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Ee COMPANI
ON
the next Instant a pair
the fresh young vole
show the old ludy’s neck and
eased cl
of
with j up from
gout a cin due ecreara vite "act though a
It quite horrified Dootor Bryan, when J sa
Ho fouss'and the maculfcen grounds acound Ie
As soon as I take off miy bat T want to run into tbe
With real roses grows
t jem aud see what ® hewge 13 bee Pee
always lived fn @ tenement flat or boarding-honse,””
It imate Mrs. Kemp lanub, even
teary, at the giti’s ‘wild euttusiasin.
antrained uatutored chilld, dusplte. hee years,
he thous
The doctor's exes grew moist as ho list
. dating the few das thut followed be entcbead ber
mis suxly window with unfelened delight.
Ene apreared te bin ore Tikew ehihl ot seven
8 young lady of serentee
ay 400 busy ta looking over the place, for
tl peat te forunight, to carry out her tatentiod of
writ
Se geemed fo bave been lifted tuto a dierent
work!, whore the dark past lay far behind her.
At this juncture an event hapyened which east a
dark saiow over all poor Dorothy's after ite.
Sho waa ont In the pardon one day wath Mca,
Kerup, woen the Mdostor joined ther, boldiog tele:
gram in his hand.
“f have just received word from Harry that he
Will be hers to-morrow,” he sald, with & pleased
expression on bis face,’ #1 hope that you will see
DUE in readiness for him.”
ee tobe wire, sit,” nesponded. the housekeeper,
win a Little couten
is footsteps hail ‘scarcely died away ero Doro-
ny wud aweety 20 hee colmpasion,
?” she asked, with all a young
gus pm
“He isa young gentleman wig has been sitdy;
7 Bryan for the last year,”
adding, with a slight
loctor is quite
Tie has been away for the last threo
months, and the howe has been go nice and quiet
ath
Fou spent, one woulda’s fancy that
yoa liked hia Me, Hager.) lane d Do
The ts ir turtied griwuly
ue wht is "e0 like!” persisted Dorothy, pur
auing the subject
“Is te young—is he handsome!"
fandsome is as handsome does,” replied Mrs.
Kemps omfagos sly.
“Doesn't he do handsome?” retorted Dorothy,
throwing back h Jy ead with a rich mellow
laugh, adding: e Is
be dark oF fair, roung or roid?
Gonbe ‘ho will strike yon as, belng
bandsoaie," ret Tam, thougtinilys
ery dark epee and: Gatk jmaving heir,
ree ‘gis would eousider him quite goud look
1g:
I will be, too, ve ta the house with us?”
set ae furiously,
i
‘ask Doctor Bryan,” responded
cs Kempe
The next moming, as Dorothy stepped out Int
the garden to gates Rowers for tho brenktast-able,
a, came suddenly upon @ young mau pacing up
wn
kets, sn
Paine he
wheeled round, and was just about to raise bis hat
fo the vision of gitligh loveliness before him when
'W ery of intense astonishment broke from his
me porothy Glenn, by all that is wonderful!” he
poking a
7
“he a auasement was mutual. ae ator Dorcthy, it was qnite a clear case; shewas
“ Harry Yangdont'” the girl shricked, turning gen 3 fn love with h Harry Kendal. iiss ‘all girls,
Pe tacin th ot Bi bri to thts | Ree ae
“What in the name of Heaven brings you to this | Hur qr ne @TAN
weep smamangt asea ge ono ts | he fit phe a
wie ine dant een iy eva ith the baby Grae ak
Tao he Poa WRN DST YOO | Cie eer ang the week micros
es - ii Mrade ett ae ohne
1 But show cane. yo here be Fe I, “of all | gach sweet p sone Leta 4,
2 F must
The gi] brefy outlined how ha appened, her | 5rd & lass: fran Komitee te (ure ot
anger rising aaninst her questloncr with évery | fuet ike he used to be mlien sho Was Ot
Word: and a8 he listened his fi fave was a study. Glenn, working for her living ia the book-bi
«e_{Dorothy,” he said, ia his low, smooth voice, aad jus to show bi not notice ie
You accuse me of not to save you who iid cid mot carey abo wns co, gay and
you fell overboard. But let mo speak just one
ord In my own iefenae: You remember {ius what
ook,
Beard’ the ee but you fainted and did aot know
what happened, The bullet whizzed by dT
fell back on the deck stuoaed—-niconsclous. Tad
New York, All the people had dispersed Tora
fore I returned to consciousness. I made Qiligent
h fer fu, a horror {
y
dawned 0 that not one whom Fou know
could val ae whither you had gone.
