The Red Cloud chief., 1913-08-07
er ana dropped both the boxes with

ter and dropped both the boxes with
crash.
Twice he opened HE mouth ~ II te
speak. but the words would not come.
When they did come. at last. they
were hurried. sarbled. like the words
Of . man In q panic.
"Oh. you can't" he said. You
can't. tell you It won't DO.
shouldn't have asked you. made
mistake. /"
She looked at him narrowly.
WHY" said she very calmly. She
seemed to be enjoying immensely his
discontinue.
"weii. II" Peter began to STAN.
mer.
Another girl!" she questioned
softly.
Peter clutched at straws. Yes.
that's It. another GIRL" he declared
shamelessly.
She began to laugh. Peter felt yet
more uncomfortable.
You'll have to forget her." said
she. Were going to be married-be-
lOI0 yOu ~ W McAiCO tOuoiio"'
Say. look here. Edith" Peter said
vehemently. I'VE can't. tell you"
She stepped close to him. She put
both hands on his shoulders. She
was looking up at him with shiping
eyes. Peter, at the sight Of her thus.
groaned aloud.
You are telling me anything but
the TRUTH" said she. Il happen to
know the whole truth. I know your
money IL all gone. save Ave hundred
dollars or SO. Mr.. Grayson was din.
ing here with us last night. He told
father. And father said: That's the
best thing that ever happened to the
young scamp. Peters got the stuff
in him. 1t will be the making Of him
that and the right woman And ]
am she. Peter, the right woman
know It'd have known 1t II dad
hadn't winked at me when he said
what he did. I'm going down there
to Mexico with you to help you man.
age Billy kenmores mine. Yes. ]
am; don't say word. You just
march those orchids straight back to
JOHNS. and take that candy back to
McPhair's and tell them you don't
want them. The idea! You couldn't
afford them. And mind you. walk; no
taxis. And after you've taken those
things back. 90 get the license. and
come straight back here. Dad will
be here with Doctor Brook. and we'll
be married here very quietly"
Peter looked at her very hungrily.
Then with sudden sraightening OF
his tall frame and q shutting OF his
teeth. he spoke.
II won't! You shan't make this
sacrifice" said he.
"Sacriflce!" said she. rs It sacri.
fee to marry the one man In the
world you'll ever care about? ]
wasn't marrying your old half million
you thought you had; I'm marrying
you. And think you are going to be
whole lot better. You without that
money"
mo-" said Peter Barlow. heroical
ly. but rather unconvincingly.
She came very close to him once
more Her soft hair brushed his
cheek. She looked up at him with
eyes that burned like two stars. The
nearness of her, the dainty sweetness
Of her made him gasp.
MOT" she asked with q quiet smile
Of triumph. "No?"
He caught her in his arms. He held
her tight.
"Yes-oh. the fool that ami
yes" said he. "You win: you knew
you would. What show have I got to
put any fine notions In effect when
you're with me? Marry you? I'd like
to see anybody stop me, money or no
money Hang 1t, what fool am to
let you do this. what fool. but how
fearfully happy ! am being that kind
Of fool!"
| An hour later Peter Barlow again
entered Grayson's ofiice.
Il think I'll 30 the limit and bor.
row the whole Of the Ave hundred OF
you." said Peter. "You see. I'm tax.
ing wife down to the mines with
me-"
"A wife?" said Mr. Grayson. evident.
ly not in the least surprised. "As.
suredly. Peter. Excellent idea. was
sure you would. was sure of It last
night at dinner. am not sure. too.
but what you owe the winning of that
wife to the loss of your money.
think It opened her eyes to her real
affection for you. Well. she's worth
losing that trifing sum for"
you bet che is," said Peter Barlow.
| Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa.
| per Syndicate)