The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-09-10

4
out through the porte-cochere. The
grape thatched pergola was ghostly
dark. Amy darted ahead and out into
the moonlit garden.
II say" remarked BENIN when he
overlook her, what made you run
away from me7"
"Run awayT she replied. "Is that
the thanks get for leading you out
of the darkness?"
Il might have been lost"
Poor Chawlesl But just so you did
not lose your headr
1T is on, fast and level. The proof
of II Is that have lost something
else--to you"
"How bright the moon shines p she
bantered.
"Miss--Amy," he besought, "you
know that for months there has been
something I've wanted to tell you"
"oh, look; there's star up there"
she leased.
Look at me, and I'll see the bright
est of all the stars !" he declared.
How poetical! We shall now hear
Mr.. Chawles BENIN declaim his So
lovely ode to the silly night"
"Why do you keep Raging me?' he
complained. "You know I'm in earn
est; that r."
| Really and truly?"
| "Dont" he burst out passonately.
| Cant yon see? If were only fiirt-
| ing you'd not have such an advantage.
But when for almost two years You
know ! love you'll You know that
you're the only onei"
Again he sought to clasp her hand.
Again she eluded him. But her look
had sobered. She no longer regarded
him with a teasing glance and banter
! ing smile.
Il am sorry, Charlie" she said. 81
did not believe you could be so seri-
GUS"
mot serious?" he rejoined aust
because like to enjoy things--as you
| dol" . "
But I am only girl. It's different
when a man"
us there any one else?" he inter.
| rupted.
No" she candidly answered "There
Is no young man like better than you
except, of course, Will"
He smiled with renewed hope. "Only
your brother2 Then /, of all the fell
lows who Amy, you do love me! You
must love mel"
Don't be silly, just because said
| liked you"
III you like me you'll soon learn
to love me-"
I'm sure 1 don't know"
You'll try. Promise me you'll try"
She looked at him, her eyebrows
peaked with doubt. "Im so sorry.
Charlie" she replied. Really I don't
Know what to say, Since WIN came
home Tve-I've felt rather different
ly."
BENIN frowned and rejoined In an
almost clustering tone: "Then he has
been knocking me"
1t was the girls turn to flush. Mr..
BENIN, you forget yourself. You are
speaking of my brother"
You are mistaken. It's he that for
bt'o hhbSeil, ne IOTSetS--"
Need you remind me? Its-it's had
enough without your reminding me
BE so kind as to stand aside. am
going in"
Not until l have told you how he
forgets his best interests"
u asked you to stand aside"
"oh, certainly; by all MEANS" said
BENIN, and he sprang out Of the way.
His tone and manner caused Amy to
pause. She looked ut him, between
anger and uncertainty. "There's some
thing--you're limiting at something
about WILL" she accused.
Her upturned face was white and
troubled He stared at her doubtfuuy.
I'm not so sure" he hesitated. ats
big risk for me to say anything about
II now. II II were not for you"
Never mind mel'
Then he can go hang, for all I care"
What do you meanP
He struck match, lighted a ciya-
rette, pulled at IL nervously and flung
II down, IF you want to know Tn |
risking everything by telling you. but |
mere goes! This afternoon, THAT is, |
l happened to hear that n key was
found in Wills clothes--a safe deposit
key. The right box was located in the !
vaults of the-of one Of the safe de- |
post companies"
"o-o-oh" the girl sighed rapturous-
ly. They've found the lost bonds !" |
II said they found the box 1t was |
empty"
Empty" she gasped.
Yes Now do you seer"
"You say enpty2 Yet how-why |
should he"
He has forty thousand dollars on
deposit in Chicago bank"
1T cannot bep
Its true. have it from--a friend |
who telegraphed on and learned the |
facts"