The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-03-12
/ In Valhalla and Out
George Ethelbert Walsh
Chapman

block!" he said. Il knew Henry Van
Ness when he was boy. Henry and
/ grew up together, fighting our bat
Ties in knee breeches before we locked
horns on the Street. I'm glad to meet
you, sir" 7
Dick grasped the withered hand,
and murmured some conventional re-
ply. "Now, sir" continued the money
magnate. what can / do for you?
owe you everything. Name your
price"
Dicks head went up. II haven't
any," he replied coolly.
"Eh? What's that! Repeat it y
81 haven't any price, sir! l didn't
do it to be rewarded. Thank you, just
the same"
"But-by CAD, sir, you must have a
price-every man hast"
'"Then l must be the exception" he
smiled. AS he did so, his eyes drifted
across the bed to the girl opposite.
For a moment he was quiet and
dreamily thoughtful. Suddenly he
laughed good-naturedly, and shrugged
his shoulders.
"Yes, l have price," he said, but
it's too high for even you to pay. You
couldn't do it,"
Couldn't pay it." snorted Cutler.
"You think that scoundrel's ruined
me so can't buy what want! Young
man, you don't know me. could
buy-buy-"
Dick turned abruptly away. Il
can't discuss it any further" he said.
81 shouldn't have mentioned 1t. Be
sides"-hesitating and looking bold
ly from one to the Other-"another
would have to pay more than you, and
I shouldn't dream of asking her to
foot the bills"
whats that-another pay my
billsv' roared the old man, as Dick
moved to the door. '"What does he
mean, Alice?' he flung at his niece.
IL don't know" came the stam-
mering reply, accompanied by rich
flood of carmine to her cheeks.
Don't know! Don't know!" repeat
ed the man on the bed by CAD,
miss! believe you're keeping some
thing from me. If you were man,
I'd say you were lying to me-"
"Oh, uncle!" murmured Alice, bury
ing her face in the pillow.
Two days later when the Pelican
was homeward bound, Dick had the
deck in the absence of Captain Bar
nett In the misty moonlight figure
wrapped in cloak stood close to him,
swaying a little each time the yacht
lurched so that he had to support her
with an arm.
"You have such funny notions,
Dick" she whispered. "If you really
love me you'd stop talking about my
money. Why, it isn't mihe, anyway.
Uncle may die and leave it to char
ity."
II wish he would mean leave ii
to charity, not die" was the gloomy
retort.
aren't you deliciously frank and
delightful when you talk that way!'
she laughed, hugging the arm to
which she chung. you'd marry me II
I were poor, but because I'm rich" you
want to jilt me-"
mo, not that, dear" he interrupted
| holding her close. "I'll have to marry
you, rich or poor, love you SO, but
1 wish there wasn't such a difference
in-Why, I'm failure, dear, a total
failure!" He waved his arms elo.
quently Before left the city I was
down and out, and I shipped as q
stowaway. l can't forget that"
"Well, I'll help you to forget it,"
she replied, kissing him. Nov, listen
love you, and not what you've got
or haven't got. I'll love you as a
| stowaway or failure or successful
business man. That's all there is to
J it.! What else really matters, Dick p
Nothing, / guess" he murmured q
little dizzily, pressing his lips to hers
and forgetting all his objections in the
| bliss of the moment.
1.-THE ENID