66e
l Silver
By REX BEACH
COPYRIGHT 1809 BY
chapter xv.
mUK main body of salmon struck
Into (lie Kahik river on tbe
first day of July. For a week
past tbe run bad been slowly
growing while tbe caunerles tested
themselves, but on tbe opening day of
the new month tbe horde Issued boldly
forth from tbe depths of tbe sea. and
tbe battle began In earnest.
At times they Warn with cleaving
fins exposed. Again tbey churned tbe
placid waters until swift combers
raced across the shallow bars like
tidal wares, while tbe deeper chanuels
were shot through with shadowy forms
or pierced by tbe lightning glint of sil
vered bellies. They streamed In with
the flood tide to retreat again with the
ebb, but there was neither baste nor
caution In their progress. They bad
come In answer to the breeding call of
the sea, and its exultation was upon
them, driving them relentlessly on
ward. Tbey had no voice against Its
overmastering spelL
The time bad come for man to take
his toll.
At Emerson's cannery there fell a
sudden panic, for fifty fishermen quit
Returning from the banks on the night
before the' run started, they stacked
their gear and notified Boyd Emerson
of their determination. Then, despite
bis utmost efforts to dissuade them,
they took their packs upon their shoul
ders and marched up tbe beach to Wil
lis Marsh's plant. Larsen. tbe day
foreman, acted as their spokesman,
and Boyd recognized too late the result
of that conversation he had Interrupt
ed on the night of his visit to Cherry.
This defection diminished bis boat
crew by more than half, and, while the
shoremen stoutly maintained their loy
alty, the chance of putting up a pack
seemed lost. Boyd swallowed his pride
and went straightway to his enemy,
lie found Marsh well recovered from
his flesh wound of a week or more be
fore, yet extremely cautious for bis
safety, as he evidenced by conducting
the Interview before witnesses.
"We are short banded, and I gave
Instructions to secure every available
man," he announced at the conclusion
of Emerson's story. "It Is not my fault
If your men prefer to work for me."
"Then you force me to retaliate."
said Boyd. "I shall hire your men out
from under you." ..,
Marsh laughed provoklngly.
' "Try It! I am a good organizer. If
nothing else. If you send emissaries
to my plants It will cause certain vlo
t lence, and I think you had better
avoid that, for we outnumber you ten
to one."
Emerson left In disgust. Nor had
be hit upon any method of relief when
Cherry came down to the plant on tbe
following morning. She Inquired
straightway:
"What are you doing about It? You
can't afTord to lose-an hour."
"I have sent a man to each of the
other plants to hire fishermen at any
price, but 1 have no hope that they
will succeed. Marsh has his crews too
well In hand for that"
Cherry nodded. "They wouldn't
dare quit him now. Ile'd never let
them return to this country If they
did. Meanwhile the rest of your force
Is on the banks, I presume."
"Yes."
"How many boats have you 7
"Ten."
"Heavens! And this Is tbe first dn.v
of the run! It looks bnd. doesn't It?
Has the trap begun to till?"
"No. George is down there now. I
guess Marsh succeeded In corking It.
Menn while nil tbe other plants are
working while my Chinks are playing
fantan." 1 seem to bring misfortune
upon every one connected with tne.
don't I?" he lidded. "I'm afraid I'm a
jm)t sort."
ITow boyish he was. the girl thought
tonJerly. yet how splendidly brave lie
had been throughout the rijjhf! There
was a voiceless, maternal yearning In
her heart its she asked hlui gravely:
"If you fall now It will mean -the
end of everything, will It not?"
"Yes." He squared his tired shoul
ders. "But 1 am not beaten yet. You
taught me never to give up. Cherry.
If I have to go back home without a
catch and see Illlllurd take this plant
over, why I'll begin jnce more at
something new. and some day I will
succeed But I shan't give up. I'll
can what salmon we catch nnd then
begin all over again next season."
"And suppose you don't succeed?
Suppose miliar I won't curry you?"
