The Arvada enterprise., 1918-05-16

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to zee that II person goes wrong and
then sees the mistake and wants to
pull back into the straight trail, q
man-even the one who has been
wronsed-would be committing moral
crime to prevent It. To take Q person
who wants to make o fresh, honest
start, and shut that person up amongst
criminals and brand him a. criminal,
seems to me . worse wrong than to
steal . few head Of cattle; don't you
think %, Mr.. seabeckr
What Mr.. seabeck thought did not
Immediately appear in speech. He was
pulling . little harder at his whiskers
and staring at the ears Of his horse.
'@That would depend on the person, =
he said at last. "Some men are born
criminals"
"Oh, We aren't talking about that
kind Of . man. Surely to goodness
you don't call Charlie Fox q born
criminal, OF Marthy Meilkef'
"Charlis Foxl II that the person
you mean. who has been"
"Yes, 1t isl And he Is horribly sorry,
and % u Marthy. and they'll pay you
for the cattle. And II you do any
thing mean about 1t, 1t will simply kill
poor old Marthy. You couldn't send
her to the pen. Mr.. seabeck. Think
how she's worked there In the Cove ;
and Charlie has worked like . perfect
slave; and he was trying to get .
start 20 he-could-get married.
"Hm-mmi" Rumors had reached
Seabeck, thanks to Billy Louise's
dropped lashes upon q certain occa-
sion, which caused him to believe he
saw further light.
"And II you're going to be horrid-"
"Will the-lady he wants to marry
give him another CHANGER
Don't you think she ought to-if
she l-loves himr' Billy Louise studied
the skyline upon the side farthest
from Seabeck.
You say he wants to pay for the
cattle and"
"He1l do anything he can to make
amends" said Billy Louise. with con-
victioo. He'll take his medicine and
60 to Jail II you insist" she added sor-
rowfully. TT win ruin his whole life.
Of course. and break q couple Of wom-
ems hearts, but"
TITS q bad thing, . mighty bad
thing. when . man tries to get ahead
too fast"
IT'S . good thing when he learns
the lesson without having to pay for It
WITH his whole future" Billy Louise
amended the statement.
Seabeck smiled Q little behind his
fingers that kept tusSins at his whis-
kefs.
DID Charlie Tox ssod Miss Por-
tta@
He Doesn't know I had any inteo-
don Of coming" Billy Louise assured
him Quiekly and With perfect truth.
They'll both Be awfully surprised
when thsy ind II out'-which was also
perfectly trus-"and when they see
you ride up. they'll thilk you've got
the shesi6 at yosf back. I haven't Q
doubt thsy|"
There are . few points I'd like
to clear up. II yoa can help me-" Sea-
bsck interrupted. AN this rustling
that he's bsen going on for the past
year and Q half: are To1 and The
Nsilko woman mixed up In thatf !
want" h. said, "to help the young
man-and be-. But u they have been
operating o. . large scale. Tn
afraid~
II believe Charlie must have beea
Influenced In some ways By bad &C
Quaintanees," Bully Louise answered
moro steadily than she felt. "But his
-rustlins-has been Of Q petty kind.
I won't apologize for him. Mr.. Seabeck.
I think It's perfectly awful, what be
has done. But I think II would be
more awful still not to give him .
chance. Ths other rustlins 10 some
outside gang. I'm sure. II Charlie
was mixed up with them, It's vsfy
slightly-just enough TO damn him ut.
terly II be were arrested and tried.
He isn't . natural criminal Hes just
weak. And he's learned his lesson.
It's up to yoo. Mr.. Ssabsck. to say
whether he shall have . chance to
peoot By the lesson. And there's poor
old Aarthy In Il. too. She Just Woe-
ships Charlie and would Do anything
even steal for him."
Ssabsck msditated for Q while. and
Billy Louise watched him uneasly
from the tail q her eye. To tell the
plata truth. shs WAS In panic Of fear
at what he had dooe.
Last night. whea she lay curied up
By the stove under Wards wolf.skin
coat, this seemed the only possible
way out: To tell Seabeck and trust to
bis Kindness and generosity to refrain
from pushing the case. To have Char.
lie Fo1 Give hack what he had stolen
o. pay for it-Anything that would sat.
isfy seabeck'a sense Of justice-and
let him start honestly. She had
thought that seabeck would he mcrci.
ful. II she told him 10 the right way |:
but now. when she stole a glance at
his bsnt. breeding face. she was fright.
cned. He did not look mercifui, but
stern and angry. She remembered
thea that stealing cattle 10 the one
crime Q cattlsmAn nnds II hard to for.