"
ooh, come now; don't look at it
that way. Smuggling is altogether a
different thing" protested Ryanne.
(Women were uncertain; here she
was, apparently the least agitated of
the three) "Why, hundreds of men
and women who regularly go 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?"
"Of counsel" cried George eagerly
though scarcely knowing what he
said. "I'd have done it."
and you wouldn't call Percival a
thief" with forced laugh. Its like
this, Fortune Uncle Sam wants al
together too much rake-off. He doesn't
give us a square deal; and SO we even
up the matter by trying to beat him.
Scruples? Rot!"
'It is stealing" with quiet convic-
ton.
"It isn't, either Listen to me. Sup
pose l pvrchaco a pearl necklace in
Rome, and pay five-thousand for it
Uncle Sam will boost up the value
more than one-half. And what for?
To protect infant industries? Bally
rot! We don't make pearls in the
States; our oysters aren't educated VI
to it." His fippancy found no re
Spouse in her. well, suppose I get
that necklace through the customs
without paying the duty. | make
twenty-five hundred or so. And no
body is hurt. That's all your mother
does"
at is stealing" she reiterated.
How wan she looked! thought
George.
How can you make that stealing?'
Ryanne was provoked.
"The law puts a duty upon such
things; if you do not pay it, you steal
Oh, Horace, don't waste your time
in specious arguments" She made g
gesture, WEAKNESS personified. at is
stealing; all the arguments in the
world can not change 1t into anything
else. And how about my uncle who
fleeces 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.
'Is not my uncle thief, and is moi
my mother an abettor? I do not know
of anything so VILE" Her figure grew
less erect. To Georges eyes, dimme6
by the rejecting misery in hers, she
dropped, as a flower exposed to sud
den cold. 81 think the thief in the
night much honester than one who
cheats at cards. A card-sharp; die
you not call it that? Don't lie, Hor
ace; it will only make me sad"
ST shan't lie any more, Fortune. Al
that you believe is true; and would
to God that it were otherwise. AnC
I've been a partner in many of theil
exploits. But not at cards, Fortune
not at cards. I'm not that kind of 6
cheat"
THANK you. / should have known
some time, and perhaps only half 6
truth. Now / know all there is tt
know" She held her hands out be
fore her and studied them. II shall
never go back"
Good Lord! Fortune, you must
You'd be as helpless as babe. Wha
could you do without money and com
fort?"
II can become clerk in shop. /
will be honest. Bread at Mentont
would choke me-" and she choked {
little then as she spoke.
my dear Fortune" said Ryanne
calling into life that persuasive,
sweetness which upon occasions b,
could put into his tones, have 20,
ever thought how beautiful you are