The evening world. Newspaper, May 1, 1916, Page 13

TheM |p} PPRPRP AAPA AAD D ALS (Copyright, 1915, by 3 The Ghost at KUCE BURT was a taciturn, and for a year or mo: Northwest with his chum, ° rat? ridiculously poor apparatus, Machinery would have enabled him to a From theBitter Roots An Outdoors Romance of a Battle for Fortune. RA APPAR ADS AAAAAALRAAAAAA By CAROLINE LOCKHART ____. Author of Me, Smith,” Ete. LAR ORAM AAR NOAA | B. Liypincott Company.) CHAPTER I, the Banquet. strong young fellow, who had fonded for himself since eurly childhood. He hailed from the Bitter Roots, e he had lived in the mountains of the “Slim” Naudain, mining for gold, with in @ region where he knew that good reap untold wealth, » Naudain was a querulous eccentric, The two partners quarrelled often, Maa with increasing flerceness, Slim mania, attacked Bruce with an axe, faplt of Bruce's, idain was killed. ._In the pockets of the d at length, in a moment of homicidal In the ensuing struggia, and through no 1 man Burt found a letter written many years earlier by Naudain’s little sister, Helen, Although Slim's death was due to no fault of his, yet Bruce sought to make amends by drawing up @ document making Naudain’s sister a Joint owner in the gold | ‘Boon after this “Uncle Bill" Gris- wold, Bruce's friend, came to Burt's cabin with an Kastern capitalist, T. Viotor Sprudell, who bad come to the Northwest on a big game hunt, Gris- wold had been hired us guide for him, Snowed in by an carly biizeard, they made their way to Bruce's cabin, but they had had to leave their Chinese cook, Toy, at their cump, as the Chinaman was tvo weak to travel, Bruce volunteered to go buck for the Chinuman; although, an that bug. ward, the journey mewnt alinust cere taimedeath, Nor could Griswold ais- guade hin, Before he went, Bruce tmade Sprudell promise to buat up Naydain's sister, in the Last, iu case Se urt’s nou-return; and give ber deeds to tie mine. Sprudell Promised But Lruce, distrusting th eold-eyed capitalist, had sougut to make the matter sure by saying: yn't, 1 come buck and Bruce did not come back. @pparently died in the snow He had he and the Chinaman. Long afterward, he Drought Toy into the nearest seitie~ ment—Ore City, Bot) were half dead when they reached the Hinds House there. And presently Bruce heard a rumor that Sprudell had sent a min- ing expert, named Lill, out to lok over the ground, As a matter of fact, Sprudeil, be- Neying Bruce dead, hid decided to Keep ne mine for ‘himsclf, und. bud gone st to form a company to wotk ft. On the way, he had con- /xented to ah rvieW for a Middle West newspaper on bis experiences in the blizzat Miss Dunbar, tne reporter who interviewed him, tist- ened w resp ful interest » Ss story, until he told of the death of “siim" Naudain Bruce's jands. Then her pretty face blanched with horror. For sie was the “Helen” of the letter Bruce hud, found—Helen Dunbar, Naudain’s half sister, . Sprudell gave a banquet to f capitalists—a banquet at whi n iter Burt hoped to float his mining scheme of the dinner a Wi word that Bruce k with him. ew a curious, chalky nd quite still, He felt his the midst brought: him wished to #t Sprudell mite and st for going and turned quickly lest it observed. Apelogetically, to his guests: SOne moment, if you please Hr remembered that Bruce Burt Qed warned hin that he would come ack and haunt him: There was nothing of the wraith, or phantom, bower: nthe ud shouldered figure in a wide-bmmmed watehing Sprudell’s ch with ominous intentness. Sprudell hastened forward with out- siretched hand. “I'm amazed! Astonished"—— “ thought you would be," Bruce answered grimly, ignoring Sprudel hand. “What about Naudain's si ter? His fami ave you done any- thing to locate them? “Everything with ériend—the Not a trace.” Sprudell looked him squarely in the ey “You did your bes tt Stetson my power, my “Yes, Burt, I did my best.” fs “Well,” Bruce got up slowly, “I (Il register.” His voice and face showed his disappointment. “You live at this hotel, they said, 50 I'll see you n the morning and get the ure je ‘dust,’ ia the r ving, then, You'll ex cuse me now, won't you? 1 have a ittle dinner