The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-27
By GEORGE GIBBS

some time later, the effects of the po- tion wearing away, she awoke to full consciousness. He saw the implor- ing question in her eyes, before he took her pulse and answered it with a quick smile.
 He's all right Heart coming on nicely-'
 "Oh, yes.' he said with a laugh. He won't talk of anything else. I had to give him fypodermic to make him stop.''
 Beth was silent for a moment, And then timidIy-
 What did he say?"
 "Oh, just that you saved his life that's all."
 Nothing else?''
 of it. he did.''
 What? ?"
 That he wanted to see you"
 "Oh! And can -"
 The doctor snapped his watch and relinquished her wrist for a smile.
 'If everything goes welI-tom orrow for two ninutes-.just two minutes, you understand"
 So, in spite of the pain that she still suffered. Beth was content. At least she was content until Aunt Tillie brought her Miss Peggy McGuire's silver hand mirror and she saw the reflection of her once beautiful self.
 Aunt Tfllie" she gasped. I'm a sight"
 "Maybe-but that's a sight better than bein' burned to death," said the old lady. soberly.
 My hair-i"
 Its only frizzled. They say that's good for the hair" she said cheer fully.
 "Oh, we'll" sighed Beth as she laid the mirror down beside her. "I guess I ought to be glad I'm alive after"
 And then with an uncomfortable shuddder, she asked: 'And-and- him ?''
 Dead" said Aunt Tillie with unc- tion. Burned to a crisp"
 Beth gasped, but said nothing more. She didn't want to think of yester- day, but she couldn't help 1.-the hor- TOTS that she had passed through the fate that might hae been in store for her, if-Peter hadn't found her in time,
 Beth relaxed in comfort while Aunt Tillie bathed and anointed her, brush ed out the hair that was ffrizzled,' refreshing and restoring her patient, so that after lunch she got up and put on the clothing that had been brought from her home.
 He entered timid1y and awkwardly. rubbing his fingers uncomfortably against the palms of his hands.
 They tell me you're feelin' better, Miss Cameron" he said soberly. q I'd like to talk to you for a moment" and with a glance at Aunt Tillie, "a1one if ycu don't mind.''
 Aunt Tillie gathered up some band ages and grudgingly departed.
 Mcclure came forward slowly and sank into a chair beside Beth's, laying his hand timidly on hers
 "I thank God nothing happened to you, child, and I hope you believe me when I say it," he began in an uncer- tain voice.
 "Oh, yes, sir, 1 do."
 Because the only thing that mat ters to me now is getting myself straight with you and MT. Nichols"
 He paused in a difficulty of speech and then went on.
 "He-Mr. Nichols has told you ev- erything-?"
 Beth wagged her head like a sol emn child and then laid her other hand on his.
 "Oh, I'm so sorry for you," she said.
 "I ought to have told what hap pened. I ought to have tried to find out if Ben Cameron had any kin. I did wrong. But I've paid for it. I've never had a happy hour since claim ed that mine that didn't belong to me- Pe made a lot of money, but what I did has been hanging over me for years, making an old man of me be- fore my time-
 "Oh, please don't be unhappy any more-'
 Let me talk, Mfss-Beth. I've got to tell you. It'll make me feel a lot easier" Beth smothed his hand re- assuringly and he clasped hers eager ly as though in gratitude. 1T never was mulch good when I was a lad. Beth, and I never could get along even after I got married. It wasn't in me somehow. I was pretty straight as young fellows go, but nothing went right for me. I was a failure. And then@
 He paused a moment with bent head. but Beth didn't speak. It was all very painful to her.
 Hawk Kennedy killed your father. But I was a crook. too I left Hawk horrible thing to do-even after what he'd done to me. My God! Maybe I didn't suffer for that, I was glad when I learned Hawk didn't die.even though I knew from that time that he'd he hanging over me like a curse. He did for years and years. I knew he'd turn up some day. I tried to forget, but I couldn't. The sight of him was all ways with me"
 How terrible!' whispered Beth.
 But from that moment everything I did went we'll Money came fast, ! wasn't a bad business man, but even a bad business man could have put that deal through. I sold out the mine. I've got the figures and I'm going to show them to you, oecauoe they're yours to see
 With the money I made some good investments. That money made more money and more besides. Making money got to be my passion It was the only thing I cared for except my girls-and it was the only thing that made me forgot
 Please don't think you've got to tell me any more"
 'Yes. I want to. I don't know how ;r,