Dorot Fog and guiieteas, or he coukd
never rhaee fooled her so easily. But tho sory
seemed Yery plausible to her ears, and her face
brightened,
great load Titted frou her heart —her
trustful belie! that handvome Mr, Laogidon had not
beet false to her after al
“ Now, Dorothy, L ave fomething to say to:
be began “Walk down this path with mo, at
to yor
ake 20
rely you are too kind of hear
fiend to me to recuse. I adh
tended telliog you this ‘spon our return on the ‘boat.
‘My name 3s not Harry Langdon, as you have be-
ered, but tary Tandon Kenilal.
“Ta or Bryan, in.
. And as to
kia, might ‘ake a fanc’
some day. He does not now 2 oft wey ra ra weer
and that by losing i I was forced to zo to Ne
for enbild ite would greats dh oti “f
or awhile. Lie wou sreatly sapere, ‘ it
he knew, and, Dorothy, you most never
romise me tl ere and now—he
that be
have ever met before!”
ink e bim the required
ed her 0 profosely
to
‘and’ Mra, ‘Ieerap ‘wore
now that we
ao
Grat it brought the
the girl's dimpled check
le Dorothy looked
dered why ‘so very happy as she
entered the hou:
Left to himseif, Kendal paced excitedly under
ng
the Tignibusy at bie cigar,
“A devil of a Bx this,” he mattered, setting his
white tecth hard together. “Great Heaven! this is
@ romance in real life more strangely welrd than
Spy ftioa. Who would bare thought of fading
this girl here, of all pe: in the we
such lrer amatanced
rope t e been making violent Tove to the
Bel. an ail very well to make desperate
re te ‘ lilo New York working.girl, but to
to Miss Gle protege, in
Ti ‘bal expected 1 Gsie
for her hand in twarriagy, of covtrso, and she with-
dollar, thanks! Fi 'd rather that some
other igiew gl a 09 and win the iti bine:
ie aad whi money, who can pat up the newts
fal for both If necessary. If ahe will oaly keep my
secret { will be but too gratefa
Meanwhile, Dorothy had
room, and at that moment was standing ‘atore the
amantel, resting her elbows on it, her dimpled chio
upon her hands, gazing yeintfally into the miror's
depth af the lovely es face Ie .
uel
on the night that to tho toomligee plente
cn Htatent Island, an the fortaneseller who fold
my
;
Dorothy capered
around the roorn, ‘dancing in such oldcn'sh
under fhe aes with his hands in his | ha,
Deard the light, pattering footsteps he mow
nd, as a
old housekeeper could she have seen ber. OT
all coming true! cried Dorothy, SSeutleslys ts
herelt, | But pot one thought did she give to Foor
Jack, whove betrothal-ring she carried pinned to
CHAPTER VL
A 13 GROWING COLD To wR!" SOBRED DoRoTuT.
low the bours passed np to luncheon time Der-
tly, ever aflerkand realized, het foolieh litle
heart waa (n such a flutter of excitement,
She knew @ fie should meet pee at the table, and
oh Aw so bard to pretend before Doetor
eeper
Td the store, eetey
tt it were strangers.
‘She had Dut two dresses as yet, which the honsc-
keeper bad provided her with, und abe tried on each
of Aluom in auecession to seo which looked best on
ma Met should it be? The pale-blue merino or the
pink cashmere?
Matter much stadyiug and slipping on and off,
Dorothy decided apon wearing the rose pink.
She was scarcely dresel ere the luncheon bell
ranj
Taking up ber handkerchief, Dorothy flew down
the stuir-way, pausing before the door-way to cateh
her breath aud to summon courage to enter.
Bu the longer she stool there the more dificult
It seemed to get courage enouzh to open
tint race the Snsten At ienzth sho feard Doctor
Bryan inquire surprisedly of Mrs, Kent:
S Wuero cun Dorothy be, 1 wonder?”
