Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-04-26

I've come to see dsGSa5x xnOw Rich
ard / was wronp to upbraf1 him.
For a year we've known nothing of his
doings, and now for almost six months
we've not heard from him at all.
Frankly, Mr.. Bedding, I weakened first,
and I've come to hunt him up. My
fear rs that / didn't start soon
enough"
Mr.. Gale paused, and the white hand
he raised expressively shook little.
Bedding was not so thick-witted
where men were concerned. He saw
how the matter lay between Dick Gale
and his father.
"Well, Mr.. Gale, sure most young
bucks from the East go to the bad
out here," he said bluntly. ''They
blow their money, then go to punch
ing cows, take to whisky"
Mr.. Gale lifted haggard eyes
"Then it's cumming around, regular
tramps, and to the bad generally"
Bedding spread wide his big arms, and
when one of them dropped round Nell,
who sat beside him, she squeezed his
hand tight. "Sure, it's the regular
thing" he concluded, cheerfully.
He rather felt a little glee at Mr..
Gales distress, and Mrs. Gales
crushed I-told-you-so woe in no wise
bothered him; but the look in the big,
dark eyes of Dicks sister was too
much for Bedding.
He choked off his characteristic
oath when excited and blurted out,
'Say, but Dick Gale never went to the
bad !. Listenp
Bedding. had scarcely started Dick
Gales story when he perceived that
never in his life had he such an alb
sorbed and breathless audience. Pres
emily they we're dwed, and at the con-
clusion of that story they sat white
faced, still, amazed beyond speech.
Bedding kept back nothing but the
present doubt Of Dicks safety.
Mr.. Gale rose unsteadily from his
chair. His frailty was now painfully
manifest.
''Mr. Bedding, do you mean my SON
Richard Gale-has done all that you
told us?" he asked. incredulously.
Il sure do" replied Bedding, with
hearty good will
Martha, do you hear?" Mr.. Gale
turned to question his wife. She could
not answer. Her face had not yet
regained it's natural color
HE faced that bandit and his gang
alone-he fought them?" demanded
Mr.. Gale, his voice stronger.
Bedding nodded with a grin.
"He's ranger now-riding, fight
ing, sleeping on the sand, preparing
his own food? Mr.. Bedding, you say
Richard works for you. May / ask.
at what salary?"
eTIe gets forty dollars, board and
outfit" replied Bedding, proudly.
Forty dollars?' echoed the father.
"By the day or week?'
"The month, of course" said Beld-
ing, somewhat taken aback.
"Forty dollars month for young
man who spent five hundred in the
same time when he was at college, and
who ran 1t into thousands when he
got out -
Mr.. Gale laughed for the first time,
and it was the laugh of man who
wanted to believe what he heard yet
scarcely dared to do it.
''What does he do with so much
money-money earned by peril, toll,
sweat, and blood? Forty dollars a
month p
"He saves it." replied Bedding.
Evidently this was too much for
Dick. Gales father, and he gazed at
his wife in sheer speeches. astonish-
ment. Dicks sister clapped her hands
like a little child.
Bedding saw that the moment was
propitious.
"Sure he saves it. Dicks engaged
to marry Nell here. My stepdaughter,
Nell Burton"
"Oh-h, Dadr' faltered Nell and she
rose, white as her dress.
How strange it was to see Dicks
mother and sister rise, also, and turn
to Nell with dark, proud, searching
eyes. Bedding vaguely realized some
blunder he had made Nell's white
appealing face gave him pang.
What had he done? Surely this fam
lily of Dicks ought to know his rela-
ton to Nell. There was a silence that
positively made Bedding nervous.
Then Elsie Gale stepped close to
Nell.
Miss Burton, are you really Rich
ards betrothedY
Nell's tremulous lips framed an af-
firmative, but never uttered It. She
held out her hand, she 70 the ring
Dick had given her. Miss Gales
recognition was instant, and her re
spouse was warm, sweet, gracious
II think / am going to be very, very
glad" she said, and kissed Nell.
Miss Burton we are learning Won
derful things about Richard" added
Mr.. Gale, in an earnest though
shaken voice. eff you have had to dc
with making man of him-and now /
begin to see, to believe so-may God
bless you My dear girl, have
not really looked at you. Richards
fiancee! Mother, we have not
found him yet, but think we've found
his secret. We believed him lost