Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-05
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Noel's castle, "the House of the Little
Shoes" to act as tutor to Noel. WHIT
WINE. Waiting y evening II the IL
brary. hs--vas Joined by Milo Valdez
son Ct e Noel shs sS %.ias. to1 = R ,p5iv. t. .s sssss;
wonderful gift to the state. He returned
to the state the grant Of q valuable
tract Of land which contained diamond
the lives Of many ~ helping them ovel
development Of the state. Il
Bruce was interrupted while writing
a letter by Noel. In q conversation re.
garding KIM. Noel learned that Bruce
was a cousin Of Constance Bruce. the
little girl Of the shoes. Noel told Bruce
eoaversation abruptly. Bruce forced
Noel to admit that 1t was more than 9
desire to learn English that prompted
him to free him from prison. ].
CHAPTER vII.-(Continued.)
respect. I thought investigation an
urgent duty. So the next time I was
in that neighborhood. I rode over to
see you. Now, Up the air clear be-
tween u.s." -.a !.
bruce gripped the hand offered
him, struggling with his usual in
articulateness.
II am glad that you spoke frank
ly," Noel filled the empty moment.
I'VE Will say that Rio Nabuco is for
gotten. If you r content in my
house. I am content also. Put 1t on
the ground that we are both Ameri-
DEE recently? In his room? Thank
you. Twill see him .there.r
BEdce did not at once renew his
letter-writing after. Noel, had gone.
He sat down again and drew out the
letter, then remained for a long time
leaning upon the desk. head in hand.
The attitude implied nothing of. des-
peration OK grief. On the contrary he
thought all the loathsohaeness of Rio
as he sat there. like an Unseen PRES
enc driven afar. 'Now he could feel
gratitude to Noel without loss of self
respect. He could give rein to his
cordial liking for Milo Valdez. Had
not Noel said that he and Valdez had
investigated the trial, and had not
their verdict been expressed when the
prisoner was brought to their home,
and accepted into pleasant intimacy?
Yes, they were friends.
Fourteen years of his sentence re-
NAMED to be served. His plans for
his life and career were, OF course,
hopelessly shattered He recognized
that, but he was still incapable of
realizing it; the present relief vas too
profound. He had recovered much
during the last four weeks, but he
was still a man exhausted mentally
and physically. It was almost, he
thought,-as il he had died instead Of
the Indian whom he had shot, and
had awakened In another world. The
ambitions of his former life seemed
faint, futile things; pathetic, perhaps.
but, too far behind him to claim much
confederation Other purposes must
fill the coming years. Just now, to
remain in the Villa Noel was enough.
That, and to be able to write to Rose.
After a long time, he Strengthened.
himself in his chair and rubbed his
hot face with his handkerchief. The
room. He thought of the probable
in the underground cell
at Rio Nabuco, and recoiled with sick
disgust from the reply of his too ex-
cellent memory. Suppose Noel had
noticed his name on that prison
He shuddered in a horror
Of the place, greater even than he
had felt when he dwelt there.
When his hand was steadier, he
drew towards him the letter; the un-
letter to a woman called
Rose. He gazed at it soberly, then
took up his pen. At first he wrote
then more and more rapidly,
heart driving his hand. When he
finally ceased, he was surprised and
dismayed at the number Of
sheets of paper he had covered.
throwing them about the desk In his
He began to assemble
and number the pages. folding them
together with methodical neatneB.
They made quite q formidable bulk.
Bruce snapped q rubber |
band about the packet, then ruefdlly
the result. Decidedly, |
he letter resembled q legal document
rather than a dainty eptstle to q lady.
He had q vision Of small fingers tug. !!
sing at the heavy band.
1T looks like most things I maui.
[ do beat the Dutch ut everything!"
he muttered aloud. petulantly choos-
possible co%ntainer.
He hardly knew that he had spok-
his complaint aloud, until some
shadow fell across the space be- |
tore him. putting u the little gilt J
tering lights struck by the sunshine 1
rom the crystal and copper fittings Of
The desk. Expecting to see Valdez
Noel behind him, and somewhat
smbazrassed Ct his display Of III ts1h-
man who had stolen up to look over
writer's shoulder.
The two came together with cpn-
violence. Bfuce's spsctacles
knocked awry by the intruder's
chin. 10 unantictpated bp either man
had been the collidoh.
The blinking American raised his
hand to replace the spsctacles before
thought Of speaking. but . brnsquo
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