The Wahpeton times., 1914-08-27

tn wreck. but a. the captain. Hank
Raynor, was announced % among
those drowned It was impossible to do
much investigating.
On that yesy. day Kate failed to ap.
peariat the Pier.
Day BY day for . blank, wretched
week Captain Jim faced the empty
stand opposite his window. Then he
went down to the waterslde street and
l0und there destitution, at once pitiful
and reassuring.
1T isn't your love I am asking for,
dear" he said to her gently 40 at the
end Of q half hour he found himself
holding her trembling fingers and
smoothing her hair. ~ couldn't expect
that. Buff you will give lme what u
left. the right to take caro- Of you and
yours. God knows It win be a precious
trust"
= Captain Jim had no nne phrases, but
months Of effort had made him q mar.
vel 81 self control He sto6d quite
still. though every nerve was tense
With longing to clasp the slim little
figure to his breast ii fact, be hardly
dared breathe when at last Kate drop
ped her head against his arm fot ac-
quiescence and broke into soft sob
bing A guess at what was in his
heal6 he told himself, would have
frightened her out Of his reach forever.
Thessix weeks that followed were a
mixture Of paradise and rufgatory to
him 1t was hard. indeed. to play the
decdr6us, fafherly lover vixen hiS whole
soul cried out for the touch Of her lips
On his and every swish Of her dress
against him set his pulses throbbing.
But be did It, and well.
His paradise proved fools, how.
ever. Walking along the main street
one evening, with Kate on his arm,
Hank Raynor's unmistakable self pass
ed the two almost at elbow touch.
There was livid scar along the ap-
partitions cheek. Kate did not see him,
but q pang like death went through
"Old Ben Bolt The sight Of that
handsome, devil-may care face seemed
to sound his doom.
During the next four and twenty
hours Captain Jim worked out his bit
ter problem. Cost what It might to
his own self respect, he would tell Kate
the truth as he knew It concerning
Hank Raynor. He could do that II
she had been his young sister, but in
honor he must free her from her prom.
ise to himself.
He had thought Of a way out Of her
financial difficulties, but It was not
necessary she should know that yet or,
indeed, the cost to his own heart of
these last few months.
81 have come to give you back what
I asked that first night, Kate, but
must tell you something 1t will be
hard for you to bear" he said to her
hoarsely as he stood in the little par
lor, whose very plainness had grown
dear to him.
A flush run into Kate's cheek, but It
died there, leaving white line around
her lips. "Old Ben Bolt" gripped the
back of the chair in front of him.
II suppose you have seen Raynor?''
he went on.
Kate's color rushed back in a rosy
food. Her eyes dropped for an in.
slant; then, shy, but brave, they looked
straight into Captain Jim's own.
Eyes, I have seen him and-his wife,
she answered with little laugh. HE
brought her from Philadelphia. lit
was good thing I had found out be.
fore that-that didn't care most for
him, after all, wasn't It, you dear old
Ben Boltr"
The room reeled round Captain Jim.
Out Of its chaos Kate's face grew
flushed and smiling still, but with sus-
piciously luminous eyes. Then did
this ben Bolt' give a great gasp us
the truth burst upon him. He took
two long strides with outstretched
arms, and a second later Kate was
quite lost in the big, warm embrace
her dark hour had taught her was her