"Then I shall try something else.
Maybe I shall go to mining again. I
don't know. Anyhow, she would not
let me grow disheartened If she were
here. She wnuldn I let uie quit. She
Isn't that sort "
Cherry Malotte stlrr. d and shifted
her gaze uncertainly to the gleaming
bay. Abreast of them the fleet of
fishing boats were drifting with the
tide. In the distance others were dot
ted clear away to where the opal
ocean lay. A tug was passing, and
she saw the sun flash from the cargo
In Its tow. while the faint echo of a
song enme wafting to her ears. She
stood so for a long moment, flirhtlng
manfully with herself, then wheeled
En hli. sit'M':i!; Thcrajva a new
Horde I
Author of "The Spoiler"
The Rarner"
and
HARPER C BROTHERS
--
tuL- lu her voice as she said:
"If you will let me have one of your
launches I may be able to help you."
"How?" he demanded quickly.
"Never mlud how. It's a lug chance
and hardly worth trying, but may 1
take tbe boat?"
"Certainly." said be. "There's one
lying at the dock."
He led her to the shore and saw
her aboard, then waved pood by and
walked moodily back to the othVe. grat
ified that she should try to help him.
yet certain that she could not snceeisl
where he nnd George had failed.
"Flngerless" Fraser had breakfast.!
late, as was his luxurious custom, and
shortly before noon. In the course o!
bis dissatisfied meandering, be found
bis friend lu tbe wtiiee, lust la somimf
thought. It was tbe first time In mauy
weeks that he bad seen this mod In
Boyd, and after a fruitless effort to
make bliu talk he fell Into bis .!u
habit of Imaginary reading, droning
away to himself as If from a printed
page:
"Your stay among us has not been
very pleasant, has It?' Mr. Emerson
Inquired.
"'Not so that you could uotlce It
replied our hero. I uou t Hue nsii. uiio
I never did.'
"That is the result of prejudice,
the fish Is a noble animal.' Mr. Liner
sou declared.
" 'He's not an unlnial at all.' our hero
geutly corrected. 'He's a biped a re
ular wild biped, without either line n.
home or affection for his children The
salmon is of a low order of Intelligent
and has a Queen Anne slant to his
roof. No person with a retreating fore
head like that knows very much. The
only other member of tbe animal king
dom that Is as foolish as the salmon i
Alton Clyde. Tbe fish has got a shade
tbe best of It over hlui, but as for
friendship and the gentler emotlous
why, tbe salmon basu't got them at
all. The only thing he's got Is a million
eggs and a sense of direction. If he
bad a spark of Intelligence he'd lay
one egg a year, like a ben, aud tliu
live for a million years. But does
he? Not on your Sarony! He's a
spendthrift and turns bis eggs loose a
hatful at a time. He's worse than a
shotgun. And then, too. he's as clan
nl.sb as a Harvard graduate and don i
associate with nobody out of bis own
set. No. sir! Give me a warm blooded
animal that suckles Its young I'll take
a farmer every time.'
"These are points I had never con
8ldered.' said Mr Emerson, 'but ever)
business has Its drawbacks, you'll
agree. If I have failed as a host, what
can I do to entertain you while you
grace our midst?'
"'You cau do most anything, re
marked his handsome companion
'You can climb a tree or do anyrhtnv
except fish all the time.'
"'But it Is a dark nlgbt without, nnd
I fear some mischief Is afoot.'
"True! But yonder beautcheons
gel' "-
Roused by the familiarity of these
lines. Emerson looked up from his pre
occupation nnd smiled at Frnser's seri
ous pantomime.
"What aliout that 'beautcheons uel'
and the mischief that Is afoot?"
"Oh, I heard all about yotTr trouble
I Just left the pesthouse."
"The what?
"The pesthouse Clyde's Joint. Ain't
he a calamity?"
"In what way?"
