The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-04-18

Minna anything that he had written;,
his letters were becoming more ana
| more distant.
Meanwhile James Farleigh assumed
control of the business. The old mer-
chant was now completely under mis-
sons dominance. That was the year
when James began to pay attention
! to Minna-at first he visited her 10
discuss business matters, then his VS.
| its became more personal
One evening he brought the cur
rent of his speechifying to it's chan
mel. He asked Minna to be his wife.
pointing out the advisability OF unit
ing the capital in one large undertak-
ing He hoped to be enormously r1cn'
he said; they would spend their
honeymoon abroad, and
Here Minna interrupted him.
There Is one thing you have forgot
| ten to tell me, James" she said.
whats that?" asked James.
THAT you love me-" she answered.
81 adore you," cried James in slmu-
lated ecstacy, and tried to seize her
hand Minna drew herself away.
81 don't believe you, James Far
leigh" the girl answered indignant
ly. And l do not love you"
But there is nobody else?'he slut
tered "Ohi There is somebody
He came nearer 81 know who it is,
too" he sneered. ct is that sneak
ing hound of brother of mine.
"That is quite enough" cried the
girl. "You need not come here any
more. And if you need my capital
you can apply to my trustees" she
added bitterly They'll do what is
fair-I'll see to that"
Perhaps you don't know why the
old man turned against Ernest" he
said. ct wasn't because he was idle
and dissipated; no, that wouldn't have
been enough. 1t was because he
forged check"
you are lying, James Farleigh, and
you know it," retorted Minna Gray,
and James went out
That year her trustees, old men,
both of them, died. James was in
strumental in the appointment of
their successors. A week later they
sanctioned the investment Of her
money. The new stores sprang up all
over the town. But James was never
at business; he was specializing in
Wall street. Then came the panic
and the crash. Securities dropped to
half their value About this time
James endeavored to see Minna again.
He waylaid her and met her one
evening when she was returning
home. He begged her to marry him.
Minna was touched by his humility.
Besides, Ernest's letters had ceased
six months before and she was hurt
and angry. In the revulsion of feel
ing she was almost friendly to James.
She consented to renew their former
intimacy
She and James were engaged. Ern-
est received letter briefly announc-
ing this, and saying that the marriage
was to take place the following
month. That brought him hurrying
home. And it happened that he ar
IlNCu dL d CIILlCdl
The store was bankrupt The
branch stores were all involved The
fortune accumulated by old Farleigh
had been burned up like waste paper.
And James Farleigh was in debt to
the tune of nearly 100000 All Min
mas capital would hardly fill the hole
and stave off. the creditors
That was the time when Ernest ap-
peared once again at his fathers
house. In the room, when he was
announced, were the old merchant,
James and Minna. Ernest came in
not badly dressed, but Enthusiastically
out of place among the mahogany and
| the Persian rugs. He stood still, sur
prised at meeting Minna there, though
he might have been prepared. Minna
greeted him coldly
This is your son, Ernest" she said
to the old man, who, half blind, lay
on the lounge, his face turned inquir-
| ingly toward the newcomer.
81 have no SON" answered Henry
| Farleigh. when he comes back a
Ildu Sudll T0CSlV0 I'LL
again; l will help him no more"
you hear that?" inquired James
coldly. Woodworking. This is my
house,
Ernest laughed. 1t was not the
timid, deprecating laugh of former
| days, but a ringing laugh of healthy
amusement.
81 understood that this house was
| for sale," he said.
Whats that?" cried Henry Far
leigh sharply. your house for sale,
James? He must be crazy. I gave
you this house"
James Farleigh had never taken
Minna or the merchant into his conf
dence. Supremacy selfish and egotis-
teal, he had covered beneath the
blow, hoping to keep them in ignor-
ance until Minna had settled her
money on him.
Hes just lying" answered James
coldly.
Ernest Farleigh laughed again. 20.
| no. I'm not lying" he said. Il have
the title deed under my coat.
bought this house yesterday, James"
s.xKybot,c fhot9n shouted fhs ~ 4