And the next iustunt they heard @ faint voice ex-
ere 5
‘Ant Ttaruing!cveuptly from, whence tho sound
proceedted, they all saw distinctly that the door was
en the space of an inch, and that a human eye
wae appl reraclt, whi e four lite Ugers
etutehed te tewntaty to Keep ly ope
6 in, Dorothy,” conuan Me, Brean, fn-
ward highly raved at the gi 6 asi fulness iu
Fouturing’in-when she sav a stranger the
‘Dorothy opened the door, stumbled over the mnt,
and, vie face rola aubeet, waiked awkward):
to the t ook her seat, which happened to
be ie ‘opisie Harry's,
She dare for the life of her tolook at him,
tor "ee Knee that his black eyes were beut upon
ner She els ther seorebini down into her ‘oul
id Mr. Bryan, pompously, ale
low mie to ‘preee! oe you to my ydunge fied, Ne
Kendal
‘Tata tight glad to eco him, sir,” satd Dorothy,
falntly, nihoat Taising her
Noticing her ombarrassurent, Doctor Bryan qulck-
ly turned tie courersation Inte anotherchaanels but
he soon observed bis young friend was looking at
‘across the table, almost conruised with.
ater,
Ittook but one glance that way to see the cause,
at confusion, Dorothy was making dite
fork, catching
easinally a stcay bean,
“Kem pap Piatee” roared the doctor to
the ser oa ia welting, 8 and who was al
joning pat The Sainte liscomfitu:
eat was the ost confusing neal that Dorothy bad
drink ber. soup wi ith 8
ert wat down
‘had when she arose from the table she was far
were than when she eat down.
arcely monthful.
ndsome L. revailed upon her to
ring the fortnight that followed ehe becan
used to the situation; but it was no little won.
the per
ler, both to and Doctor Bryan,
Whit excellent ‘fiend they ‘were getting to be in eS
time,
It could not be that they were falling in lore with
gach other; and the doctor looked rather serious at
last though
dente 20 full of Feparioe and laughter, that the
pen his eyes in wonder more than once;
and a ore Bryan rave. herthe aonb of “Mad:
cap Dorothy,” which eeerned to sult actly.
oro was'no prank that cond ever have entered
grognish girl's brain which she did not play m
‘The phase of her character rather annored Ke on-
dal than pleased him; and ft seemed to him that
the took & special delagne in teasing hint. She bit
bis ftinpers, tipped brtere Into his eourh, tamed
werd in his lounging chairs, and
frbadined yetiodicas & month old for bis motaing
journals and magazines, until he almost grew
tent ‘ber tor ring the torment oot ie Tite,
Shrowd a9 he was in the ways of you
did not know that this
we wes as anything ‘which Kendal detested, it
was ways on the lookout to hirm
every ey we Betton Into = joke, He preferred
them modest and flower: i he was in duty
bound'to treat hor as well ao be colt because sie
‘Was under that roof.
A Te Ww
nd there nother xenon why he beeen to
hor Dorothy, Before. her appears
scene, there had been a wild hope in his heart that
port
or two years or more
into the old
of Doctor Bryan's money.
he bad left no stone unturned to get. Int
gentleman's good graces.
True, Dorothy was as much of a stranger to Doe-
tor Bran as he himself was, but who Eee but
that, by some freak of unlucky fate, he might take
a notion to leave the girt all of bis fort ne ile
wished to Heaven she bad never crosecd the thresh-
old ot i firay Gables.
8 tna of affairs ft occurred to him that it
woud et be a bad idea to test the old geuticinan’s
fie pdship for binselt; and the greatest of al teste,
2 bel money from bim. if
actor Bryan retused tie "he favor, be reason
to himself ll hs bi Inheriting the
Id ger eptleman’s ‘a money, in time 1 to Come, would be
Gashods “Te would ack itm foe a spall loan; and
on the very ‘tay that this oceurred to ie eo
ceded to pur it into execution, saying to hitusd
Fre know that he should find the doctor in bis
stady directly atter luncheon, and here ¢ prese]
ed bimsclf wih some trepiaatton
1 2Gome in," called the doctor, in answer to his
On, fs nt Me ty Harry?” ho exclaimed, p1
ing a chair for him) which the young man took
rather awk
“1h not often 4 troabie you In Four study,
sir,” began Waery, “but 1 have fomething of Se
portance to say to you, and 1 be Fou will
elon the trast. ate ted we Will
east apt to be ntorra
Me aivice vou to begin it tet Ie will take
Jong to ‘ie aud Mr. Bryan, for wo might
terrapted tm ‘expecting am off
Itleod, who ta to accompany tie or © hokse back
ride. ite ‘ought to hare) eee here by this time.”
nervously about in hia cb.
rented outing of an effort to make his request
careless!