on, bs) lingered a montent te watch co Walk across the office and he Bad how he towered almost head and shoulders above the clerk at the desk, and he saw ulso, how, in spite thes so obviously of his ill-fitting ¢ re made, he commanded, without 7d the tion and consideration for which, in his heart, Sprudell knew that ho himself had to pay and pose a scheme. br thought which Was so strong, so like a conviction that it* turned his mind as he of Fate, him cold, flashed in . If, by any whim Meten Dun and Bruce Burt should meet, all the material advantages which ho had ts offer would not count a SIA W's wr with the girl reporter in whom he had gradually hecome> interested and at last had determined to marry eee yueh ‘a inecting was the moat But such remote thing poss nearer, bridges (7 Sprudeld was anxint guests that he mi When Bruce s the next morning vin effusively, and t . wh with no great enthu slasm, took his plump, soft hand. From the first le had pling which ble be er Phere were ossed, and rid of his to be nt think. pped oul f the ele- Sprudell is thine grew stronger as the on waned. that Sprudell was herd on him.” guarding ding off chanee acquaint: Vt ainused him, when he was sure of it, for he thought that it was due to Sprudet!'s foar leat he betray hin in his role hero, though it seemed to short hs was thelr acquaintance Spru dell should know him) better” than that, When he hod the young man cyrralied 8 aflice the ‘Tool Works, he seomed distinctly relieved and his vigilance relaxed, He handed Bruce his own letter to Naudain's heirs and a roll of notes, saying with mile which was nncommonty era lous considering that the money was ‘his ow “T suppose It won't make any dif- ference to you that your gold dust has taken on a different form.” {wwoy, Bo,” Bruce answered, “It's eens oo ail the aame.” Yet he felt @ Little surprise. “But the letter frum ‘Slim's’ sister and the picture—I want them, too,” “I'm sorry,” Sprudell frowned in We ity, “but they've been mislaid, 1 can't think where 1 put them, to save iny soul,” “How could you misplace them?” sruce demanded sharply. “You kept them ail together, didn’t you? I wanted that picture.” “Ivil turn up, of course,” Sprudell Teplied soothingly, “And when it does Til get it to you by the first mail,” Bruce did not answer—there seemed nothing more to say—but there was something in Sprudell's voice and $ that Was not convincing. Bruce the feeling strongly that he wa: ling back the letter and the pic- but why? What could they pos- mean to @ stranger? He was sibly wrong in his suspicions, of course, but nevertheless, he was intensely irrita ted by the carelessness, arose and Sprudell did Ikewise. You are going West from here?” Bruce answered shortly: “On the first train, prudell lowered bis lids that Bruce should not see the satisfaction in bis eyes. jood luck to you, and once more, congratulations on your safe return.” Bruce reluctantly took the hand he offered, wondering why it was that Sprudell repelled bim “Goodby,” he answered indifferent- ly, as he turned to go Abe Cone was Sprudell's best friend, Abe in his comparatively short career done many impuisive and ill- sidered things, but he never com- mittes a Worse faux pi than when he dashed unannounced into Spru- dell’s offi at this moment, dragging an out-of-town customer by the arm, xcuse me for intrudin’,” he apol- zed breathlessly, “but ‘my friend ©, Mr. Herman’ Florsheim—shake hands with Mr. Sprudell, Herman— wants to catch a train and he's In- terested in what T been tellin’ him of that placer ground you stumbled on this fall, He's got friends in that country and wanted to know just where it is, I remember you sal? something about Ore City hein’ the nearest Post Office, but what rail- road is it.on? If we need any outside money why, Herman here"—— Bruce's hand was on the door knob, but he lingered, ignoring the moat ur nt invitation to go that he ever {seen in any face I'm busy, Abe," Sprudel! sald 80 sharply that his old friend stared, “You are intruding. You should have sent your name.’ Bruce closed the door which he had partially opened and came back. “Don't mind me,” he said slowly, looking at Sprudell, ‘I'd like to hear about that placer—the one you stum- bled on last fall, “We'll come another time," Abe said, crestfallen, uce turned to him: Jon't go, I've just come from and I may be able to’ tell ‘N Ore City your friend something that he wants to know, Where 48 your placer ground, Sprudell?” dell sat down in his. office air, toying with a desk fixture, Bruce shoved both hands in his trousers pockets and waited for him to sneuk, “Burt,” he said finally, “I regret this unpleasantness, but the fact is you did not comply with the law—you have never recorded and you are located out.” you've taken advantage of the information with which I trusted you to jump my ground?” Bruce's eyes blazed into Sprudell’ “The heirs could not be found, you riven up for dead, and in any t I've not exceeded my rights, You have no rights upon that ground Bruce answered hotly, “My locations were properly made in ‘Slim's’ name and my own, The sam- pling and the cabin and the tunnel count for assesssment work. I had not abandoned the claim.” “Nevertheless, my engineer informs your engineer? were A light dawned, “Wilburt Dill—pity you did not meet him, a bright young chap “T met him,” Bruce answered grimly. "L shall bope to meet bim a mn.” » doubt you wall," Sprudell tau , “if you happen to be there when we're putting up the plant. As 1 was saying, Mr. Dill's telegram, which came last night, informs me that he has carried out my instrue- tions, and therefore, individually, and is President of the Bitter Root Plac Mining Company, I now control one hundred and sixty acres of ground up and down the river, including the ba upon whieh your cabin stands.” Spru dell's small, red mouth curved in its tantalizing smile “You'll never furiously. " days of gun-plays have gone by." Sprudell reminded him, “And you haven't got the price to fight me in the courts, You'd better lay down hold it!" Bruce said before you start and suave yourself the worry, What can you do? You have no money, influence, no brains to speak f he snee ingly r you wouldn't be d re doing what you are haven't. a singlo asset but your musele, and in the open market that's worth about three-fifty a day.” Bruce stood lke a mut the bi 1 burning in his face, Even toward ‘Slim" he never had felt such chok- ing, speechless rage as thi “You Judas Ts 1! he sald when he could speak. ‘You betrayed my hospitality—-my trust. Next to a cache robber you're the meanest kind The Day of Rest WHAT Bo You WANT NE TO 00 WITH THIS > nein ab ant Besos WHY DON'T You GET NEW FurNituRE D THIS 1S ALL TS Pieces ) ee | WANT You TO MEND IT FoR OuR New SUMMER BUNGALOW THE FURNITURE MOVERS WILL LAUGH WHEN THEY SFE WE MUST SAVE THE MONey IT Woutd’ COST To PAY on Tre BUNGALOW WHY DON'T You GET SONEBOD: WHo KNOWS How To HEND FURNITURE 9, ey ARE GoING DARN THAT VE IT Your: IG MUST SAVE a AT MONEY To ‘You THE BUNGALOW of @ thiet ree ever known. I've read your story in the newspaper, and so has the old man who saved your rot- . We know you for the lying braggart that you are. You made yourself out a hero when you were @ weakling and a coward. tell the truth Helen did not mention, as she laid that amount in her eager hand, that it was part of the money she had saved to buy a pair of long gloves. “Thank you"—gayly—"ever so much obliged! I've got a corking idea in my head for a Sunday special, and proposition? A quizzical expres about his mouth, You're right—you Just soon as I write it and get fore hoe answered. when you twit me with the fact that paiq"—— “If 1 was the etranger,” he said 1 have no money, no influence, per- " “No hurry,” Helen answered with a dryly, “I'd get a piece of lead pipe haps no brains—not a single asset, quizzical ginile, and she watched Mae and stand in an areaway about 11.30 as you say, but brute strength; yet Smith clamber joyously on a street one of these dark nights. That's the som ; ’ car to ride two blonks and apend the only way I know to raise monoy for closer aud looking deep into the in- fare that Helen had walkaé elah? murposes in this town.” fantile blue eyes that had grown as BURR Per open) th His hard as granite, reiterated—"Sne- how I'm going to win!" To say that Abe Cone ana My, Her- man Florsheim