Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-02-03

delen was lnSta1le0 In q perfectly
appointed bedroom. A doctor, hurried
ly summoned. announced that after
rest, some light food and hot bath
the invalid would be as well as ever.
John had come in to ascertain the
doctors verdict. He was still rather
in quandary. Turning to Alice, with
the grave smile and inscrutable air
which invariably puzzled those who
knew him, he said quietly:
AS you have been so kind, am
tempted to ask another favor. VIII
you remain with Miss Ray until a
nurse can be Obtained? You see, I'm
a bachelor"
You can count on me in every way,
Mr.. =" Alice paused demurely
John Burton is the name 1 am best
known by" was the answer
Again Alice was bewildered, but her
doubts vanished when an elderly
housekeeper explained volubly that
her master was the marquis of Castle
ton-a real, live British peer, who had
a fad to live in America under the
name he bore until the title came his
way. Alice waited until she was
alone with Helen, who, by this time,
was thoroughly restored to conscious
ness. q
Maybe this is your gold mine,
dearie,' she whispered. "You never
can tell but, unless I'm greatly mis-
taken, if you play a strong hand,
you've struck it rich
/. Poor Helen was too weak and dis
traught to care much at that moment
what became of her. She sobbed out
a broken story. Matters had come to
a climax in the store that day. She
had been dismissed Summarily for in
attention, and the small sum due as
wages had been lessened by the fine
levied for ten minutes lost that morn
ing.
When she went home, fearful and
disheartened, her mother had met her
with nothing but reproaches. She was
hidden go out and not return until she
found another job. She knew how
hard that quest would be without a
reference. Her heart quailed at the
task. While crossing the park, the
cool, g1istening water of the lake
looked so much like a solution of her
problem that she resolved then and
there to make an end of the ceaSeleSs
struggle.
At the end of a week Helen was
quite strong again and the nurse an
nounced that she should be taken eout
into the open air. John, with his
wOnted kindness of thought, suggest
ed at once that his automobile was at
their disposal, so Helen and the nurse
We're sent for a glorious ride into the
country.
1t happened, unfortunately, that her
brother saw her as she 1aughingly de-
clined the nurses proffered arm on
their return from the ride and walked
unaided into the house.
Meanwhile, Burton was entertaining
his pretty guest at tea. Realizing that
the girls health was almost fully re-
stored, he ventured to say that she
must surely be thinking now about re-
burning home. Although he had ascer-
tanned from the nurse that Helen had
never shown the least desire to COM
municate with her parents, he was
utterly astounded when she broke out
in fearful rebellion.
ST don't want to go home" she
sobbed. you can't think what it
means to me-to leave this lovely
house-to be sent away from such sur
roundingS to a miserable fiat in a
| mean street. I never want to see my
people again. I'm sick of being poor
sick to death. 1 refuse to put up with
| it any longer. Let me stay here-on
any terms -
'Now, listen to me-" he said. "You
are talking of impossible things. You
don't begin to understand the wretched
consequences any such arrangement
must entail. Both of US would suffer,
but you far more than II
II don't care" stormed Helen. NLet
me be happy for a month or a year.
Then you can send me away. I can
always end up as I tried the other
| day"
flush, you poor child" he said,
and his voice throbbed with sympathy.
81 cannot bear to hear such words
from your lips. You are young enough
to start life all over again. With my
help, which shall be given freely. ]
promise you life can be made a very
gracious thing"
"AH right" she said. you don't
want me. 1 see, so I'll leave you now,
with many thanks for kindness which
| 1 can never forget. But I'll not go back
| home; no, never, neveri You can
preach as you like, Mr.. Burton"
The door of the drawing room
opened, and a suave butler, disregard
ing the evidences of a scene between
his master and a girl aQeQt whom