The Press., 1916-05-03
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she said.
 Thanks" he said briefly, and went
 back to his room. He soaked his head
 in a pail of icy cold water from the
 spring, and, feeling sobered by the ex-
 perience, he picked up a rough towel and went down to the watering hole a
 quarter of mile distant. Here he shed his clothes and plunged into the
 icy bath. At supper time he appeared
 at the table, serious. with steady blue
 eyes and a freshly scrubbed appear ance that made his companions look
 hot and dusty to degree.
 Coming over to the dance tonight,
 Badi" asked Lester, one of the cow
 boys.
 "Nope," replied Bad.
 What about Miss Fanny Freer7
 She'll be missing you, sure thing"
 "Sure she will miss me. I won't be
 therey' retorted Bad.
 They all went away without him,
 and Bad sat on his doorstep smoking
 his pipe and thinking long, long thoughts of the past and of what a different life he was leading. What l high hopes his mother had entertained for his future and how poorly he had fulfilled them! We'll, she was dead now, and she had never known just how wild he had grown. His father
 was gone, too, and his sisters and
 brothers. He was alone, and he had been reckless.
 | Mrs. Leete's words had sunk in good soil. Bad Heckert was not a fool. He
 knew that he was his own worst ene- my. If he could conquer the rum
 habit he might be born anew. He might spring up into a new life, pure and unsullied as the Easter lily he had taken by force from the little lad. ! A blush of shame overspread his bronzed cheek. This was a poor be ginning With the thought came in- stant resolve and action. He saddled Sancho, and, taking the 6owerpot in
 his arm, he rode over toward the can yon trail.
 The moon was rising over the ranges and little breeze waited the smell of grass and newly awakened growing things. Birds were chirping sleepily from a clump of trees. The sound of the rushing creek made music. l Seems like when I was 8 boy and wanted to go fishing in schoOltime," he smiled to himself. "Kind of restless and wanting to keep going all the time and wanting to sit still at the same time and enjoy 1t all"
 ! The canyon trail wavered up and down many q hill before it reached Henry Weyland's small place. The Weylands were newcomers, and Bad
 had never seen any of them. Weyland
 had a small herd of cattle and, it was said, had brought his wife and family into the open air of the plains so that they could be with him while he re- l gained shattered health. They were \ poor people, and the house they had
 built was a small, unpretentious place, but it was painted white, with green
 blinds, and there was great paper mulberry tree overspreading 1t. And | they had planted flowers. | The trail went on past the house. ! Bad dismounted and tied Sancho to the fence palings. He wondered if these people could set him on the right track to find the little lad of his afternoons s adventure. It might be one of Wey- ! lands children.
 He rapped at the door. It was flung open, and he stepped into a softly lighted room where a girl was playing on a piano. It was restful, homelike l room, and the girl was q pretty, gentle eyed creature in a pale blue cottor gown that became her fairness wonder fully well.
 The door had been opened by 8 boy
 in his nightgown-theb boy of the after noon. His face was wan from weep ing, and he eyed Bad resentfully. Bad swept off his hat and bowed awkwardly.
 Il came to inquire where little kid lived." he said steadily, "but see he lives here. I've brought back your
 Easter lily, child, and I'm sorry leased you," he ended hoarsely. The child took the flower and hugged 1t to l his breast.
 "See, Maisie," he said to the girl. "It has two beautiful buds in it-he called 1t a Bermuda oni0ng' he finished with an indignant glance at Bad. Harry has been saving his pennies for a long time" explained the girl, her wide brown eyes fixed on Bad's embarrassed face, ''to buy an Easter lily for his mother. Yesterday he walked way to the Gulch store to buy 1t. He bought the last one in town. and when he got home he was crying, and he said tAee a--a"- She nesitated and turned away her head.
 "He said that drunken man took ft away from him and gave him a dollar. That's the truth, miss, but the mans sober now, and he's sorry-and asham- ed-and, shake hands on 1t, kid, will youY He held out a great sun brown. ed hand, and Harry's little paw went
 eagerly out to meet it. My names Heckert-Badwin Heckert," went on
 Bad evenly. "I work over to the U-O place. Mrs. Leete was telling me something this evening, miss, and I'm wondering if you believe the same thing"
 "Sit down, please" said Maisie wey- land, land tell me all about it."
 Bad sat down and took Harry and the beloved plant on his knee. In a few words he repeated Mrs. Leete's words concerning the Easter lily and its relation to sinful men. When he had concluded Maisie smiled sweetly.
 ''It's all as true as can be-" she said earnestly. "I wish you could keep the lily, so you might have it for inspira.
 ion."
 He can come over here and look at it." suggested Harry eagerly.
 elf you care to-" said Masie answer ing Bad's questioning look. i,
 'Thank you, ma'am. I'll come all right" he said, as he rose to go. I ex- pect Harry's forgiven me by this