Evening star., 1914-01-25

lovable old man that he is, turned down
their proposition, defed them, cursed them,
knowing when he did it that he was breaking
himself-yes, breaking himself and the town
in your defensel'
Burmah lifted trembling hands before
him as if to shield himself from the lash of
Testers words, and staggered back slowly,
step by step, his feet dragging over the carpet,
and fell with a crash out beyond the edge Of
the rug on the hard, polished floor For an
instant he paused, then reeled back against
the wall as if for support. His legs appeared
to trernble beneath him, and he threw a hand
up and clung to the plate rail to support him
self, gasped, reached up, and caught his
collar with the other hand, and with a
mighty wrench tore it open, cravat and all,
from his throat. The purple died from his
face, to be succeeded by CHASTITY pallor, and
he suddenly lunged forward, with both
hands trembling and shaking in front OF him
as if appealing to Lester for some word of
mercy.
"Lester-Lester-' he stammered in a
harsh, dry whisper-"are you sureo How
do you know? Don't pile it on! The Colo
nel-the Colonel was whipped through me?
Tell me it isn't true, Boy! Tell me you re
only bluffin' me-that I'm not the one to
blame!"
He too came to the edge of the table, and
bent forward to study his companions face
for what seemed long, long time. And then,
as if he had read the truth, he fell weakly
back into a chair. Lester pitied him then,
and after one instant's hesitation rushed to
his side and bent over him. He caught the
glass from the table and held it toward him;
but Burmah brushed it away He regretted
that he had told Burrnah what he had
learned; for he had not realized that this
strange, imnobile adventurer was a man
living behind mask, that back of his as
sumed coldness was tempestuous heart OF
flame, that, crook that he had been, he had
poured out idolatry at the shrine of the
Colonel and those he loved
SLOWLY Burmah recovered and sat with
- brooding ewes, as Lester, giving hirs
time, walked backward and forward in the
room. Then he paused in front of him and
put hand on his shoulder.
"Listen" he said. Il think l know a way
by which it can be done. | think | know an
influence that may yet bring that road
hereto Port Hatch. You said you'd buy
the land and buildings back if you thought
that was so, and put them in their names.
How much money have you got?"
Burmah was active again, the old fire in
his eyes, the old grip of himself returning.
He lifted his head and quite steadily an
swered, almost three hundred thousand
dollars, all in cash. all available He got
to his feet. seemed to steady himself, and
without a single note Of excitement in his
voice said, you show me where there's a
chance, and III put in every dollar of it,"
Il can show you the chance, asserted
Lester, overawed by the mans nerve. Il
can convince you there is.
Then said Burrnah, the calculating
business man again, well have to move
fast. You don't trust me; but do you. l
can't do it alone because it would take too
much time and attract attention; so you've
got to take one hundred thousand of that
money and go out and buy. Buy in the
name Of the Colonel. Buy everything that
can be had. We must buy the town back,
Buy it back for them. l want to do some
thing for Todd and for the old widow who
runs the store-and for the boys. Leave
that to me.
He stepped vigorously before Lester, and
spoke in his old imperious voice.
@Now it's up to you! Up to you, say, to
show me how you think it can be done!'
CHAPTER xxII
TT was the candid opinion of Little Billy
that everyone in Port Hatch had gone
mad, and in a grumbling. runbling voice
he expressed his conclusions to Pick, who