The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-09

ing" declared Benson shortly.
mo, you won't" said the young
man quietly This Is my affair. You
cant get me out OF II unless | am
willing 10 be got out. and ! won't be
wi.ling-my minds made up, In fact.
IL was made up the moment ! heard
the news. only | didn't know II; but
I know IL now It's the sort or a
CHARGE I've been looking for all along
to escape from this. It's been all
nonsense my reading law, but this.
this is going TO BE- right in my line.
stephen" said Benson sternly.
Pardon me. but you are talking like
fool. It's nothing 10 me what you
do suppose If YOU get shot | can
survive IT,.
So may L." retorted the boy laugh
ing. You know there are worse
things than that"
You'll oblige me by being serious,
said Benson CURLY. Il am thinking
now OF your aunt. you know that.
Yes. | know" answered Stephen.
q trife weary. I've thought OF her,
too. he added softly.
This will be serious matter TO
her. Stephen: and don't you think that
enough sorrow has entered into her
life already without you doing all you
cah to add to it,"
oh, what's the use OF going into
that phase OF it tonight, I've thought
of all that"
Then where's your love for herr
demanded Benson.
ITS just as deep and strong - II
ever was" said the boy dehantly.
You know II 10: but cant you under
stand have to go-its In me TO 90.
| pledge you my word, I've made up
my mind a score OF times not on any
account to be led away by my own
| wishes, but to stick II out here with
you. and perhaps one Of these days
get whore you'd give me the small
end Of your practice. l am quite
hopeless. you see: | shall nev0 be
ablc to stand alone in this profession
| I'll never all the toes OF your shoes
even. you see I'm not to be fooled.
You're doing very WELL" interrupt
ed Benson quickly. "Of course. you
are not exactly cut out for the law
Then what In Gods name am cut
out for, have you been able to discover
that?"
"A young man may doubt his abil
ity, that 10 natural enough, but II
argues nothing and In your case II IL
certainly no reason why you should
throw your life, your chances all
away
III 1t were not for my Aunt Virginia
| should be perfectly happy tonight;
nut having to 60 home and tell her
Stephen frowned and was silent.
But you don't have to go home and
tell her. That's the very thing you
are not to do"
The boy shook his head.
I'm going to get II over with as
soon as possible"
Tomorrow Observation-Disclosures II
20 and see McKeever. and arrange IL
with him. Come, be reasonable" urs-
ed Benson.
mo, we won't see him. not for that,
anyhow" retorted the boy.
Look here, what do you suppose
Mckeever's after! He hopes to get =
commission, and you are helping him
along in his ambition"
Quite right. He should get . COM
mission; he's gone ahead and done
something worth while. why shouldn't
he get what he wants? He's the big
gest man in town tonight cried the
boy with frank enthusiasm.
Hes a needy adventurer. Stephen,
a man OF no character: who has made
a failure Of his life solely because he
was a man Of no character"
Well, call him what you like; but
1t isn't helping me to think what I'll
tell Aunt Virginia. That's the only
thing I've got to worry over"
Il tell you can arrange 1t with
McKeever," insisted Benson. You
will just drop out You are only com.
mitted insofar as you foolishly gave
your promise TO Join his company;
you were excited, carried away, and
did not stop TO think OF the conse-
Quences. Now you have had time 70
cool OF, and you are seeing In what
direction your duty lies
"No, I'm not going to appear ridicu-
lous. or as II | hadn't known my own
mind" said the boy doggedly. but Sc
cretly he was rather alarmed by the
lawyers opposition. and he feared that
he might take steps In the matter
which would humiliate him.
Il suppose you had rather appear
merely ungrateful.' observed Benson
contemptuously.
Well. that's all In the family. Tn
derstand, please, you are not 70 see
McKeever. and you are not to say any
thing to him II you chance TO meet
him. Please, now don't want you
to- It's my affair
He had no business to accept you"
Benson placed his hand on the young
mans shoulder, and let II rest there
with kindly pressure. Don't you
be fool, stephen" he urged, gently.
All you have to think about is your
Aunt Virginia. her feelings. her anx.
iety. and suffering, II you enlist"
The boy rounded his shoulder at
the touch, and looked up sullenly into
his friends face.
What's the use OF your working
yourself into state OF mind over
this | tell you it's settled" he de-
clared, In tone that he meant should
stop further argument
Think OF her"
II tell you it's settled Let me stay
here with you tonight and tomorrow
YOU drive out and tell her what I've
done, that's where ! lose my grip"
No. I'll have no part in breaking
that news to her; but you stay here
tonight. and In the morning well hunt
up McKeever
But Stephen only shook his head.
II thought you'd help me-" he said
with much detection OF manner.
Not In this. not In the way You