"Well. I like silence and quietude
I'm n fool about ray quiet, but Clyde"
He pnused as if In search for suit
able expression. "Well, whenever I
try to sny anything he Interrupts me"
After another pause he went on: "He's
dead sore on this place. too. and
whines around like a litter of pirs He
snys he was misled Into coming up
here and has a bunch he's going to
lose bis bank roll."
"Last night's episode frightened him.
I dare sny."
"Yes. Ever since he got that wallop
on the burr In Seattle a guinea pig
could lick him hand to hand You'd
think that ten thou' he put up was all
the wealth of the Inkers."
"The wenlth of what?"
"Inkers! That's a tribe of rich Mex
leuns. However, I suppose I'd hang
to my coin the same way he does If I
bad a mayonnaise head like his. He's
an awful shine as a business man "
"So he's homesick, eh?"
"Sure! Offered to sell me his stock "
Fraser threw back his bend nnd pare
vent to one of his rare laughs "Ain't
that a rave?"
"Here he comes now." Boyd an
nounced. with a glance out the win
dow. and the next Instant Alton Clyde
entered, a picture of dejection
."Gee! This Is fierce. Isn't It?" tbe
clubman began. Pinging himself Into
the nearest chair "They tell me It's
nil off finally What are yon going
to do?"
"Put tip what fish I can with n short
crew." said Boyd.
"We'll lose n lot of money "
"Probably."
Clyde's tone was querulous as he
continued:
"I'm sorry I ever went Into this
tbln" You bet If I had known as
much In Chicago as I know now
would have hung on to my money aud
stayed at home."
"You knew as much as we did."
Boyd declared curtly.
"Oh. It's all right for you to talk
You haven't risked any coin In the
deal, but I'm a rotten business man
and I'll never mnke my ante back
again If I lose It "
"Pon't whine about it." said Boyd
stiffly "Yon can at least be game
and lose like a man."
"Then we are golns to lose, eh?"
queried Clyde In a scared voice. "I
thought maybe you had a plan l.oo!t
here." he began an Instant later
"Cherry pulled us out ome !efore
Why don't you let her see what she
ran do with Marsh T
Boyd scanned the speaker's face
sharply before speaking.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean she can work him If she
tries, the same way she worked HN
Hard"
"Marsh Isn't in the mood to listen to
arguments. ' bave tried that."
"Who said anything about argn
ments? Yon know what I mean "
"1 don't care to listen to that sort ot
talk."
"Why not? I'm eutltled to have m
say In things." Clyde was growing In
dignant. "I put In $10.0)0 of my own
money and S2.Y000 besides on your as
sura nces. That's $35,000 more tuap
you put up."
"Nevertheless It doesn't give you the
right to Insult the girl."
"Insult her! Bah! You're no fool.
Boyd. Why did IJ 11 1 lard advance that
loan?"
"Because he wanted to, I dare say."
"What's tbe use of keeping that up?
You kuow as well as I do that she
worked biro, and worked him well
She'd do It again if you asked her
She'd do anything for you."
CHAPTER XVL
OYD broke out roughly: "I tell
B
you, I've beard enough of tbat
talk, Alton. Anybody but an
Idiot would know tbat Cherry
is far too good for what you suggest
Aud when you Insult ber you Insult
me."
"Oh, she's good enough." said Clyde.
"They're all good, but not perhaps lu
the way you mean."
"How do you kuow?"
"I don't know, but Fraser does. He's
known her for years. Haven't you
Fraser?" But tbe ud venturer's face was
like wood as tbey turned toward him.
"I don't know nothing." replied
"Flngerless" Fraser, with an admira
ble show of Ignorance.
"Well, Judge for yourself." Clyde
turued again to Emerson. "Who Is
she? Where did she come from? What
Is she doing bere alone? Answer thai.
Now, she's Interested In this deal Just
as much as any of us. and If you dou't
ask her to take a baud I'm going to
put It up to ber myself."
