The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-02-16

settled it. The lady turned so cold
that Walter Wellman himself would
have waited until spring to make a
dash for her in a dog sled.
But Pilkins was something Of sport
himself You can't fool all the mil
lionaires every time the ball drops on
the Western Union building.
eff at any time" he said to A. v. d.
R., you feel that you would like to
reconsider your answer send me rose
like that"
Pilkins audaciously touched jack
rose that she wore loosely in her hair.
Very WE'LL" said She And when
do you will understand by it that
either you or l have learned some
thing new about the purchasing power
of money, You've been spoiled, my
friend No; don't think l could mar
ry you. Tomorrow l will send you
back the presents you have given me-"
| PRESENTS" said Pillins in surprise.
81 never gave you a present in my life.
l would like to see a full length por-
trait Of the man that you would take
present from"
you've forgotten" said Alice V. d.
R.. with little smile. ut was a long
time ago when our families were
neighbors You were seven. and was
trundling my doll on the sidewalk.
You gave me a little gray. hairy kit
ten with shoebuttony eyes. Its head
came off, and it was full of candy.
You paid cents for it-you told me
so. l haven't the candy to return to
you. | hadn't developed conscience
at three. so | ate it. But l have the
kitten yet, and will wrap it up neat
~ and send it to you tomorrow
Beneath the lightness OF Alice V. d.
RS talk the steadfastness Of her re-
lection showed firm and plain. So
there was nothing left for him but to
leave the crumbly red brick house and
be off with his abhorred millions.
On his way back Pilkins walked
through Madison square. The hour
hand Of the clock hung about 8. The
air was stingingly cool, but not at the
freezing point. The dim little square
seemed like great, cold, unroofed
room, with its four walls Of houses
spangled with thousands of insufficient
lights. Only few loiterers were bud
dled>here and there on the benches.
But suddenly Pilkins came upon a
youth sitting brave and as If conflict
ing with summer sultriness, coatless,
his white shirt sleeves conspicuous III
the light from the globe of an electric.
Close at his side was girl, smiling,
dreamy, happy. Around her shoulders
was, palpably, the missing coat Of the
cold defying youth. 1t appeared to be |
modern panorama of the Babes In
the Wood" revised and brought up to
date. with the exception that the rob- |
ms hadn't turned up yet with the pro-
tecting leaves.
Pilkins sat on the bench, one seat re-
moved from the youth. He glanced |
cautiously and saw (as men do see and |
women-oh, never canD that they were
of the same order.
Pilkins leaned over after short
time and spoke to the youth. who
smilingly and courteously
From general topics the conversation
to the bedrock of grim
But Pilkins did it as
delicately and heartily as any caliph
could have done And when it came
to the point the youth turned to him.
soft voiced and with his undiminished
smile.
II don't want to seem unapprecia-
i've. old man." he said with youths
too early spontaneity Of adj
lress. ''but, you see. | can't accept
anything from a stranger. | know
you're all right and I'm tremendously
obliged. but I couldn't think Of borrow
ng from anybody. You see. I'm
Marcus Clayton-the Claytons Of Roa-