“You are the only one,” ho began, slittle discon.
éertedly, 1 (el sure, Who ean help me in my
wheeled suddenly around in his
an ine tant the obj ject of the young
ind he ts ‘come Mo teil me that he h:
atlen bead over heels in love with ttle Dorothy
fad wants to maety her? and with the thonght &
that she would fairly have shock No 0)
*s,
He had ne * seen in love himself—but, for all
that, be ln | s grinpathized with young folks folks an
their tender Abs the heart, a 0
sigh escaped] lig lips for the lost opportunities o of
ihe te
"fz Deuan, brasquely, “why don’t you
oh & delicate matter,” bogan Ki
proceeds'my
STs bs ath
chat Tc
8
‘bra
tr Bordncee wil Bot me tn tho pres-
ent etnergency.
“Well enid the old gentleman, rather enfoying
the agers» Tan's evident discomiture, “pray gi
to ale”
either’ ue oe paring
“Ts it 80 Red oa ‘haat Toturned the old gentlo-
sas with menial voseuse.
“ "You c onl Ser imagine what it is that I wish
man,
eee ” Inughed the doctor,
with a rei tenkie in his eye.
“Surely sou~you couldn't bare d the one
great wish of ay hat? gasped evi “e
ah tht aivetelt the expected vi
mer tome a
ald Doctor|
4 eo ine in my library this evening,”
ny gtasping the young man's hand,
ik over the matter you haves 80 much
Pigl give you my answer In regard
“and we wi
at heart, au
thinking ie
Ha ‘ihe dea in,
«Fon ato Tod, et." erfed Kenda, iu bewil-
dorment. ve
"At tha i mates te entranco of the visitor put
ion, and Kendal crose
exe rectings,
to iy baw we divined that 1 was
ie fee ious? he pondered,
ue top of her
\ td Te rurned on his eet in
faiked iw an opposite direction
nine from ta vatenco on
Sotho door, and sho bit her
bo heard me vu ing on the piano, for
1 tinned sou Dat he Wid not
‘ome I
‘ted to aay?
the winlave ag she
iam affee hiny aod st ho had tooked
id base acen a very defiant though
stained fice peering earnestly after him from
Deli the lo eurraine,
Rendal waked aie consolately enongh through the
ions and out into the min road, little
as re | ‘tl | Bindery
‘dover 10
‘He bad trigcled a milo oF more over the counti
d, When, gldenly he was sturtled by the soun
@ good solid mo: Bry
on it ‘was: so inn to act out wich 8 falsehood as |
do!
res" Data
‘The nexi Oe int, from around the bend in the
0 de¥ed riderless, covered with foam,
ancl 20 near hiirfibat be had to spring aside or its
hoofs-would ha} Wen buried in his brain, Oue
arse, atid & cr rj qlhorror broke from his ips, Jt
Great Guat? ‘nh was be? Kondal realized that
there had been a trtibie accident, and that at that
moment th the < rede lay dylug—perhaps dead—
5
+ the road in the di-
ree had comme, and around the
16 Prostrate figure of Docto
tar dust, bis friend bending
Ta an instanipe was by his side. One glan
wwere Fealized—ite old gentle:
Faally injured—he was ‘ring.
en be saw Kendal bending
ea 24 his companion
by ‘uated "how the terrible acel-
Sout,
about to go for yon," said the
Soctor hag something to'say to
a work of Providence that you
now.”
over bin, and
briefly anid be
aud com
‘Yer the prostrate form.