depacted {8 not enough—they faded, vanished, with- out a sound. Sprudell's eves quaflea n little be th the flerce intensity of Braco gaze, but for a moment only, “Pye heard men talk like that be- fore.” He shrag zed a shoulder and looked Bruce up and dow his coat too tight acr it, at his sleeves, too short for his length o! arn, at his clumsy miner's shoes, a} thouich to emphasize the gulf which lay between Bruce's condition and his own, Then with his eyes bright with vindictiveness and his hateful smile of confidence upon his lips he stood in his setting of affluence and power waiting for Bruce to &, blocks to save. Helen was broke; dead beokke As she returned to her hall bedroom she had to fight back the tears, Rhe lighted her cheap off stove, There was a rap upon the door and she low- ered the shade a little go that the bell- boy with her evening paper should not see her reddened eyes, Instead of the paper be carrtad a long paste- board box. Flowers? How extraordinary— perhaps Peters; no, not Peters, as she read the name of a side street florist on the box, he was not to be suspected of any such economy as that, Roses—a dozen—a little too full blown to last very long, but lovely, T. Victor Sprudell’s card fell out as she took them from the box. * * Bruce stepped his dark face reddenod. “Sorry 1 bothered you," the clerk steadily, “but I made because he r and there wi that in Bruce’ usual appearance that he Itked, gone. “y hadn't pologize,"" he said frankly, any business to get but worked schemes. bitten to the fact is, the to death Nearly the p with every without frienda,’ Bruce stood hefore the blackboard he for in the Bartlesville station studying if that’s the case,” Bruce answered, Women than he had seen together in that he might close the door. the schedule, A train went west at "for I'm a long wiy off my range.” "all his Iife—with a box of lke hose " 145. The firat train went tL at I've never promoted anything more ingly vivid ew and CHAPTER II. 1110, He hesitated a moment, then Important tian a theatre party or a Beaded bag which, bo, had it om wi low the expression of uncertainty upon motor trip,” the clerk vouchsafed, #alesiady's honor, was “a A rare Thorns—and a Few Roves, ihe errr oned lute decision vo “Rule L ahouid think some of the broke Bruce’ took the. yellow. envelc ELEN DUNBAR was oxercis. ing that doubtful economy, walking to save care-fare, when she saw an acquaint- ance, Mae Smith, with her eyes fixed upon her in deadly purpose turned quickly and bought a ticket east. If Sprudell had Ned he was go- ing to find ft ont. As he sat by the car window watch- ing the smug, white farm-houses and big red barns of the Middle West fly by, their dull respectability, their to_see. ers who fb be the peopl There's a 0 ke ‘flyers’ don’ umes even t isn't pre on the side, ty strongly indorsed by 80: “How wwuld a stranger go about raising money bere for a mining ion came into the clerk's eyes and @ faint smile played He looked Bruce over with some personal interest be- back abruptly end he eyed mistake In the way I sized you up.” It was the clerk's turn to flush, but cally was a good follow un- called him back when he would have funny when you asked me a civil question, town's been mining one’s been 1 Int of hydrophobla, ¢ and [doubt if you cau raise @ dollar “I wouldn't say T bad much show mining stocks would firm two doors above, I ean give you the names of a few people who goine- but go into anything that The Evening World Daily Magazine, Monday, May % 1916 omen ar ~ - ee wn Seemamaamamnnes il - WE Must SAVE THE MONEY IT WOULD COST To PAY on THE if) IY FURNITURE MOVERS Tey ARE Too EXPENSIVE BuNGALow! ing, for disappointments, he sun shone. The to a department store whic citement. a Hendo House in Ore Cit; although he looked beautiful in the sleeves of his mother's. some fifteen years he “ for a woman crepo de alluringly before ey all of fifty, his ath which uld see FE in and out. pod to open it. learned, were easier to bear when the fad en telegram was awaiting him when he returned from an excursion had been fraught with considerable ex- ‘A majestic blonde had as sumed a kind of protectorate over