"You'll do nothing of the sort!" Boyd
cried savagely . . , ,
Clyde rose hastily, and his voice was
shaking wltb excitement as be stain
mered: '
"See here, Boyd, you're to blame for
this trouble, und now you either get us
out of It or buy my stock "
"You kuow that 1 taut buy yout
stock."
"Then I'll sell wherever I can. I've
been stung, and I want my money
Only, remember, I offered the stock to
you first."
"You've got a swell chance to r.v':
a turn In Kalvlk." said Fraser. "Why
don't you take it to Marsh?"
"1 will!" declared Alton.
"You wouldn't do u trick lllie that?"
Emerson quest loned quickly
"Why not? You won't listen to my
advice. You're playing with other peo
ple's money, nnd It doesn't matter to
you whether you win or lose. If this
enterprise falls I suppose you can pro
mote another."
"Get out!" Boyd ordered. In such a
tone that the speaker obeyed with ludl
crous haste '
"Did you know Cherry before you
came to Knlvlk?" Boyd asked, search
ing his companion's face with a look
the man could not evade.
"Only casual."
"Where?"
"Nome the year of the big rush."
"During the mining troubles, eh?"
"Sure."
"What was she doing?"
"Minding her busluess. She's good ut
tbat" Fraser's eyes had become green
and fishy, as usual.
"What do you know about her?"
"Well, I know that n lot of fellows
would 'go through" for her at the drop
of a bat She could bave most any
thing they've got, I guess. Most any
of them miners at Nome would give
bis right eye or bis only child, or any
little thing like that If she asked It"
"What else?"
"Well, she was always considered a
right good looking party"
"Yes, yes: of course. But what do
you know about the girl herself? Who
Is she? Whnt Is her history?"
"Now, sir. I'm an awful poor detec
tive," confessed "Flngerless" Fraser.
"I've often noticed that about myself.
If I was the kind that goes snooping
around Into other people's business,
listening to all the gossip I'm told. I'd
mnke a good witness. But I ain't. No.
sir! I'm a rotten witness."
Despite this Indirect rebuke. Boyd
might have continued his questioning
bad not George Bait's heavy step
sounded outside. A moment later the
big fellow entered.
"Whnt did you find at the Irnps?"
asked Emerson eagerly.
'.'Nothing." George spoke shortly.
"The fish struck In this morning, but
our trap Is corked." He wrenched off
his rubber boots nnd Dung them sav
agely under a bench.
"What luck with thp boats?"
"Not much, lladi'i moil nre Irvine
to surround our gl'l netters. and' we
ain't got enough loats to protect our
selves" He looked up meaningly from
under his heavy brows Hnd Inquired.
"How much, limcer are we coins to
stand for this?"
"What do you mean? I've got men
out hunting for new hands."
"You know whnt I menn." the srlant
rumbled. hU red eyes flaming. "You
and I can get Willis Marsh."
Emerson shot a quick glance at Fra
ser, who was staring fixedly at Big
George.
"He's got us right enough, and It's
bound to come to a killing some day.
so the sooner the better." the fisher
man ran on. "We can get blni toutgbt
If you say so. Are you In on It?"
Boyd faced tbe window slowly, while
tbe others followed him wltb anxious
eyes. Inside tbe room a deathlike si
lence settled.
Moreover. Mildred Wayland was soon
to arrlvo the yacht was expected
dally and she would find him a fail
ure. What was worse, she would find
that Marsh had vanquished him. She
would turn elsewhere perhaps to the
very man who bad contrived bis un
doing. At thought of this a sort of
desperation seemed to master him; be
began to mutter aloud.
"What did you say?" queried Bait
"I Bald that you are right The time
Is close at band for some sort of a
reckoning." answered Boyd in a harsh,
strained voice.
"Good!"
Emerson was upon the polut of turn
ing when his eyes fell upon a picture
tbat made him start, then gnze more
intently. Out upon the placid waters,
abreast of the plant, the launch la
which Cherry had departed was ap
proaching, nnd it was loaded down
with men. Not only were they crowd
ed upou the craft Itself, but trailing
behind It like the tall of a kite was a
long line of canoes, and these also
were peopled,
"Look yonder!" cried Boyd.
