Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-03-31
CHAPTER vIl-coutiuued.

CHAPTER VII-continued.
To his utter amazement the blue
eyes filled suddenly. But the owner
Of the eyes was winking the tears
away and laughing before he could
could put the amazement into words.
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"
1T is stil1 undecided" he told her
mechanically. ''Mr. Ford is coming
over with the engineers to have a con-
ference on the ground with-with the
Cartwright people. | am expecting
him any day"
And the government"
The department is holding entirely
Rloof, "a It should. Everyone in the
reclamation service knows that no
good can possibly come of any effort
to force the region ahead of its nor
NAL and natural development. And.
besides. none Of us here in the valley
want to help blow the Cartwright
bubble any higher than It has to be-"
Then you viii advise against the
building OF the extensionF'
Instead Of answering her question
he asked one Of his own.
What does 1t mean to you--to you.
personally, apart from the money your
father might make out of it, Amy7"
She hesitated a moment and then
met the shrewd scrutiny of his gaze
with open candor.
The money IL only a means to an
end-as yours WIN be. You know very
well what meant when told you
that three times we have been obliged
to come back to the mountains TOTO
try again. ] dreaded the coming of
your camp; L dread a thousand times
more the other changes that are com
lng-the temptations that a mush-
room city win offer This time father
has promised me that when he can
make his stake he will go back to Ken
lucky and settle down; and he will
keep his promise. More than that
5tevie has promised me that he will
80, too, II he can have a stock-farm
and raise fine horses-his one healthy
ambition. Now you know 1t all"
He reached up from the lower step
where he was standing and took her
hand.
"Yes; and | know more than that.
know that you are q mighty brave
little girl and that your load is heavier
than mine--worids heavier. But you're
going to win out; II not today or to-
morrow. why. then, the day after. It's
written in the book"
She returned his hand-grip OF en-.
souragement impulsively and smiled
down upon him through qvick-spring.
Ing tears
You'll win out, too, Victor because
It's in you to do IL. I'm sure of it.
know It. There is only one thing
that scares me-" -
Name it," he said. I'm taking ev
srything that comes today-from you.
You are a strong man; you have
reserve OF strength that is greater
than most mems full gift; you can cut
and slash your way to the thing you
really want, and nothing can stop you
But you'll forgive me for being plain
won't you7-there is a little. just tn,
least little bit Of desperation in tn,
present point of view, and"
Say IT," he commanded when sh'
hesitated.
81 hardly know how to say it. Their,
we're ideals in the beginning; don't 10
hem fall down in the dust or in the
IN the mud. It's got to be clean money
you know; the money that is going t
give you the chance to say. Come. girI
aets go and get married. You won
forget that, win your"
He relinquished the hand of encoul
agement because he dared not hold
any longer. and turned away to star
absently at the timbered tunnel mout
whence a faint clinl1ing of hamme
lpon steel issued with monotonou
regularity.
II wish you hadn't said that, Amy
about the ideals"
II don't know what you mean" sh
said simply.
Perhaps II is just as we'll that yo
don't. Let's talk about somethiu
else-about the railroad. Presider
Ford hasn't decided; he won't decit
until he has looked the ground ov,
and had n chance to confer with me
She bridged all the gaps with swi
intuition. "He means to give you Il
casting voter He will build the exte
gion II you advise IL? Then 1t will |
IN your hand to make US rich or
keep us poor" she laughed BE
good god.in-the-car. please, and yo
petitioners will ever pray" Then. wi
an instant retUrn to seriousness: "B
YOU mustn't think of that--of cours
you wont--with so many other al
greater things to consider"
rOn the contrary. shall think We
pointedly of that; pointedly and
gretfully-because your brother h
made It practically impossible for I
70 help"
MY brother?" with a little gasp
YES lie offered to buy my vC
With a block Of Little Susan sto,
chat woul int have been so bad If
Aadn't talked about it"
When Mr. Ford comes you mi
.Orget what Stevie said and what
nave said Good-by"
An hom later BrouilIard was clos
cd in his log-built office quarters "
"A big. fair-faced man. whose rou
tweeds aud unbrushed soft hat p