The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-03-15

alarm.
 1 soon as I can walk"
 l But I do not want to leave Sum- set Pass she returned, with spirit. I'm glad you don't Reckon Ethat's surprise, Thiry It's Every beautiful out there. Perhaps, somehow, it can be arranged for you Allie is engaged to a young Farrell. Isn't that fine?. :. Some one, of course, will take the place. Is yorm mother leavin' soon?"
 She is terribly angry with Dad, . replied Thiry, seriously. You see, mother was not in the secret. :. But I think some day she'll get over it-when Dad makes a new home and go back to him"
 She edged a little closer, grave and sweet, and suddenly bent over to kiss his knee where the bandage made lump, and then she moved up to lay her cheek over his heart.
 "Trueman, did you think I'd hate you for killing Ash?" she whispered.
 He could not speak.
 T thought I would. And it was a sickening, terrible blow. But before that same night was over I knew I couldn't hate you. And I believe, even if I hadn't learned what changed it all, I would have forgiven you-some day"
 "What-changed-all?" burst out Rock, in insupportable suspense.
 What Dad told me"
 eThiry-have mercyl"
 Ash was not my brother" she said. in smothered voice, and her hand sought his cheek.
 That dear bright head on his breast seemed to be lifting his heart rather than pressing against it. A thousand thoughts tried to pierce to clarity.
 Rising. Thiry slipped to the floor On her knees. and leaned upon her elbows, clasping his hands, regard ing him with remorseful tender ness.
 My brother Range beat the others home that night, with the news of the fight. I stole to my room. Allie stayed with me. After ward she told me ragged was going out to kill you. But that was 1 ionly madness.
 T had my terrible black hours. iThank God they are past. l Iknew we were ruined-that Ash in some way had brought it about. Perhaps my love for him turned lthen. Allie begged and pleaded and prayed with me. How she hated lAsh! And what a friend she was to you But I want you to know ithat even then believing Ash my brother I'd have forgiven you in ltime, I know it. After the agony was spent I was learning how Ideathlessly I loved you. sometime In the night late Dad came to me. Never had I seen him gentle. sad, defeated, yet something better for that. He told me not l to take it too laard-Ilot to visit the sins of others upon your head. 1 You had been driven to kill Ash. Some one had to do it, for the good 1 of all. and no one but you could. 1 He told me how he had inflamed Ash. Then the fight! An, God, 1 he did-not-spare me. Then came the story, torn from his most secret heart. Ash was not his son, but the son of girl who he had loved long ago, who, dying, gave him her child That child was Ash. And Dad said he was what his father had been.
 T was not yet born. But when I came Ash was my playmate. l re- member when we were children. He was always vicious to everyone ex- cept me. And so I grew up loving him, perhaps for that. =.
 Next day I went to mother, and she corroborated Dads story. It seemed was delivered from hellish bonds
 'Thiry darlin'-there must be somethin in prayer" cried Rock. T was to learn how you had bought Slagle's silence-how you persuaded Dabb and Linclon to force Hesbitt to settle out of court --oh, how from the very beginning you had meant good by all of us! Yet could not drag myself to you. It took time. had such dreadful fear of seeing you lying in danger of death, bloody pale, with awful eyes that would have accused me. =. Oh, I suffered! But now I'm here-on my knees.'
 Please get up?" asked Rock, lifting her to seat, beside him.
 Now will you accept Dabb's offer and take me back to Sunset Pass?" cna cknd fa,,diY,o 4a l,i,~.