The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-08-18

came here with nothing and | shall go
away with nothing. The rest of it
vas all stage money"
"Say-by hen!" calculated the own
er of the Spotlight. Then. shifting the
desk: you ought to let me print that.
I'd run it in red headlines across the
top of the front page. But, Of course.
you won't. Well, here goes
for the fireworks and a chance of a
soaped rope" And he pushed the bell
button for the copy boy.
Late as 1t was when he left the Spot
light office, Brouillard waited on the
corner for Quadjenai car, and, catch
ing one, he was presently whisked out
to the ornate villa in the eastern
suburb. There was a light in the hall
and another in room to the rear, and
II was Amy who answered his touch
Of the bell-push.
mo, can't stay" he said, when she
asked him in. But had to come, il
it was only for minute. The deed is
done. I've had my nextto-the-last
roundup with Mr.. j. Wesley Cort-
wright, and tomorrow's Spotlight will
fire the sunset gun for Mirapolis. Is
your father here?"
mo. He and Stevie are up at the
mine. i am looking for them on every
car"
When they come, tell your father
it's time to hike. Are you all packed?"
She nodded. Everything is ready"
"All right. Three OF my teams will
be here by midnicht, at the latest. The
drivers and helpers will be good men
and you can trust them. Don't let any.
thing interfere with your getting safe
ly up to the mountain tonight. There'll
be warm times in Gomorrah from this
on and l want free hand-which |
shouldn't have with you here"
"Oh, I'm glad, glad!-and I'm just as
scared as l can be-" she gasped with
true feminine inconsistency. They
will single you out first; what IL / am
sending you to your death, Victor! Oh.
please don't go and break my heart
the other way across by getting
killed."
you don't know how good 1t sounds
to hear you say that-and say it in
that way. l sha'n't be reckless. But
I'm going to bring ]. Wesley and his
crowd to book-they've got to go, and
they've got to turn the Little Susan
loose"
They will never do that" she said
sadly.
"I'll make them; you wait and see."
She looked up with the violet eyes
kindling.
Il told you once that you could do
you wanted to-if you only
wanted to hard enough. believed it
then; believe it now"
NO." he denied with smile that
was half sorrowful. II can't make two
hills without valley between them.
I've chased down the back track like
a little man-for loves sake, Amy
and I've burned all the bridges behind
me as I ran; namely, the sham deeds
to the pieces of reservoir bottom I'd
been buying. But when it is all over
l shall be just where l was when we
one hundred thousand
dollars short Of being able to say:
Come, girl, let's go and get married."
But father owes you hundred
thousand dollars" she said quickly.
Not in a hundred thousand years.
o most inconsistent Of women! Didn't
we agree that that money was
poisoned? 1t was the purchase price
Of an immortal soul, and | wouldn't
touch it with q pair Of tongs. That is
why your father couldn't use It; 1t be-
longed to the devil and the devil want
ed it back"
Father won't take that view of it."
she protested
Then you'll have to help me to bully
him, that's all. But must go and re-
lieve Grizzly, who is doing guard duty
at the mixers. Tell your ia
ther-no, that isn't what / meant to
say, It's this" and his arms went
suddenly across the hundred-thousand-
dollar chasm.
W. CHAPTER XIII ok