"What?"
"Cherry hns got a crew!" His voice
broke, and he b6lted toward the door
as Big George leaped to the window.
"Injuns!" wildly shouted the giant
and without stopping to stump bis feet
Into his boots he rushed out bu re foot
after Boyd nnd Fraser. Together the
three men reached the dock In time to
help Cherry up the ladder.
"What does this mean?" Boyd asked
her breathlessly. "Will these fellows
work?"
"That's what they're here for." said
the girl. After her swarmed a crowd
of slant eyed, copper bued Aleuts.
These In the kyaks astern cast off and
paddled toward the beach.
"I've fifty men, tho best on the
river. I tried to get more, but there
aren't any more."
"Flngerless" Fraser slapped himself
resoundingly upon the thigh and ex
ploded profanely. Boyd seized tbe
girl's bands in bis and wrung them.
"Cherry, you're a treasure!" The
memory of his desperate resolution of
a moment before swept over him sud
denly nnd his voice trembled wltb a
great thankfulness.
"Don't thank me!" Cherry ex
claimed. "It was more Constantlne's
work than mine."
"But I don't understand These are
Marsh's men "
"To be sure, but I wns good to them
when they were hungry last winter,
and I prevailed upou them to como.
They aren't very good fishermen
They're awful la,zy and they won't
work half as bard as white men, but
It's the best I could do." She laughed
gladly, more than repaid by the look In
her companion's face. "Now get me
some lunch. I'm fairly starved."
Big George, when he bad fully
grasped tbe situation, became the boss
fisherman on the instant. Before thn
others hnd reached the cookhouse ho
wns busied lu laying out his crews nnd
distributing his genr. The Impor Ible
bnd happened; victory was lu sight:
the fish were running. He enred to
know no more.
That night the floors of the fish dock
groaned beneath a weight of sliver
sided salmon piled waist high to a tall
man. All through the cool, dim lit
hours the rnnks of Chinese butchers
hacked and silt and slashed wltb swift,
sure, tireless strokes, while the grent
building echoed hollowly to the clank
of machines and the hissing sighs of
the soldering furnaces.
It seemed to Boyd that he hnd never
felt such elation as during the days
that followed. He trod upon air; his
head was In the clouds. He joked wltb
bis men. Inspiring them with his own
good humor and untiring energy. He
was never Idle save during the odd
hours that be snatched for sleep.
While the dally output was disap
pearing. Emerson drew consolation
from the prospect that his pack would
be large enough at least to avert utter
ruin.
Up at the trust's hendqunrters Willis
.Marsh was In a One fury. As far as
possible his subordinates avoided him.
On the third day after Boyd's dellv
cranco Constuntlne sought him out In
company with several of the nntlve
fishermen, translating their demand to
he paid for the fish they hnd caught.
"Cnu't thoy wait until tbe end of the
week?" Emerson Inquired.
"No! They got no money they got
no grub. 2'hcr jn little baby Is hun
gry, nnd they like money now. So soon
they buy grub, they work some more."
"Very well. Here's nn order on the
bookkeeper."
Boyd tore a lenf from bis notebook
and wrote a few words on It. telling
the men to present It at tbe ofilco. As
Constnntlne was about to leave be
called to him:
"Walt! I want to talk with you."
The breed halted.
"How. long have you known Mr.
Marsh 7
"Me know him long time."
"Do you like hlra?"
A flicker ran over the fellow's cop
pery face as he replied:
"Yes H!m good man."
"You used to work for him, did yon
not V
"Yes "
"Why did you qultr
Constamine hes tated slightly befon
answering, "Me go work for Cherry."
"Why?"
"She good to my little broder. You
savvy little cUU'ren so big?"
"Yes, I've seen him. He's a fine lit
tle fellow. By tbe way, do you re
member that night about two weeks
ago when 1 was at Cherry's house
the night you and your sister went
out?"