“Teter Sa, Flurry?” gasped the doctor:
Siwerwer ren falhing—hiewalter
Smee t-tontonyel
Le or
Fsubetareod you. Bi —
~wn—my—Will—ninst be read;
jen—then—within that hour
“tie contents ot any will; and—
ener, fy sane Arrevocable!”
Kendy retied back, like one iazea by an
aniigion.
‘TIF suddendss of this affoir taken his
breafi away. Hut before he ould rato ns voice
in pfotest, oF etter ong word of the terriblo mise
eh the at gentleman, was laboring under,
Bocidr vr rran b athod his leat and he found him
self Uetrothed, w it were, and
thy, and by the
frost tereiile netake thet ¢ wes. young man la-
‘dored under,
{Zu Weontinued in owr next.)
| ___seamee
Please t Laura Jean Libbey
writes fxcuaiaty ‘or The New Yon. Fireside
Companion, in fhich paper all her new stor
will 4) pairing ther journals can furnish her ‘old
stories only.
wngress, In the year 15, by
Entered accorainft
(peur
= set oo Asche once or the
core sa, Was
ye ana
THE TOMBOY.
Bt Mini's Doveter,”
‘ONA GILMAN,
“ Hearts and Lives,”
ete, ete.
enerd in No, 1284 of Tire New Youre
Back munbers ‘can be obtalhed
This story wae
Finest Com
from all Se
wre
(ran erony Wil Hor Be FURLIREED 18 800K roRAL]
WAPTER XVIL
A scene of 1 mildest confusion enened.
ver ove fs to describe it; no one
seemed te pnoveither Wl at he or any ¥ one else Was
second towne pearances, instead Of looking for
Pete Thanking order that they nught avenge the
suppoeed deat! of Val they were indulgiug a a
ines ee
‘There were ane, OF feo friends of Pete's. who
tried to make bo olliers Understand that Val bad
ulied the hort re that it was not Pete’s fault,
Dae Ti ener €qped Upon @ wagon-bed, and in a
half. ‘vice crit
cece tin! one ra friend fur tho sake
of a new-comt &8 idle, The
uilled tie ies. The oo a nothin” in the
whole county ee AS cone beat | rina. ane ‘bo.
a-shammin’, He him not to
hit the hoss ft & Sehip. ana te fast ‘hn be aid
Fas to lick Hy like Sanh 110,” Liston tom
ice Was drowned In the nolse and
sion.
ion | believed that, Val had. pulled the
ore erated to little lewith them. ‘The followers
of Dave Anka's fortunes bad won the money, and
there muro blood from some quarter. Val was
alread; ro rontly dead without their having the
ened paving # hand im the killing, and
Peie Han $8 Faust eatiaty thelr thirst
ban
ven
‘a, the men that bad. won the
teen cheated out of the excitement of
ee f and alm
place.
“Boys!
energies
t, Wiere
"the q@tion scarred in some sort to quiet them
and reste some degree of sense to their excited
brains,
3
a
"The
cont
S
hn
‘pulled Dan ‘Tumer out of the vragon,
jmmediately Jack Curzon was
he shouted, “you are wasting your
pa treet, Tt Pete Hawkins that we
broad smile crept Up to the lips the white bear:
vered. :
“ith fele Hawkins that we want” they yelled
in chor Where
looked abont, and then at each other, in
astonishment
be see
on was Tithe fn alt | Sitetions Aiatinet
asit Is marked at ee a, Yet not an objec
felt sare in their midst. “And it was elear enongh
that Pete was bot theve._ ‘There was only the Uitte
Oheroom shanty near, ‘That was quick!
Suit tho ide stead exemineds be without results
He could not anore certainly have disappeared if
rth had opened for im. ¢ seemed to
fod’ the slightest explanation, “Tne 'rurprice had
ped the fhe among themselves. Fach man
Tooked at his neighbor to eee if be were Hawkine,
and sai & moment not & word was spoken ta tue
3
confusion éven greater than the former
ensued, but exch man wae sllont whea be beard
vack Curzon again speaking to them
wagons
“He can’t escape us, Dopey he eried: | There
fg not the slightest chan ‘There must be som
Dluce of ‘concealment about here that we nove
hothing of, Don’t let us got excited and
man, has cheated us out of our mone; vine order
to take ene Tevenge upon a lie boy that never
harmed him, If the littie fellow bad
mane might bare found some excuse tor hay
but there is none. Ho knew the horse was no g
We started him, and he only did it to break
What did he care Stor your money
ecvetlin "And wo havo lost, boys, ome
sacking the word of a thief. Can wo have
iteh a 7 pac ainong wu:
Cries of “Not er
‘hen let us act like sensible men and not fools.
