Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-06-28

you'll stay. I'd rather hunt for lit
tie than see you leave"
Christie tossed off sense Of en-
barrassment. "My leaving couldn't
possibly mean anything to-any one
In Sleepy Cat"
IF could tell you what 1t would
mean to me. you might change your
mind on that point" She regarded
him in the moonlight rather bravely
till he had said that much. After
he spoke she was silent-almost re-
ceptive; but he added desperately,
"There's just one miserable blamed
reason why I can't"
Christie changed the subject in
stantly. wherever we go we couldn't
find a kinder friend-father said this
morning. It's when trouble comes that
real friends count And your influ-
snce would be good on father" Sell
wood started a little. 'I'm so afraid
now Of his running with these awful
gamblers, down in River street."
Selwood looked away. Christie spoke
on very seriously: ''Of all men in the
world I think gamblers are meanest
don't your"
Selwood coughed. ITO tell the
TRUTH" he said simply, 81 never
thought much about 1t. But" he
added, pausing, 81 guess maybe you're
right. I'll be going. You'll remember
to do just as I've told you? And
please don't say anything whatever
to your father about the matter till
it's all over"
They walked together to the tent,
then he turned his steps, reflectively,
up-street in the direction Of FLYERS
store building; this he sauntered cir
cumspectly about, inspecting each
side with deliberate care and walk
ing away from it thoughtfully. It
looked like a hard nut to crack. He
walked thence to the hotel, went up
stairs, followed the narrow, low cor
ridor to his room, unlocked the door,
and went In. He lighted lamp, ad-
justed the wick and the shade, and
sat down on the side Of his shabby
bed. On the wall opposite him hung
framed woodcut of a missionary
padre. In the silence Selwood looked
long and thoughtfully at the old
print. A cloud had long hung over
the story of his own life, cloud
that SelwoOd had always felt might
possibly be lifted by this old man
II he were yet alive. The uncertainty
OF this was one reason that helped
to paralyze Selwood's resolve to find
him.
Tonight the gambler acted with his
natural determination. He rose, took
the picture from the wall, turned
down the wick Of the lamp, blew it
out, and with the woodcut under his
arm, returned to the hall.
Carrying the picture to his office,
he wrote and painted on a sheet Of
paper sign and, returning to the
hall, hung the picture on the wall
beside his desk-about the most con-
spicuous place in the room. Under
meath the picture he tackled the writ
ten sign:
whereabouts of this GA padre will
pay one hundred oun,.es of gold dust
JOHN sELWooD.
Bill Pardaloe watched him put the
portrait up. He read the sign halt
ingly at least twice before he turned
to ask a question. where is hep
IF he's alive answered Selwood,
she's wandering somewhere around
the mountain country among the In
dians"
Pardaloe studied again the features
Of the long-haired old man in the
print. won't any other padre do"
he snorted, picturing to his magma
ton the good times latent In one
hundred ounces Of gold dust.
mo other padre" said Selwood un-
feelingly, twill do"
"What do you want with him" de-
manded Pardaloe.
The answer was prompt and deci-
sive. "That's my business. Get hold
Of Bob Scott, Bill, and bring him
in here"
For ten years John Selwood had
wanted to meet-yet lived in a GER
tain dread Of meeting-this padre !;
he had finally resolved to face him
and, IL it must come, to know the
worst.