"I 'member."
"Where did you go?"
Constantino shifted bis walrus soled
boots. "What for you ask?"
"Never mind! Where did you go
when you left tbe bouse?"
"Me go Indian village. What for
you ask?"
"Nothing. Only if you ever have
any trouble with Mr. Marsh 1 may be
able to belp you. I like you, and I
don't like him."
Tbe breed grunted unintelligibly and
was about to leave when Boyd reached
WITH 4 BTARTLKD CRT, CONSTANTINS
WHIRLED. HIS FACB CONVULHKD.
forth suddenly and plucked the fel
low's sheath knife from its scabbard.
With a startled cry, Constantino whirl
ed, bis face convulsed, bis nostrils
dilated like those of a frightened
horse.
But Emerson merely fingered the In
dian's weapon carelessly, remarking:
"Tbat Is a curious knife you have.
I have noticed It several times."
ne eyed him shrewdly for a moment,
then banded tbe blade back with
smile. Constantino slipped It Into Its
place and strode away without a word.
It was considerably later in tbe day
when Boyd discovered the Indians to
whom he hnd given the note talking
excitedly on the dock. Seeing Constan
tine In argument with them, be ap
proached to demand an explanation,
whereupon the quarter breed held out
a sliver dollar In his palm with the
words:
"These men say this money no good.
"Whnt do you mean?"
"It no good. No can buy grub at
company store."
It was evident tbat even Constan
tino wns vaguely distrustful.
Another native extended a coin, say
Ing:
"We want money like this."
Boyd took the piece and examined It,
whereupon a light broke upon him.
The coin was stamped wltb tbe Initials
of one of tbe old fishing companies,
and he instantly recognized a ruse
practiced In the north during the dnys
of the first trading concerns, it hod
been the custom of these companies to
pay their Indians In coins bearing
their own Impress and to refuse all
other specie at their posts, thus com
pelling the ur.tives to trade at com
pany stores. Seeing that his words
carried uo conviction. Emerson gave
up at Inst, saying:
"If the company stole won't take tbe
mouey I'll sell you whatever you need
from tho coiumUsary. We are not go
Ing to have uny trouble over a little
thing like this."
He marched the natives In a body to
tbe storehouse, where he saw to it that
they received what provisions they
needed aud Assisted them In loading
their canoes.
But his amusement at the episode
gave way to uneasiness ou tho follow
lug morning when tho Aleuts failed to
report for work, and by uoon his anx
lety resolved Itself Into strong sus
plclon.
Bait had returned from the banks
earlier lu the morning with news of a
struggle between bis white crew and
Marsh's men. George's boats had been
surrounded during the night, nets had
been cut and several encounters had
occurred, resulting In serious Injury to
bis men. - The giant, lu no amiable
mood, hud returned for re-enforcements,
stating that the situation was becom
ing more serious every hour. Hearing
of the desertion of the natives, he
burst Into profanity, then armed him
self and returned to the banks, while
BojiILpq'w thoru'ichlvalarme(l. took a
launch and sped up the river to Cher
ry's bouse In the hope that she could
prevail upon her own recruits to re
turn. He found the girl ready to accom
pany him, and they were about to em
bnrk when Chakawana came running
from tho house as If In sudden fright
"Where you go?" she asked her mis
tress. "1 am going to tho Indian village.
You stay here."
"No, tin! i ii i i;i r.ere alone. go
lone too" She iat a glance over her
boulder
"But. Chakawana. what Is the nut-
ier? Are von afraid?"
'Yes" Chakawana nodded her pret-
t.v head vlirnronslv.
"What are you afraid of?" ftovd
asked, but she merely stared at him.
with eyes as black and round as or
heart cherries, then renewed hr en
treaty. When she had received per
mission and had hurried back to the,
bouse her -mistress remarked, with a
puzzled frown:
" don't know what to make of her.