‘Us guard this Place, it is net. Possible that he
can have escaped. We ean’ here, of course,
for some of must’ bo searching is aifetent direc:
tions, but Jet'us divide gurscives fnto and
look ul 6 find him. We can leave three ‘ot ‘the
boys to aan this place, and the reat of us can be
aw ie led, Let us scour the whole country until we
find bim!”
‘A man-hunt is of infinitely greater excitement
than an animal-hant, and the men were delighted,
‘They referred everything to Curzon, and the di
vi stone were quickl;
the different parties were about to be off, the
winon having been utilized to carry ‘Val, one of the
fraveling-mn came out of the shanty that har-
borat ndersons.
boys!” he exclaimed, £ wish youIuck in
uate FOU man, It was a plece of the most das-
tardly eheating afd seoundrelism J ever saw, Lonly
wie ico olild be of ser rvice
tiyou jorn us?” eke
No Ban dorey, Dut ove" got to 68 off tosnight.
Your Sasinees _Kesbs you ere and tile takes me
avvay, but I hope to hear good reports when I come
gain.”
*Fhen the to aed to the backs of their horses
and were quickly off, returning to the settiement by
8 difteront road from that taken by the other men,
twas a sorry little party thet entered the Rol-
lia endian that atternoos, iy had gone to
spend the ay, fand night with womny chilagen of
neiguibor misaton by Molle Raliins, the
Tile of ois Sa, nd rery gad “ihe an
me
Bi Ra ate the he pop fies
that poor childs
feelin ‘: rie yon Sane to to,” she said, wiping ithe
tears: from her ares with her cotton apron,
little He'll know soon enor
the let! feller tome. Iloved iim “eet as oT habe bad
wn child, I’ see that he is laid ont
an tee leave him where he is, Mollf, until come
back,” said Jack. “I'm going aft It
don’t seem ri ight ‘not be Should mot haves S doctor
to s¢9,him, anyway. Don't touch him til J eome
‘He hurried out of the house, a strange, set look
upon bis handsome face, Ho had been looked upon
in the settlement a: most emotionless
among them. JHe never drank too meh, and be
never seemed to feel anything. The boys, while
hey anny not, pave feared hima Physicals, were ae
in awe of ‘him more or lesa, ‘and for’
an ready upOR
ron Reni, rhey bad heen mo!
SE ee ee tety aeoree slh
ROR EN Tpnulees Phat aay Woy Waly had
OHe carey be. told hiniwelt, "ae he had
ion it mpossbie (or any human creature toe,
Jt was a wild grief for the boy's death that op
Pifie rode ay he had never ridden tn his life before
to the home of the doctor, and in less than half a1
hour had returned to the littie cabin,
Mollie Rolling stood in front of 'the door, he~
lain face shaded by her hand, looking ont over 1
prairie, Her countepance wore an anxious expres-
sion, and even before he had come within speaking
distance Jack seemed to understand that some-
‘is closely, and hurried out to
bita as He Nang himself from Bia horse,
“ oy ate ¢ then matter, Mollie?” heasked, hoarsely,
jack?” ghe asked, ignoring his
“Yes, tet
“ want Wein the cabin?”
tWbet do meant"
“T hardly know m mys, Lleft him lying there
where he was and went into tho kitehen for a nin:
ute, Evervthing about the p stil
death, and L had not heard a Pou. “When I went
into the room goue,, 1 was scared like for
a litte spell and stood there sok aronnd m
as if thore had been ghosts in the room: then it oc-
curred to me that Val erat dead after all, and
as aplayin’ tril, 0 I looked for’ him
everywhere, im ‘no Val could T find.®
#6
«<fiee eenrched every hole and comer around this
place, but there warn’t no Val in it.”
«; Who came into the house?”
«fel youl never heard a sound.”