him and dissuaded him from his orig- inal intention of buying thirty yards of ruching for Ma Snow, who ran the with firmness that approached a refusal to gell him anything o old-fashioned, protested that it had neck and gowns before. — Neg- lecting to explain that his gift was a pink Chine garment was held embarrassed and a filmy petticoat, from be- in his mind's eye, Bruce Snow's carpet slipper: in which Ma Snow “eased her feet, peeping fought In the end he his way out—through more which the desk clerk handed him and looked at it with a fecling, of dread. He had counted the hours until it should come and now he was afraid It meant #0 much to him everything in fuct—the moment was a crisis, but ho managed to tear the over a fecling of surprise Ilere is the story you've been looking for—the abso- lutely new type of mystery crest reader cann is to he solved.” Itiss «+ this story's mystery. you won't be able to. Bat emotion which he seemed to enter- n for the opportunity given him Was gratitude, and his refusal to be interested amounted to a curt dis- missal, ‘ The second interview, during which Rruce was cross-examined by a cold- eyed gentleman with a cool, imper- sonal voice, was sufficient to make him realize’ with tolers clearne his total unpreparedness. hat en- gkwieer of recognized standing had re- ported upon the ground? None! To What extent, then, had the ground been sampled? How many test-pits had been sunk, and how far to bed- rock? What’ was. the yardage? Where were his certified assay aheots, and bis engineer's estimate for by+ dro-electric installation? What trans- portation facilities? Truce, still dazed by the onslaught, had turned and looked at the door which liad closed behind him with a briskness which seemed to aay "Good ridda and muttered, thinking of the clerk's one sanguine suggestion: “Personality! I might as well bo a hoptoad,” Day after day he plodded, bis dark face set in grim lines of purpose, fo! lowing up clows leading to poasible investors which ho obtained here and there, and always with the one m- sult. What credentials had he? To what past successes could ho point? None? Ah, good day. One morning Bruce opened his eyeg and the conviction that he had failed leaped into his mind as though It had been waiting like a cat at mouse bole to pounce upon him the instant of his return to consctousness. “You have falled! You have got to give up! You are done!" ‘The words pounding Into his brain affected him like hammer blows over the heart. He lay motionless, inert, his face grown sallow ‘upon the pillow, and he tnought that the feelings of a condemned man listening to the building of his gallows must be som thing like his own. ‘Those who have struggled for some- thing, tried with all thetr heart and soul, fought to the last atom of their strength, and failed, know sometht of the sickening heaviness, the dull, aching depression which takes the vitality and seems actually to slow up the beating of the heart. Out in the world, he told himself, where mon won things by their brains, he had failed like any pttiable weakling; that he bad been handi- capped by unpreparedneas was no palliation of the crime of fal! Ignorance was no excuse. In humill- how he had gotten on; then he took ation and chagrin he attributed the his list and went back to the hotel pre- mistakes of inexperience to lack of pared to spend some anxious hours intelligence. in tho time which must intervene be- extimated him, he had overestimated fore he could ex pei Nes gies 4 himself. night telegram he had sent. He hope ory the answer would come in the morn- ;yproend His mother hed ‘over- It was presumption to have he was fitted for anything but manual labor, t guess in advance how tale, wherein the very cley- the problem The House of the Purple Stairs ; By Jeannette I. Helm wen Next Week's Complete Novel in The Evening World Try your skill as an amateur detective in working out it is only fair to warn you. Harrah had specialized at all upon his method of serving up this game- bird which knows no closed. season. As he sat in Harrah’s outer office on @ high-backed settee of teakwood or- nate with dragons and Chinese dev! with his feet