Evening star., 1923-05-02

alacrity that almost took her breath
away. Catching her In his arms. he
strained her to his breast. sObbing
n"s @ent or0sen oh Jno Bett n'ersi Ths eiV is
! great. great day for US. Jil-Bett.
my little girl. something so wonder
full has happened that / Will find il
dimcult to make you understand or
! believe 1t. A miracle has taken place.
! We are no longer poor and starving!
| We are rich. Among the best off in
, katar tonight.
1T will be for you. little Jil-Bett
| do what they could I'm their prime;
| that their usefulness Is over! But
! that is not true. l have come back.
| child-raised you in a single hour
! man they have laughed and scoffed
At
"Stop. grandfather" commanded
| Jil-Bett. disentangling herself with
difficulty from his clinging arms.
happened. The dope has driven you
: mad at last"
{ THE dope" echoed Bannock. az
/ had quite forgotten 1t. Jn-Bett.
, shall take some now. sthen ] shall be
, thing that has happened!'
The wonderful dreams you have
! had" she corrected with bitter
, sigh. dashing the tears from her
the dope. and ! will make you some
, strong, fine coffee. So strong 1t will
stir the blood In your veins as
though it were wine. Listen TO me,
He jerked away from her detain
| ing hand angrily, pulling out the
! drawer of the bench, pointing to the
pile of shining gold:
That does not look much like "a
dream. does 1t. girl! You sec it is
a glorious reality! Touch it, Jill
Bett! Why are you staring at it
Jll-Bett caught him by the arni
looking down in horror into his face.
Where did you get it," she whis-
pered hoarsely. How did you come
| by 1t. You must answer me" Very
| stern was her shrill voice.
! "I did not steal It. Jil-Bett."
| She shook his arm in great alright.
81 am asking you how it came 10 be
| here! Who does it belong to? Oh,
grandfather. I implore you TO keep
nothing back from me-
| She caught her breath hard. moaning:
I'VE are indeed very poor. There were
! times when there was not enough for
! the two Of us to eat, and have gone to
| bed supperless. hungry. but never let
you know Through it all we have
| The old man fell back in a paroxysm
| OF hysterical laughter. iintermingIed
! with sobs which he was pOwericss TO
control.
Jil-Bett sank down on her knees be-
side him. weeping the bitterest tea
| she had ever shed in all her young life.
A thousand disturbing thoughts flashed
! through her mind and through them all
,, was one fearful query: How did her
| grandfather come by that heap Of
gold?
She sprang from her knees, confront
| ing her grandfather sternly:
You must return that money to its
! rightful owner" she said decisively. 81
| will work all my life for you; give you
every penny I earn; work as I have
never worked before from dawn till
| dark. but you must promise me to give
. back that money. If you refuse I will
/ -" forth from YOUR roof. never to re-
| turn! can never break bread with Il
! uni- f:''
| The last word stung Daniel Bannock
1 TO the hearts core
| Help ME to control myself. Jil-Bett.
and ! will tell you the whole story.
But for the gold and what / have hid
! den IN my pocket here I. too. would
| believe 1t to be the hallucination OF a
disordered brain-a dream such as come
| to me when-when-"
| She understood but too well.
BY degrees the old man regained his
] composure. unfolding to her the Won
| derful happening OF the day, showing
/ her the contract and the magnificent
| stone.
1 IO Jll-belt IL SeeHleO, lIOeeu, like Il
| miracle. Many times she went over the
| contract. which set forth a thousand
| dollars in gold had been paid down.
3. and the balance fortune-which he
| completed. The wonderful beauty OF
| the ruby fairly took her breath away
\ as she gazed at II In rapt wonder
/ She threw her arms about her grand
| fathers neck. and they wept together
from sheer gladness. Then together the
IDlI or,I ttn rxty ri ,a1t r,NI
| prayed with hearts full OF thanks to
| God
They consulted long and earnestly
| over whether the word Mispah could be
| engraven. and SO family 1t could not
be discernible to the human eye. upon
the ruby, without dire results to the
Jewel.
TT will take a very steady hand.
grandfather" said Jil-Bett.
They looked for a moment earnestly
| into each others face.
! You mean shall fail II my hand
/ trembles?" he asked.
She bowed her head in assent
, Il have gone so far on the road, child
But I pledge you that you shall deal
| 1t out to me. and say how much.
| could not undertake the work at all if
my hand and my nerves got beyond NC"
She was sensible enough to realize the
| truth OF his words Her one thought
he could break Off ultimately if hc
| could but be induced to lessen the
amount OF dope by degrees. This was
a great point gained. that he would
allow her to bo the custodian OF it
| dealing it out to him.
| Both agreed as to the care with
which they must guard their great Sc
cret: also, that 1t was wisest and best
for Jil-Bett to keep on with her pearl
i diving. that no ope might suspect their
| change of fortune.
| This she was most anxious to con-
1 tinue. A new element had crept into
! the attraction going down into the
oceans depths had always had for
| her. On the morrow Jack was to
! take up the occupation, and she would
be thrown into contact with him con-
| tinuously.
AS they were parting at a late
| hour that night Jil-Bett was dis
mayed and greatly worried at hear-
| ing her grandfather remark POM
| pously: II shall take an extra amount
tonight to celebrate"
Jir-Bett vetoed this vigorously. and
after hours OF arguing and pleading
by turns both fell fast asleep in their
chairs, dead tired.
To Jil-Bett's amaxement her grand
| father was astir before her next
discover the reason. One look at his
face showed her that he had helped
himself most literally to the product
of the poppy:
She Immediately took possession of
the remainder. Although he watched
most cunningly to see where she put
1t, she hid It where she was sure
he would never dream Of searching
for it-behind the stuffed body of the
devil-monster.
To be continued tomorrow.
1
AIRMEN SEE PRESIDENT.