“When you missed him, did you look to seo if
‘Jou aw ay one sing away over the prairie
“Not jist at thes eo 1 never
thought of netbin ran ween owen faid look there
weren’t no one al seen.
Gurzon waited to. queation her no further, but
Puuing by her, entered the fox
lie Hed’ everywhere, every nook and cor-
ner, knowing all the time that ft was a eseaas ene
deavor. Thero was a faint, half-sick feeling at his
heart that was Increasing at almost moment.
‘There was not the elightet, trace "Val. She
had disappeared utterly, completely, He was at a
tons i sto Where of how to begin a further search,
ered from the little cabin, and
salle
res
asihe disor eave ‘Nodjy,or Smike, as she wes
there, standing beside the doctor, a startled ex:
Upon her Whi
CHAPTER XVII
ant itm aqnick gpring the child reached his side,
d seized his arm 7
‘Curzon threw lis arm aroutid the shoulders
Hitte creature, never looking at her, but out
© the prairie, conselous ‘that the ‘tiny face was
Iintea to his imploring!
“T thought you bad gone to spend the night
rith—” he began; but she gare him no opportunity
to complete his sentence,
itt fe something wrong with Val. Ikmow now,
or you would not look like that, What fa it, Tacks
wild horror ed
mouth guitering and tw ate with @ pain
one rarely jualed in childiood,
‘Curzon drow her clover,
wo NPey muna RON, my bos." e aad, wey,
“ is) vores she sekeil, slow!
“He scarcely realized wi was saying, but
moet betoro the wovls were ittored he ta that
arm wasempty, and ooking down, he saw that Nadjy
had sipped to tie ground. There bad been neltlier
F @ moan; orb he, Jay there slleatly, 8
Curlous valine iness uy ber swect face.
THe lifted net tondelly, while Molie eprang eagor-
ly forward,
“What is the matter?” she gasped,
‘The ttle one bas fainted,” answered Jack, &
heary frown drawing his brows, while his lips were
gurtonly mt, “It is fortunate that we have you
ere,
doet
Sh sa ical man stepped for
Cudress the. bor ana pat it to bed, Mrs
that has cau!
Detter that be Shona be in bed when bo, ig
aroused, Call m fim purdressed.”
‘The doctor remained oniade, Dat, ‘unable to con-
tent ehimnelt, Carzon soon followed Mra, Kelling in-
‘Fie stood ‘watcbing the beck of her head as ¢
Sat upon & chatr with the child upon her lap ste
she removed bis Marte but Curzon’s thoughts
were far
todo. The
toned in ie pursuit vet tele Hawking, go that he
was comparatively alone. He was going over the
situation in his own ‘mind when & Tow ery from the
woman startled him.
He sprung forward, but already she had thrown
& garment “over ‘the child, and sat there staring
dumbtly at Carz
What ist? bo asked, heavily.
She did not reply, but sat there, still staring as it”
something a hie face might exp lain to her what
she wantet hin Tad ropped, her
bands ny ia pow Tine all aueoncelous gui
Curz her by the shonider and shook her
nly
ls Js it?” ho repented, "Speak to-me,
follle.
aakt deemed that oven then sho could, not bring her
onished and wandering faculties together. She
spoke slowly, nusteadily:
mae This child?” ate gasped, What do you think
cai a bi
It
Tle is not—a boy!”
Justhoa Curzou's Gone Tor astonisbmeut,
‘ot, boy?” he repeated, as if dazed.
"No.
“ en what is hot” *
A gitl, of course!”
The both of them forgot the child and remained
ach other in dumb bewilderment.
What do 'you tuppose it ean. mean®” asked
Mote at rast, Vier Fok sounding strained am Ut
™Gton shook his head.
“T don't know,” he answered. “There is some
mystery, Mollie, that you and I must keep to our-
selves tuntil there is some reason why it should be
kept no longer, J may count upon you Bfollic#?
* You
“That's good,
round. You put his oes
send that doctor away. | Be a
don’t let even Sam kno
room, and Mollio put the ehita’s night;
robe on with oven freater tenderness had
show before. ‘There was something very keane
Jn her manuer of bandling the Iittle ono 8 sho
placed her between tl rupalously
clean sheets.
retty eves opened asthe dainty head touched
fhe te pilon Nadiy looked at the face bent a
astonishment, but before her pale lips
Could frame e question Curzon ba reentered the
fom, ‘The child turned to him aud extended her
arms.
