The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-06-02


cles of his great arms and neck were
working in contortions, and his tongue
seemed 10 fill his mouth.
Most extraordinary" said the corO-
ner. ".Srrychnine, doubtless. We
can't do much for him. I'm afraid. We
might try some mustard and hot wa
ter. Mrs. Arthurs."
Take your time. Lii" whispered
ArthurS. You may save your cOun-
try long board bill" But Lillian
Arthurs' adherence of GARDENERS per
fidy had been overwhelmed in a wave
of sympathy for a suffering fellow be-
ing. She hurried to the kitchen. while
the men of the party filed down the
stairs and out into the yard. John
Harris was the last to leave the
house. and he walked slowly. with
bare. bowed head. into the group who
were excitedly discussing the amazing
utnr events had taken. He took no
part In their conversation. but stood
little apart. plunged deep in his own
inward struggle.
At last he turned and called his
wife in the kitchen door. Bring Beu-
iah," he said.s
The two women Joined him. At
first Harris stood with face averted,
but in a moment he spoke in a clear.
quiet voice.
az haven't played the game fair with
you two" he said. land l want to say
so now Perhaps it would be truer
to say that 1 played the wrong game.
Twenty-Five years have proved it was
the wrong game. Now. without a
penny, l can start just where I start
ed % years ago. The only difference
is that | am an old man instead of
young one. I'm going to take an
other homestead and start again. at
the right game. II Mary will start
with me-"
She put her hand in his, and her
eyes were bright again with the fire
Of youth. you know there is only
one answer, John" she whispered.
Harris called Travers over from the
group of men.
There's one thing more" he con-
tinued. when l started I had only
a wife to keep. and I don't intend to
take any bigger responsibility now.
Allan will be having a homestead of
his own. Jim Travers. 1 am speaking
to you! owe you an apology for
some things and an explanation for
some things, but I'm going to square
the debt with the only gift l have
left"
The light breeze tossed the hair OF
Beulah's uncovered head. and the
light of love and health glOwed in her
face and thrilled through the fine
symmetry of her figure.
Take her. jim" he said.
"She is a gOOdly gift" said the
young man reverently.
"YOu think so now" said her father
You know nothing about it, In twep-
ty-five years you will know just how
great gift she is-or she will not be
worthy of her mother"
Harris and his wife were gazing
with unseeing eyes into the mountains
when Arthurs handed them a letter.
SIT came in the mail which the boys
brought out this morning" he said.
"and l forgot all about it until this
minute"
1t was from Bradshaw. Harris
opened 1t indifferently. but the first
few lines aroused his interest, and he
read it eagerly to the end.
MY dear Harris" it RAM ION re-
ceipt of your telegram I Immediately
opened negotiations through my con-
nections looking to the sale of your
farm with its crop and equipment,
complete as. a going concern sue
ceeded in getting an offer OF the $4O,-
600 you set on it, and had all the pa
pers drawn up, when discovered that
among US we had made a serious omis-
sion. You will remember that, a good
many years ago, when you were TAX
ing on some fresh obligations, you
transferred the homestead into your
wife'S name. assured the purchaser
that there would be no difficulty about
getting title from your wife. but as all
the buildings are on the homestead
quarter he would agree to nothing bet
ter than paying $4,000 for the rest
of your land, leaving the homestead
quarter, with the buildings, stock and
implements out of the transaction. AS
his price seemed a fair one for the
balance of the property, and as as
sumed your need OF the money was
urgent, I closed a deal on that basis,
eashed the agreement and RENTED
the proceeds to you at once by wire.
l trust my actions in the matter meet
with your approval
yours sincerely.
GEORGE BRADSHAW"
Harris placed the letter in the
hands of his wife. She tried to read
1t, but a great happiness enveloped
her as a flood and the typewriter
characters seemed to swim before her
What does it mean, John?" she asked,
noting his restrained excitement-
What does it mean?'