on a rug which woul have gone @ long way toward inatall- ing & power plant, looking at pic- turea of Jake Kilrain in pugiligtio garb and pose, the racing yacht Shamrock under full sail and Heath, erbloom taking @ record-smasbing Jump, , the a«pider-legged office bey me@ from ingide endeavoring to hide some pleasurable exictement under a semblance of dignity and office rett- cence, “Mr, Harrah has been detained and won't be back for perhaps an hour.” “Pl wait," Bruce replied laconi- cally. The office boy lingered. He fancied Bruce because of hia size and his hat and a resemblance that he thought he saw between him and his favor- ite We«orn hero of the movies; be- sides, he was bursting with @ proud secret. Hoe hunched bis shoulders and looked cautiously behind toward the inner offices. Between bis palms he whispered: “Ho's been arrested.” It delighted him that Bruce’s eyes widened. “Third time in a month—speedin’ In Jersey—his new machine ts eighty- horsepower! A farmer put ia the road and tried to kill him wit’ a pitchfork. Say, my boss et him. I bet he'll get fined the limit.” His red necktle gwelled palpably and he “Pooh! he don't ‘Yes, ma‘am.” ‘The stenographecs call interrupted further confidences from Willlo and he scuttled away, leaving Brucé with the impreesion that the boy's admiration for bis boss was not unmixed with apprehension. The hour had gone when the door opened and a huge, fiery-bearded, dynamic sort of person went swing ing past Bruce without @ glance and on to the inner offices. “The office boy’s husky “That's him!" was not needed to tell him that J. Winfield Harrah had arzived. The alr sud- denly seemed charged electricalty. dapper Young clerky and eccpuntants oung ¢ and ac bent to’ thelr work with @ seal and assiduity which merited immediate promotion, while “Willie,” Bruce no- ticed, came from a brief scasion in the private office with the dazed look ‘of one who has just been through an experience, When Bruce's turn came Harrah wat at his desk like an expectant oes there was that in hif attitude seamed to say: “Enter; I eat romoters.” His eyes measured ce from head to foot In a glance of eppraisement, and Bruce on hia Sprudell had bean b: right, ho thoughe bitterly, when be bwift seraiagy, en Te same eered that muscle was bis only “without at all ee eee anset. pte! He conld see himnetf toadin {t, Bruce felt in ne belongings into Slim's old boat, hie blankets and the tattered soogan and bobbing through the rapids with the blackened coffee-pot, the frying: and Jarge cans jingling in the bottom, while Sprudell, with his hateful, womanish smile, watched his: igno- minious departure, Bruce drew his sleeve across his damp forehead. If there wis any one thing which could goad him to further action it waa hie at ‘ease, hé experienced a kind of does a stranger in a strange a when he disdovers some one speaks his tongup. Harrah appeared about Srucey age, perhaps a year or two older, was as tall, though, lacking ‘eo thickness and breadth of and he had Bugs, Shite ginger snaps. Ted eyebrows as this pieture, os bristied He arose and dreseed . Bruce Sift es a) ye had known fatigue, the ness of hunger, but never anything Uke the leaden, heavy-footed depression which comes from intense despondency and hopelessness, As his finances had gone down he had gone up, until he wea now lo- cated permanently on the top floor of the hotel where the hall carpets and furniture were given thetr final - out before going tnto, the pt The only thing whieh stopped him from going further war the roof, He had no ineans ef judging what the original colors in bis rug had been fave by an inch or two close to the wall, and every brass handle on the drawers of his dresser eame out at the touch. ‘The lone faucet of cold water dripped constantly and he had to stand on a chair each time he raised the split kreen shade, When he wiped his face he fell through the hole fn the towel; he could never get at meeting making a bee-line across the street. commonplace prosperity vaguely de- one they know. There's always the Boye yng Pg hoe no outward in- hig hands in the middle, and the If there was any one thing moro pressed him wnat if