Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-08
THE TEMPTING
OF TAVERNAKE
.nr, ,,ppr,Nyrrr.ras
By E. PHILLIPS oPPENHB1M
SECOND BOOK.
CHAPTER Nv.
PRITCHARD's GOOD NEWS.

"You-you mustn't" she murmured'
please don't"
! lie held out his other hand and half
rose, but her lips suddenly ceased 10
| culver and she waved him back.
| NO. Leonard" she begged. please
| don't do or say anything foolish. Since
we do meet again, though Ike TINS,
am going to ask you one question What
made you come to me and ask me TO
marry you that day."
| lie looked away; something In her eyes
accused him.
| thick-headed ignorant fool, without
understanding. l came to you for safety.
was afraid of Elizabeth, 1 was afraid
of what 1 felt for her 1 wanted to
escape from it,"
She smiled piteously.
"And now?" she asked.
"Beatricel"
she turned and faced him. She looked
into his eyes very searchingly, very visit
| fully.
beatrice" he said, ~ ask you once
more, only differently. VIII you marry
me now? I'll find some work. I'll make
| enough money for us. Do you remember,
| he went on, "how / used to talk, how
/ used to feel that 1 had only to put
forth my strength and l could win any
| thing? I'll feel like that again, Beatrice,
| IL you'll come to me.
For the next few days Tavernake loafed.
| On his return one afternoon from long
| walk he saw familiar figure sitting
| upon the sea wall In front OF the work
| shop a familiar figure, but strange one
| I'm these parts It was Mr.. Pritchard, In
an American felt hat, and smoking
very black cigar. He leaned over ana
nodded to Tavernake, who was staring
at him aghast. ,-
HALO old mani he called out nun
you to earth, you see!
Yes, l seev' Tavernake exclaimed.
Come right along up here ana let's
talk" Prtchard continued.
| Tavernake opeyed Pritchard looked
him over approvingly Tavernake was
roughly dressed in those days, but as
| man he had certainly developed.
Say, you're looking fine," his visitor
remarked What wouldn't / give for
! that color and those shouldersW
1T is a healthy life," Tavernake ad-
mitted "Do you mean that you've come
down here to see me?'
| THAT'S So" Pritchard announced;
down here to see you, and for no other
reason Not but that the scenery isn't
| all it should be, and that sort OF thing
he went on. but 1 am not putting up any
| bluff about 1t. It's you l am here to talk
|
ahead?"
"If you please" Tavernake said. slowly
| filling his pipe.
For a long time Pritchard talked
straight at Tavernake. He did not pick
| his words, but showed Tavernake how
viciously foolish had been his attempt TO
| run away from his obligations. He as
sured Tavernake that the only happiness
| i'm store for him was through labor in a
| new country.
''I aIn going on a two years vacation" "
said Pritchard. 81 like you well enough
to ask you to come along You don't
know much about prospecting, reckonY
Nothing at all!'
''You soon shall" Pritchard went on.
Wen start from Winnipeg. A few
horses, some guides, and a couple OF
tents. Wen spend 20 weeks, my friend,
without seeing town. What do you
think of that?"
"GorEeousw Tavernake muttered
"Twenty weeks We'll strike westward
/ know the way to set about the whole
Job. / know one or two of the capitalists
too, and and If we don't map out some
of the grandest estates in British
Columbia, why, my name amt Pritch'
ard"
But I haven't penny in the world p
TavernalSe objected.
That's where you're lying" Pritchard
pocket See the advertisement for your
self: Leonard Tavernake, something to
his advantage Well, down l went To
! those lawyers-your old lawyer 1t was
Martin. l told him I was on your track,
and he said-'For Heavens sake. send the
fellow along" Say, Tavernal1e, he made
me laugh the way he described your
bursting in upon him and telling him to
take your land for his costs and walking
out of the room like something almighty.
| Why, he worked that thing so that they
had to buy your land, and they took him
into partnership. He's made a pot of
money, and needs no costs from you, and
there's the money for your land, and
what he had of yours besides, waiting
for you"
Tavernake smoked stolidly at his pipe.
I'm coming with you" he said at
last.
CHAPTER V.
BEATRICE REFUSES.
A week later Tavernake was in London.
A visit to his friend MIR. Martin had
easily proved the truth Of Pritchard' 3
words, and he found himself in possession
of a sum of money at least twice as
great as he had anticipated. He stayed
at a cheap hotel in the Strand and made
purchases under Pritchards supervision.
When he felt himself ready he sought out
| Beatrice; again he asked her to marry
him. Again she refused, and thinking OF
what he had told her. she sent him to
| Elizabeth Gardner.
why, of course remember you'll" she
exclaimed when he entered her apart
ment. And to think that when
had heard the name beforei You are my
dear estate agents clerk. who wouldn't
take my money, and why was so wretch
edly rude to me 70 months ago."
Tavernake was quite cool. He found
himself wondering whether this was q
pose, of whether she had indeed for
gotten He decided that II was a pose.
II was also" he reminded hel one
night in your rooms at the Milan Court
| when your husband"