“Oh, Jack!” she cried, “I remember it all now.
Tell me what it means!”
Curzon leaned over and whispered in Mrs. Rol-
line's eat
<AVU You Teave me lone with him for 8 little
pile, Boies “T think ean learn
alot
She nodded silently and pasced out, remembering
how Smike loved Jack, and when they were alone
Curzon drew a stool teside the bed and took the
tiny band in is own.
he anid gentiy, you must not be
bat ‘now, but you must beat up aud be ver brave
al’s sake. Do you think you can do that?”
Bat look! the child is coming
‘on while I go an
reful, Mollie, and
¢ pret ty ips trembles d.
ENShore bate che aeked.
“T don’t know, and I want very much for you to
us all sou cam to find im.”
* Then ehe i is not ot dead???
why do o yon refer to your Drother
“aa cruct of met? exctaimer
ing from. bis additional’ surprise:
“ ‘Dai inten to mo, little one, “You must ruse aa
ust i entirely for Vals sake. ‘
Val; but you niust tell me all that you ean in ov
that I may muceeed the sooner. ie fot to tal,
ou now as if you were gro
Inust try fo unvlerstand. and be very. brave:
thong that Val was dead, but it must have been _
that we were mistaken, for’ no one would want, to
steal a dead person, you
appeared, and w 00)
him, I want you to tell me ail about yourselves
now, chitd.”
“ a hat—Is there—to tell?” she stammered,
A great deal. In the first place, why have yon
an Vial passed yourselves off as boys here?”
‘The ehitts eyes grew largo aod troubled, . Cure
zon lifted her from the bed and took ber in his ~
"You must not be afraid of me, deat. T know
that you are not a boy, would ave ts all
ot, from your in-
, What I'want to know
4s ths: WI hat circumstances made it at for
Nal to asuimg the garb of boys? 1 don't
tatieve that Pete Hawkins would ri
ming to this, of ail places, for the purpose ot Ride
apple boy hom he had every reason to bi
ovequentiy he must either Lave
Trad some tremendous acon for doing It, or else—
some one else fs the guilty party,”
Nadjy looked at him earu: Erklently she
hed not followed his reasoning: but the unerring
tuition of the child had seen it him
she was not slow to recognize that she could trust,
Wor n't Vai be mad if I tell you?” she
0."
“ And youvwill promise to find her—him for mo?”
agit 208 omy PromisonI swear to sou that Iwill
“Then I will tell you everything that I can re-
member.”
A history of their unhappy lives follow:
least, as mincl of it as she Knew— suey afer ‘it
did pot comprise many of the important facts; but
Jack thought he had’ understood hat was
relied from the child, articulery 4m that last nk
sode before their changing their costumes to ese
from Guy Burnside, Pe.
, tell me what that man Burnsidcs ras
ere said, and 1 ill let ron go to seep.”
je We was ever so hand-
somel’ Val used to ‘ike. ‘ain, and ought she was
{love with bim; but she seemed to hate and fear
him when we v0?
e
ca
‘But was there mating distinctive about bim—
nothing that one woul
&N iting, except a seat 0 over th e ese that
“Good heavens! Did it extend partially down
the eyelid”
“Then it was he that was
He was one ot ‘the men that we
mers! 1 begin
achemo!
af the track to-day!
all took to be dru:
how to see somletining of the iufernal
‘Meaxtiwe Frank Colvito tad ‘begun a most tne
det efatteuble se arch for Val.
jan nature
that she could change her erie esl $0 comme
in a day that she cot led fo leave hom
under the ci es emeances that: ented
Yer powerfal influence had beon ‘ised, aad he
find her, but’ to discover
most takimata vfend would seareely bave
ized him as the same man he had known
These was a gcim determination
ad not ‘characterized the Frank ‘athe ot ole
Hig, was silent morose. The grave
indication of the meutal torture h
and few whom be questioned upon the si et gs
Val's departure would hav 6 vital fi,
‘arn in the nclehborten V7
for no one knew any’ thing. on ‘of, if they kuew, meting
ee
some one W fom -