ne should be chance, though,” be continued, looking are tran dn the el ante ca alicas pained ai os on Webel secken like enced a c er specula . ' lots laid out In squares, needed to complete her depression it front “door, between “two ‘own ‘of one may take a fancy ts'you persone and there was auch rollef, auch te. “ie iouthed tho shabbinese of It, was a meeting with M Smith, whitewashed rocks, to live surrounded ally, [ve noticed thal personality Newed hope in his radiant face that and the suggestion of germs, decay, She stopped and waited, trying to by a picket fence, and to die behind sometimes wins where facts and fig- Lie Seen cli wae mayen fo observa down-at-the-ieel poverty, added | ta think what {t was Mae Smith re. @ pair of neat green blinds? But ures could: ta look in. erallingly Gop wa, 1 rather” his depression, Io never had any mostly his thoughts were a fumble of — Hruce answered sunply rt an so pli PY, such feelings about his rough bunk sembled when she hurried Uke that. Ft ti io tenn Incers cordintee — dapuice anawored s L Tye no all. that for tha moment he could think filled with cedar boughs and his pine A penguin! that was it—Mae Smith ? ted et ee a g fow Of nothing more brillant to answer table as le had about this iron. bed and the unexpected denouement when ver tongue. I've talked with too few Of MEA Pan oula eae aol Lenenia le a v j 5 walked exactely like a penguin, Abe Cone's call had forced his hand; to have much fluency." than ) Tah may # shor with its sera enamel and tin ve been over to the Chrontecle of Dill and s mission, and disgust cle not ¢ tradiet him, Sv 80 kn ba, which deceived nobody into office,” Mae Smith chattered, “Left at his own ness in failing to thou that Bruce ee ee th wn Lok on Ltt lyre some fashion notes for the Sunday— fecord his claims auld parsbnality for the CHAPTER III. Cina ia tug Mabie atin garnetittees good stuff—but I don't know whether — ‘phey concentrated finally upon the tin iving him and the pains t kK a he'll use ‘em; that kid that's holdin’ wor which lay before him once he hy ta RelA Ko His Only Asset. # tG O1AW GOrawer Open: down Metiennigie’s job dont buy had demonstrated the truth or falsity nding Bruce a. hastily T would be a pleasure iruce had vowed thee to jong an ¢ much space, He's got it in for me : ia nya 4 remained unturned he would of Spruce assertion that Slim's written list. "You needn't tell them L jecord that Capital found i anyhow. 1 beat him on a convention recor! i apita wind ty und turn jt, but-he had ru pene wes weak ha any family were not to be found. He sent you, for it wouldn't do any good, ele counts wee, a a atory My nen, tS was & ff >» was Just turned the situation over and over in Some of them come in here often, but personality ao ir ; Nolakonk “and BOR, SOWT, tO PAUP ONCE he Ris mind and always ft resolved tteelf they look upon me as in office fixture sistible that his ned of Sore lett getekaok (Aad. be or BR Ble way: te SRR ita eH thing, namely his lack —dike this mahoxany desk. or that funds mot with instant he A ' 4 Pre Be A Ch eel ‘ «of money. That obstacle confronted Oriental ru ponse, that the dashing pictures waa nearest” - Bick an San'e look well, thavie'e teoti vines ey inn and yet In spite of is is mighty good of you." sald Cscuesness of his appear If I'd eaten as much beef as T BTHIRAUTAInlad fale. Ureancnal’ cee the doubts and fea vteful as thouzh he had °S eer . Monel enacan BOYS Crow ae I Aania ERE Miserable. Like everyone elae L wot Which reason and caution together en special letters of indoraoment Charm nis unconventional speech } ee mee widrenehing au the “thankegivie, thrust into bis mind, his determina- for him to all his friends with and manner was so fascinating that 20. Witla ip. the ate fan en Re sd tion to win, to ourwit Sprudell, to his impulsive hospitality, "I wish you Capital violated. all the rulea ob- a ‘shit in prime AL “That's too bad," Mae Smith mur. Make good Bis eee ey ld could come out and visit Couldn't served by experienced Inv ni 1 T haven't puf.on much mured absently, What was a cold With every turn o ne sib you rway the end of August when ‘i tht very Welelit since it became the chief