Gilpin observer., 1916-11-16

~ unprepared for being cast adrift
in this fashion. He went after them.
"Here," he said, pressing some
money and card into the boys hand.
''This will serve your needs during
the next day or two. Look after
your sister, Peter, and come and see
me. shall return home at once, and
will make 1t my business to help you"
Peter was sufficiently self-possessed
to murmur some words of thanks, but
poor Jessie could only weep as though
her heart was broken. They passed
away down the road until hidden by
bend, and Burton was left to face the
two Infatuated men and a nearly dis
traught woman.
Realizing that argument was use
less, and seeing that Thorpe was by
no means keen on facing him once
more In fair fight, John entered the
house and packed his few belongings.
Then he made his way to the village
and found Mike, who drove him to
the station.
There was no news of the two young
people, and Burton did not care to
set gossiping tongues wagging by tell
ing what had befallen ut the farm.
depot, but they did not put In an ap-
pearance, so, with sad heart, he
took the next train for home.
However, the pair turned up at his
house on the following afternoon. In
trusting them to the care of n reliable
manservant, he secured them respec-
table lodgings, gave them sufficient
money to purchase II small stock of
clothing and promised to look after
them until Peter was established. in
an engineering works and Jessie had
undergone thorough training in an
art school.
Out of evil might come good, he
fancied.
Some weeks passed in this way. Jes-
sic attended an art school, but Peter
did not at once avail himself of
proffered opening in the mechanical
department of an iron works. He ex-
planned that his utter ignorance would
prove a serious handicap and wished
to devote some time to textbooks be-
fore undertaking practical work. Bur-
ton, mindful of his own early expert
ences, fully approved of this project.
He could not devote much time to
actual supervision of the young peO-
pies studies, but contented himself
with a weekly visit, when 1t was his
habit to settle their accounts in the
boarding house and hand to Peter n
few dollar bills wherewith the newt
able expenses of residence in n city
might be met. Generally he called on
fixed day, though Peter was sup
posed to be always ut home in steady
devotion to his books, while Jessie's
hours at the art school We're limited
to the mornings only.
One weekend Burton decided to go
out of town, so he paid his wonted
visit to Peter and his sister day
earlier than usual. They We're at
home, as he anticipated, but even he,
a preOccupied man, never inclined to
be suspicious of his fellows, could not
help noticing that while Jessie, to all
intents and purposes. was busting the
furniture. her jacket and decidedly
smart hart had evidently been thrown
aside in hurry. Peter, too, though
seated at a table with an open book
and copybook in front of him, had
clearly not made many notes of late,
because the ink was dry on the paper
and the pen he held in his hand had not
been plunged In the inkstand ut that
sitting.
John gave them their regular al
lOwance of pocket money. Something
in Jessie's manner impelled him to
hand her an extra five-dollar bill.
"There," he said pleasantly, "you
girls are always in need of some small
frippery or other. You can be ex-
travagant this week."
She thanked him with grateful
smile, and he went out soon afterward.
He would certainly have been sur
prised and shocked had he heard
brother and sister chortling with glee
when the door closed on him. But en-
lightenment was nearer than he imag-
ined. He had not been at home more
than an hour and man was already
packing a grip for the projected jour
ney, when visitor was announced-a
unfamiliar. He received her In the
library, and found himself looking at
woman Of very attractive appear
ance, but whose somewhat too flashy
attire impelled him to give his man
servant secret signal which meant
''remain within call" Unhappily such
safeguards were essential If young
man of great wealth meant to avoid
certain snares laid for his unwary feet
The lady, however, seemed to be In
genuine distress. She seated herself
with an air Of abandon. When she lift
ed her veil, John saw that her eyes
were swimming with tears.
II hope you will pardon this intru-
sion," she said, obviously speaking
with calmness induced by strong eff