The Washington herald., 1916-06-04
you have. And I shall do all I can to

help you"
rs there chance that she?-"
'T have been working and planning
to that very end ever since we brought
her home last month. I am trying to
show her how much better 1t is to
have all the comforts and good things
of life, than to starve for loves sake.
And little by little, think 1 am sue
ceeding. There is one thing more I
can do for you-I will Write today to
Tom Carter and plead with him to set
her free for her own sake. He has
good impulses. And he is unselfishly
fond of her. The right sort of ap-
peal may succeed with him."
Thank you, ten thousand times!"
exclaimed Brent, clasping her hand
gratefully. 81 am"
He checked himself. for Leila's light
football sounded in the hallway out
side.
Mrs. Austin left the two young people
alone together. Scarcely had she
gone from the room. when Leila turned
lmpetuously to Brent and said:
I'm so glad you came today. Be-
cause l want to ask a favor of you.
big favor! I've been thinking IT
over for two or three days"
You do me a favor by giving me
the chance to do one for you" was
his laughing reply. What is IT.?
Would you like Grants tomb for a
birthday present. or to have street
hamed after you, orr"
NO" she interposed. But the IA
vor has to do with something that is
already named for me-the> Leila A 1"
Carriers mine?" he asked, his brow
clouding.
Yes. You know. told you the
stock is made out in my name. 1t
belongs to me. Tom says the mine
will some day be worth a lot of
money. But he can't work 1t. because
he has no capital So it's useless to
us. And, meantime, he has no money
and no prospects, and he is eating
his heart out with loneliness and dis
appointment off there in the noun
tains.'
But"
Il want to start him in something
else. Something that will bring
quicker returns and give him a new
ambition in life. You are a Wall
street man. Do you suppose you could
sell my shares in the Leila A for
$4,000? That's the favor I wanted
to ask you. I'll give the money to
Tom and he can put II in something
that will earn a living for US"
Halsey Brent was doing some extremely
rapid thinking. He knew Tom Carter
was an authority on mines whose pro-
fessional judgment was highly priced. II
Carter said there was a fortune in the
Leila A" there was every reason to be-
leve 1t was true. Many a rich mine had
failed for lack of capital to develop it
Such investments appealed strongly to
Brent.
IN try, of course" he said. doubt
fully. Let me make inquiries on the
Street and call in a day or so to tell
you the result
IN be ever and ever so much obliged, &"
answered the grateful girl. ITS splen-
did of you TO be willing to try. My heart
aches at thought Of my poor boys un-
happiness. l do want SO much to help
him.
When he left the Austin house-after
an unusually brief call-Halsey Brent
stopped at the nearest telegraph office
and dispatched a one-hundred-word tele-
gram TO an Oregon mine expert with
whom he had had business dealings from
time to time.
Two days later he received the fol-
lowing telegram from the expert
Made secret inspection of Leila A
mine, pretending to be looking for job
as blast operator. Rich vein has just
been struck. From samples I secured,
1t promises to be biggest gold discovery
OF past ten years. You will make no
mistake in paying anything up to s. =
600 for it as it stands. Carter has left
for New York
Carefully putting the telegram in his
inner coat pocket Brent set out for the
Austin house. His heart was beating
faster than mere love had ever been able
10 make 1t beat. Here was a financial
game he relished playing. above all else
in life-the sort of game that had made
him a millionaire at 80.
For $4,000 he was about to acquire a
property worth several millions-and all
through the business ignorance Of one
adorable girl
While he waited for Leila in the liv-
ing room at the top of the front stircs sc
he pulled out his check book from his
inner pocket. His hand and brain were
not so steady as usual, because of the
excitement that possessed him.
The check books corner stuck in the
lining Of the pocket. He pulled it out
with so sharp a jerk that three envelopes
tumbled out with It Two of these fell on
the table and he picked them up in ner-
vous haste. The third-a yellow envelope
-fluttered unnoticed to the floor beneath
a table
check for $4,000 to the order of Leila
Austin Carter" He was blotting it as
Leila herself came into the room.
Good news" he hailed her. I've sold
your stock"
Good! Good" she exulted. Thanks
a hundred times. 1t"
Il had the very deuce of a time getting
$4,000 for IT," he continued. But
bullied and argued a conservative old in
vestor into buying it. The only proviso
he made was that his name shouldn't ap-
pear in the deal. He says he can't afford
to get a reputation for chasing Wild
cats So the transaction is to go in my
name. Here's my check. If you'll get the
certificates I'll show you how to assign
the shares to me-
He left her an hour later. the certifl-
Gates in his pocket-a thrill Of delight
surging through him at thought of the
easily acquired wealth that had Just come
to him. He stopped at florists and sent
Leila a great armful of American Beauty
roses. Then. contrary to his custom and
by way of celebSA6ion he dropped in at
his club for a cocktail before returning
to his office
The flowers were delivered at the Aus
tin house within a few minutes. Leila
buried her face in their fragrant mass of
then handed them 70 IN