The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-01-15

he started toward the door. "Goot-by.
he said brokeniy.
| Harper was ash-white under the nc
cusation that he could not resent.
Where are you going?" he STAN
mered.
Il do not know Away like came, ;
answered Conrad. "I'forgif you." and
he was gone.
Harper was still sitting rigidly upon
the stool when Meade came busting
in five minutes later. z
Got new Job Tor you, Sam" he
said. I've made Parsons consent to
tear down the rickety old buildings on
his corner and put up good business
block. Say, what's the matter with
you. anyhow"
Harper had not moved. He had been
gazing at Meade with fixed eyes. like
one in a horror-stricken trance; but
now he drew from his pocket the
check that Meade had given him but
an hour before and proffered it.
Il stole II" he numbly confessed.
II falsifed the time"
"Oh, climb down from your perchi"
Meade whipped out with no abatement
whatever of his crisp manner. Now,
what's all this about? Tell me like a
sane man.
You say you falsified those time
entries" he went on. II glanced
them over while you were at my Of
fee. They were all in Conrad's writ
ing"
Cad" exclaimed Harper. For the
moment l had forgotten him. 1 read
OF those items to him from the old
book last night, changing them as I
went along. He found out this morn
ing what I'd had him do and he called
me a thief and left. God knows what
it cost him. There's girl here that
well, after he went away had to re-
nege."
Away" yelled Meade What do
you mean by AWAY. Not that he's
going to leave Holden?"
Just that" affirmed Harper. He
said he couldn't look my wife and me
In the face and tell on me, and
couldn't look you in the face and not
tell"
Put away your books! We've got
to stop Conrad. We've got to over
take that Dutchman, tell you'll"
w.
They were Just about to leave the
Office when suddenly the door opened
and Blanche Reynolds, trifle pale
and much too anxious for frivolous
embarrassment, stood before them.
@Is Mr.. Hoehler here?" she asked,
glancing swiftly about the office. It
was notable that, though knowing no
German, she pronounced his name |
with a perfect mastery Of the difficult |
sound of the modulated vowel.
Harper shook his head and glanced |
at Meade with miserable sense Of |
guilt
"He is gone" he faltered. 'He left
about half an hour ago."
Il got such a curious note from
him." she explained. He met my
brother on the street and gave it to
lin. Why did he go?"
ut was IA point of honor" Har-
,er lamely told her.
It was splendid to see the way the
,irl squared her shoulders, and how
Ter eyes flashed, though she grew
,aler still.
HE has done nothing wrong" she
at knowf"
BLESS your heart, mol" exploded
feade. HE couldn't if he tried.
low don't you worry about Conrad,
ecause HIS friends are not going to
1t him get away" and he hustled
Inside with his usual spluttering
nergy.
Bewildered, not able to understand
ny of it, the girl went out upon the
-reet, scarcely rejecting that she was
Ding with them. Walking at the side
{ Harper, with Meade forging nerv-
lsIy on ahead, during the next four I
locks she lost herself in the knowl- [
1ge of how much, how very much, I
lie caredi ]
AS they turned the corner toward
le station Meade, who was in ad- {
ance, gave an exclamation of sur I
Use, for there, but half a block ahead l
them, and going in the same direc-
On, was Conrad. He was walking
ow1y along the shady street, his head G
,wn, his shoulders dropped, his peck q
8 bullying with his portable posses t
ons. Blanche, all thought for con- L
ntions swept away In this over f
rought moment, few swiftly after t,
m. q
ooh, Conrad" she called, as she a
ertook him and put her hand on f
3 arm O
He whirled, and passing teamster c
tn a jovial cast of countenance,
opped his horses and looked back Z,
lrd with grin. for it was quite I'M y,
ual In the streets Of Holden to see o.
young man sob and clasp q young 81
~ in his arms.
.Ach, ich sterbe fuer dich!-I die for q