The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-05-25

nuuu ugnt. Bure, uB 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 Dick'r sister was ton
much for Belding.
He choked or his characteristics
oath when excited and biurted out,
''Say, but Dick Gale never went to the
bad .. Listeni"
Bedding had scarcely started Dfck
Gales story when he perceived that
never in his life had he such an at
sorbed and breathless audience. Pres-
emily they were awed, and at the con-
clusion, of that story they sat white
faced, still, amazed beyond speech.
Belding kept back nothing but tlss
present doubt of Dicks safety.
Mr.. Gale rose unsteadily from his
chair. His frailty was now painfully
manifest.
"Mr. Belding, do you mean my SON.
Richard Gale-has done all that yea
told us?' he asked. incredulously.
II sure do" replied Belding, with
hearty good will.
Martha. do, you hearr' Mr.. Gale
turned to question his wife. She could
not answer. Her face had not yet
regained its natural color.
'He faced that bandit and his gang
alone--be fought themT demanded
Mr. Gale, his voice stronger.
Belding nodded with grin.
Hes a ranger now-ridlng fight
ing, sleeping on the sand, preparing
his own food7 Mr.. Belding, you say
Richard works for you. May ask,
at what salary?"
"fIe gets forty dollars, board ard
outfit" replied Belding, proudly.
Forty dollars?" echoed the father.
''By the day or week?'
'.The month, Of course" said BeId-
Ing, somewhat taken aback.
"Forty dollars month for young
man who spent five hundred in the
same time when he was ut college, and
who ran 1t into thousands when he
got outw {s
Mr.. Gale laughed for the first time
and 1t was the laugh OF man who
wanted to believe what he heard yet
scarcely dared to do 1t. a't lg'df
"What does he do with so much
'meney--money. earned by peril, toll
sweat, and blood7 Forty dollars 4
month"; I'm, l ~ r-.Y
''He saves IT, replied Belding.
-, Evidently this was too much for
Dick Gales father, and he gazed at
his wife in sheer speechless astonish-
ment Dicks sister clapped her hands
like little child. aC ~ sn
Belding saw that the moment was
propitlous. e ~,~t
.Sure he saves II. Dicks engaged
to marry Nell here. My stepdaughter,
Nell Burton" ..-..,
=, "Oh-h, Dad" faltered Nell and she
rose white as her dress.
How strange II was to see Dicks
mother and sister rise, also, and turn
to Nell with dark proud, searching
eyes. Bedding vaguely realized sorne
blunder he had maze. Nell's white
appealing face gave him pang.
What had he done? Surely this fam
lily Of Dicks ought to know his rela-
Ftfon-to Nell There was % silence thai,
positively made Bedding nervous. ~ ~
Then Elsie Gale stepped close to
Nell.
"Miss Burton, are you really Rich
ards betrothed"
Nell's tremulous lips framed an af
firmative, but never uttered 1t. She.
held out her hand, showing the ring
Dick had given her. Miss Gales
recognition was instant. and her r~
sponse was warm sweet, gracious.
II thinkI 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. 'Tf you have had to do
with making man of him-and now I
begin to see, to believe so-may God
bless you My dear girl have
not really looked at you. Richards
flancee! Mother, we have not
found him yet, but think we've found
his secret. We believed him lost
son. But here is his sweetheartl"
1t was only then that the pride ana
hauteur OF Mrs. Gales face broke into
an expression Of mingled pain and
Joy. She opened her arms Nell, ut
tering a strange little stifled cry, flew
into them.