The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-29

I you would be the first to say that
/ must carry 1t, and so on carrying
1t to the end of the chapter"
"But-but you'll never be free!"
mot on . government salary"
he admitted. "As a matter of fact
1t takes more than half of the sal
airy to pay the premiums on
pshaw! I'm boreing you shame
lessly. You ought not 10 have
encouraged me. It's quite hope
less-unless some good angel
should should come along with q
miracle or two. Let's drop It,"
She was looking beyond him
and her voice was quick with
womanly sympathy when she
said: 'If. you could drop it
but you can't. And 1t changes
everything for you, distorts every
thing, colors your entire life. It's
heart-breaking!"
This was dangerous ground for
him and he knew 1t. In the ardor
jof young manhood he had taken
up the vicarious burden dutifully.
| But now love for woman was
thretening to make the renuncia-
ton too grievous to be borne.
How did you know" he
queried curiously. at does change
things. We smile at the old fable
of a man selling his soul for a
ready-money consideration but
there are times when I'd sell any
thing I've got save one, for a
chance at the freedom that other
men have-and don't value"
What is the one thing you
wouldn't sell?" she questioned.
MY love for the-for some
woman. I'm saving that you know
1t Is the only capital I'll have
when the big debt is paid"
"Poof!" she said. els the one
only and Incompatible she worth
the effort2 Would you give a
hundred thousand dollars for the
privilege of being able to say to
her: Come. dear let's go and get
married'?"
He was looking down, chiefly
because he dared not look up.
when he answered soberly
is worth 1t many times over; her
price is above rubies. Money, much
or little. wouldn't be in it."
Brouillard got up and faced
about as II he had suddenly re-
membered that he was wasting the
governments time.
II must be going down the
HILL" he said. And then, without
warning: What II I should tell
You that the railroad is not coming
to the Niquoia, Amy?"
To his utter amazement the Blue
eyes filled suddenly.
"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"
"It is still undecided" he told
her mechanically. ''Mr. Ford is
coming over with the engineers to
have a conference on the ground
with-with the Cartwright people.
! am expecting him any day."
"The Cartwright people want
the road, don't they?" she asked.
Yes. indeed"
And the government"
THE department is holding en-
tirely aloof, as 1t should. Every
one in the Reclamation Service
know that no good can possibly
come OF any effort to force the re-
gion ahead Of It's normal and nat
ural development. And, besides,
none Of MS here in the valley want
to help blow the Cartwright bub-
BILE any bigger than 1t has to be-"
Then you will advise against
the building of the Extension?"
1 Instead of answering her uues-
ton, he asked one of his own.
| What does 1t mean to you-to
you personally, and apart from
the money your father might make
out OF It, Amy?"
She hesitated a moment and
then met the shrewed scrutiny OF
his gaze with open candor.
THE money is only a means
to an end-as yours will be. Three
times we have been obligated to
come back to the mountains to-
to try again. This time father has
promised me that when he can
make his stake he will go back
to Kentucky and settle down; and
he will keep hts promise. More
than that. Steve has promised me
that he will 80, too, II he can have
a stock-farm and raise fine horses
his own healthy ambition. Now
you know II ALL"
He reached up from the lower
step where he was standing and
took her hand.
i Yes; and I know more than
that; know that you are a mighty
brave little girl and that your load
Is heavier than mine-worlds heay-
Ter. But you're going to win out;
If not today, or tomorrow, WHY,