The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-06-09
CHAPTER Vli-Continued.

To his utter amazement the blue
eyes filled suddenly But the owner
OF the eyes was winking the tears
away and laughing before he could
could put the amazement into words.
You shouldn't hit out like that
when one isn't looking: it's wicked"
she protested. Besides, the railroad
is coming; it's got to come"
1T Is still undecided" he told her
mechanically. MIR. Ford is coming
over with the engineers to have a con-
ference on the ground with-with the
Cartwright people I am expecting
him any day."
And the government"
"The department is holding entirely
aloof, as 1t should Everyone in the
reclamation service knows that no
good can possibly come of any effort
to force the region ahead of its nor
NAL and natural development. And,
besides. none of us here in the valley
want to help blow the Cartwright
bubble any higher than 1t has to be-"
Then you will advise against the
building of the extension?"
Instead of answering her question
he asked one of his OWL
What does it mean to you-to you.
personally, apart from the money your
father might make out OF 1t, Amy?"
She hesitated a moment and then
met the shrewd scrutiny OF his gaze
with open candor-
"The money is only a means to an
end-as yours will be- You know very
well what I meant when told you
that three times we have been obliged
try again. / dreaded the coming Of
your camp; i dread a thousand times
more the other changes that are COM
ing-the temptations that a mush-
room city will offer This time father
has promised me that when he can
make his stake he VIII go back to Ken
lucky and settle down; and he will
keep his promise More than that,
Stevie has promised me that he will
go, too, IL he can have a stock-farm
and raise fine horses-his one healthy
ambition. Now you know it ALL"
He reached up from the lower step
where he was standing and took her
hand.
"Yes; and / know more than that.
know that you are a mighty brave
little girl and that your load is heavier
than mine-worlds heavier. But you're
going to win out: IL not today or to-
morrow. why. then. the day after. It's
written In the book"
She returned his hand-grip OF en-
enlargement impufsfveIy and smiled
down upon him through Quick-spring-
ing tears.
You'll win out. too, Victor, because
you are q strong man: you have a
reserve Of strength that is greater
han most mems fun gift; you can cut
and slash your way TO the thing you
really want, and nothing can stop you.
But you'll forgive me for being plain,
won't you?-there is a little, just the
least little bit OF desperation in the
present point OF view. and"
Say it," he commanded when she
hesitated.
Il hardly know how 90 say it. There
were ideals in the beginning; don't let
them fall down in the dust or In the
in the mud. It's got to be clean money,
you know; the money that is going to
give you the chance TO say. Come, girl,
let's go and get married. You won't
forget that, viii you1"
He relinquished the hand OF encour-
agement because he dared not hold 1t
any longer, and turned away to stare
absently at the timbered tunnel mouth
whence n faint clinking OF hammer
upon steel issued with monotonous
regularity.
Il wish you hadn't said that, Amy
about the ideals."
Il don't know what you mean" she
said simply.
Perhaps Il is just as well that you
don't. Let's talk about something
eIse-about the railroad. President
Ford hasn't decided; he won't decide
until he has looked the ground over
and had a chance To confer with me. "
She bridEsd all the gaps with s~ift