compared to the fact that she eye It did not take Bruce long to dis- the bull- and the redsides are handed i ks with the cheery iiicia of my diet, If thirty days.of two dollars and a half? “Say, I won- cover that in whatever else Sprudell biting sc 1 bless you, mb which qiuatt will stall a man what will alx der if I could get @ little loan for a had prevar ih least had told = "Me?" The clork started, then he warms the heart toward Capital eke widot ” T doubt fow days? You know 1 bought this the truth when he said that the Nau- murmured wistfully: "When the bul fi ti eae tuawavar ts not the I will entire my selt-r suit on the instalment plan and I'm dain ly had disappeared, They tre 5 bitin ns ' \ added with two weeks behind on it, The collector might ne have existed, for all good! like the way th nea, immer t e, 'T go around Was around yesterday and said he'd trace he could find of them In the « With a resigned gos. _ It took one Interview ¢ " f them before I have to take it back, I can't go city of a million. ver further west than Bruce's mind of any faind around gettin’ fashion notes in my Next he set out to raise capital 1; L never expect to a he may live had apr ie kimono, and the milkman wouldn't to fight Sprudell * doing Capital a favor for whi jl f tha sche leave any milkou I pala for the last “If it isn't too late! #f it n't too so u i dowell would duly thank bin v " eat b ticket, I'm up ag ind L thought late!” ha breat tly, “Dog ave Bru 1 the wh honored Ww wf wt in a position mary be gone, if it isn't mu 1 tlary, and he ea trong conveyed i ’ 1 eat at but “How much do y nie He set out for a trust company felt b that the prosperity 4 after had gone v "ve “About two dollars and a half.” whose name hea had heard, Accost- of such a fi nly clothes that he considered tt hie , wallawed portion." The tense look faded instantly {rem ing a In the outer office, he deep, HH r inon him had obtained vatuabl un Then he fell to ithe con- Miss Smith's face. asked: t toll hun false pretenses, Certainly { hie on Ww broom, flaming in color. florid and his hair, which was darker ehade than brushed etral white fot . A tuft of bair ‘up on his crown Hke the crest of @ Ferecsorn. Everything about Bim Indicated volcanio temperament, Harrah represented to Bruco prae- tically his last chance, but there was nothing in Harrah's vetled, non-com- mittal eyes as he motioned Bruce wa chalr and inquired brusquely: “We what kind of a wildcat have got?" which would have led en server to wager any large amount that his last chance was a g00d one. Bruce yes opened and he stared for the fraction of a second et the rudeness of the question, then they flashed es he anawered shortly. “I'm not peddling wildcats, or eem- ing mining stock to widows and or- phana—if you happen to be either.” Capital is not accustomed fo tart answers to Sts caustic humor from persons in need of financtal assistance for their enterprises, “Harrah raised his toothbrush eyebrows and once more favored Bruce with a sweepin, glance of interest, which Bruce, in bis sensitive pride, resented Who sent you?” Harrah demanded roughly “Never mind who sent me," Rruce answered Ln the samo tone, reaching for his hat which he had laid on the floor beside hirh, “but he had his dog. ne nerve directing ma to an ll. mannered four-flusher like you.” ‘The color flamed to Harrah's cheek bones and over bis high, white fore- head “You've gr curio’ way of trying to raise money, rved. “E sup- yly, "that's what you're ou suppose right,” Bruce an hotly as he stood up, “but I'm » pauper. And get it out ef your head,” he went on as the mu- latéd wrath of weeks swept over him, that you're talking to the office boy, Vye found somebody at last that’s big enough to stand up to and tell ‘em to to hell! Sabe? You needn't touch my proposition, you needa’t even listen to it, but, he me, you talk civil! As Harrah arose Bruce took a step clos f looked at lim sanarely, A lurking imp sprang to life in Hare rans vivid) eyes, daredevil look which found) its counterpart in. Br wn “I believe you think you're a better man than bam. “Tecan lick you any jump in the rod," Bruce answered promptty, (To Be Continued.)