Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-03-24

Are you drunk or sunstruck?" he
inquired presently.
Usually both," answered Jim truth
fully. To-day. as it happens, haven't
found anyone willing to give me the
| price. How about you?"
The young man clapped him on the
shoulder.
Listen to me-" he said quietly you
must have been a man once, from all
| I've heard of you. | recognize you
now from your photograph, although
that beard makes you look quite differ
ent. Miss Dale's father is dead. He
has left her his whole fortune She
wanted me to come and find you and
bring you back to her. She loves you,
and pride doesn't count. She knows
what you must have been through.
and she's going to ask you to marry
her, once she gets you at her side.
Understand? ?"
Jim understood The thought of the
Dale millions at his command was
paralyzing; it galvanized him into life.
AAO AOOhCO ny, W 0OC I1S yOuu5 IudA
reading his face.
Here's ten dollars!" he said sud-
denly. ''No-wait!" He pulled out
the pocketbook again Here's a hun
dred. Do you think you can get
washed and cleaned and have a new
suit and good linen on your back,
ready to sail on the ship tomorrow ?"
Jim pocketed the money mechan-
ically. Il suppose So" he muttered.
Whats your hurry?"
Because" said the other gravely,
Miss Dale is ON board. That's why.
deserve your luck"
Somehow the new clothes, the lux
ury of bath, had put new manhood
into Jim. He lay.in bed early in the
morning in the hotel and specialized
what he would do with the Dale mil
of course. He would build palace
there. He would have automobiles,
fine clothes, cigars, all the physical
luxuries which he had been denied
so long. And-he would marry Elsie
at the first opportunity, to keep his
hold on her.
He got up and dressed He was
just about to leave the room when the
young man entered. He surveyed Jim
with a grimmer smile than before.
"You haven't shaved off your beard"
he said.
mo" said Jim thoughtfully. "It
looks-more manly, l think"
The other looked at him in con-
tempt. 1t penetrated the mans skin.
Jim WINGED. 1t was the first moment
of self-realization in many year.
why have you done all this for
me?" he asked, looking at the other
curiously. do you know, l believe
l believe you are in love with Elsie
yourself"
Miss Dale from you, please" re-
piled the other. yes, / am in love
with her, if you wish to know it. And
if l hadn't found you / think she
would have married me-"
Then why did you find me?" NUT
tered Jim
The otner choked down an expletive.
"If you're ready" he said coldly,
well start right away"
Jim went out with him. And now,
surveyed by the curious inhabitants
of the little settlement, the target of
their sneering chances, Jim felt sud-
denly more ashamed than he had ever
fnIf hnfnrn in oil hic Ito
the first time he really understood the
depths of his degradation
He had been a worthless beach
comber, while she had waited for him,
believed in him. He was utterly worth
less. He could not degrade that pure
thought of nothing but the Dale mil
lions, nothing at all of the love that
had been true to him.
Unconsciously he held his head
higher and dung back the scornful
gestures, the looks, the thinly yelled
jeers. They should learn some day
that there was that spark of manhood
in him which would kindle the old
fires!
He knew that his past was utterly
dead. And so, walking at the side of
his companion, he boarded the boat.
There was delay, brief delay.
The young man turned to him and
said
Remember, Bennett, my lips are
sealed forever. You have your own
future and hers to make or mar.
know her love for you, and that is
why / shall remain silent Can you
honor it? Promise me that from this
day forward you will strive with might
and main to be worthy of her."
Il promise" answered Jim humbly,
and the man at his side looked at him
strangely. This seemed to be a new
mamie had known nothing OF him.
Along the deck came white-robed
figure, tripping gladly. Jim knew her
at once All his heart went out to
her. Elsie had not changed bit dur
ing those three years, except that
there was more of the woman in her
poise. her thoughtful eyes, and just
as much of the happy girl in her smil-
ing face.