The Raymer enterprise., 1913-03-06
CHAPTER l3-fcon,InuedA

What lot Of things may happen In
ten years. Deaths, births. marriages,
he went on: the snutiing out OF king
doms and republics wars. panics
famine: honor to some and dishonor
to others. 1t kind OF makes a fellow
grind his teeth. little girl; It kind OF
makes him shut his fists and long to
run amuCk."
why should strong. intelligent
man, such as you are, think like that?
You are resourceful and unaira!d.
Why should you talk like that? You
are young. too. Why"
He stopped and looked full into her
eyes. do you really wish TO know
Had | better!" with a wisdom be.
yond her years.
NO, you had better not. I'm not a
good man, Fortune. as criterions go.
I've slipped here and there: I've gam
bled and drunk and sauandered my
time. Why, IN my youth was as
model boy as ever vas Perc!val.
Where the divancation took place
can't say. There's always two forks
In the road. Fortune. and many OF us
take the wrong one. It's easier going.
Fine excuse: eh7 Some persons would
oall me scoundrel, a black.!eg: In
some ways. yes. But in the days to
come | want you always to remember
the two untarnished spots upon my
shield OF honor: have never cheat.
Cd a man at cards nor run away with
his wife. The ds7il must give me
these merits. boesver painful Il may
be to him. Ts1 years ago, only a
decade; good Lord! It's like hun.
dred years ago. sometimes"
Fortune brsathed with difficulty.
Never before had he taken her into
his confidence TO such extent. She
essayed TO speak; the old terror
seemed fairly TO smother her. 1t WAS
not what he had told her. but what
she wished TO but dared not ask. She
was like Bluebeasds wife, only she
had not the moral courage to open the
door OF the grisly closet. Her
mother. her uncle; what OF them, ah,
what OF them? The crooked street
vanished; the roar dwIndled away;
she was alone. all, all alone.
II suppose ought not 10 have told
you" hc said troubled ut the misery
no saw gathered In her eyes and
vaguely conscious OF what had written
It there. Your mother and uncle
have been very kind TO me. They
know less OF me than you do. have
been TO them kind OF errand.boy; n
happy. .go.lucky fellow, who cheered
them when they had the doldrums."
With forced checrfulness he again
took her hand and snugglcd It under
his arm, giving It friendly reassur.
ing pat I'll not speak TO you OF
love. child. but hair OF your head
is more precious to me than all Midas
gold. Whenever I've thought OF you,
I've tried TO be good. Honestly"
And can't you 20 back to the be.
ginning and start anew" tremulously.
Can any ono 90 back? The moving
finger writes. An hour Ia a terrible
thing when you look to see what can
happen In It. But. come; sermons!
Ia far rather see you smile. Won't
you?"
She tried to, but to him II was sad.
der than her tears would have been.
For an hour they walked through
the dim and musty streets. He exert.
ed himself to Rmuse her and fairly
succeeded. But never did tho unnc.
countable fear, that presage OF m!stor.
tune. sleep In her heart. And at last.
when he took her TO her carriage and
bade her goodby I'll dinner. a half.
formed idea began to grow In her
brain: to save Mr. Jones without be-
traying Ryanne.
The latter's carriage was ut the 9th.
er end OF the bazaars; so he strobe
sullenly through the press. rudely el.
bowling those who got In his way. An
occasional curse was flung after him:
but his height. his breadth OF shoul.
der. his lowering face. precluded any.
thing more active. The Moslems had
. deal Of faith in tho efficacy OF
curses: so the jostlcd ones rested up.
On the promise Of these. satisfied that
directly o. u the near future. Allah