She and Constantino have been acting
very strangely of late. She used to b
the happiest sort of creature, alwaja
laughing and singing, but she has
changed entirely during the last few
weeks. Both she aud Constantlne ara
forever whispering to each other and ,
skulking about until I am getting
nervous myself." Then, as the Indian,
girl came flying back with her tiny
baby brother In ber arms. Cherry add
ed: "She's pretty. Isn't she? I can't
bear ugly people around me."
At the native village. In spite ot
every effort she and Boyd could make.
the Indians refused to go back to
work.
"Since they can't use your money at
tbe store, they don't seem to cart
whether It Is good or not" Cherry an
nounced after a time. "Oh, but tt's
mnddenlng!" She stamped her foot
angrily. "And I was so proud of my
work. I thought I had really done
something to belp at last But I don't
know what more we can do. I've
reached the end of my rope."
'So hnve I," he confessed "Even
with those fifty Aleuts we weren't run
ning at more than half capacity, but
we were making a showing at least
Now!" lie flung up his hands In, a
gesture of despair. "George la In
trouble, as usual. March's men have
cut our nets, and the yacht may ar
rive at any time."
"Tho yucht! Whnt yacht r
"Mr. Wayland's yacht He Is mak
ing a tour of this coast with the other
ofllcers of the trust and Mildred."
"Is is she coming here?" demanded
Cherry In a strained voice.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't know; I didn't think you
would be Interested."
"So she can't wait? She Is so eager
tbat she follows you from Chicago
clear up Into this wilderness. Then
you won't need my assistance any
more, will you?" Her lids drooped,
bntf hiding her eyes, and her face
bnrdened
"Of course I shall need your help.
Her coming won't make any differ
ence." "It strikes me tbat you have allowed
me to make a fool of myself long
enough," said Cherry angrily. "Here
I have been breaking my heart over
this enterprise, while you bave known
all the time tbat she was coming
Why, you have merely jtsed me and
George, and all the rest of us, for that
matter." She laughed harshly.
"You don't understand," said Boyd.
"Miss Wayland"-
"Oh, yes, I do. I dare say it will grat
ify ber to straighten out your troubled.
A word from her lips and your worrttw
will vnnlsb like a mist Let us ac
knowledge ourselves beaten and beg
her to save us."
Boyd shook his head In negation, but
she gave him no time for speech.
"It seems that you wanted to pose at
a hero before her and employed us to
build up your triumph. Well, I act
glad we failed; I'm glad Willis Marsh
showed you bow very helpless you are.
Let her come to your rescue now. I'm
through. Do you understand? I'm
through!"
Emerson gazed at her lu astonish
ment, the outburst had been so unex
pected, but be realized that he owed
her too much to take offense.
"Miss Waylnnd will take no band I t
my affairs. 1 ikubt if she will even
realize what this trouble Is all about."
he said, a trifle stlllly. "I suppose I
did want to play the hero, and I dar
say I did use you and the others, bur
you knew that all the time."
"Why won't she help you?" queried
Cherry. "Doesn't she care enoug i
about you? Doesn't she know enoug
to understand your plight?"
"Yes, but this Is my fight and IV
got to make good without ber assist
ance Sho Isn't the sort to marry a
failure, and she has left me to mat;
my own way. Besides, she would tu-r
dare go contrary to her father's wish.
even If she desired. That Is part of b
education. Oh, Wayne Wayland's op
position Isn't all I have bad to ovi .
come. I have bad to show bis daugh
ter that I am oue of her own kind, Le
slie hates weakness."
"And you think that woman Iovh
you! Why, she Isn't a wotnun at
She doesn't know what love meant
When a woman loves, do you lmngik
she cares for money or fame tr sue
cess? If I cured for a man do j,
think I'd stop to nsl; i it v father I:
might mnrry hlui or wait for my lovr
to prove himself worthy of me? )u
you think I'd send him through th
bell you have suffered to try hi
metal?" S' 'hed onrlght. "Wh-.
I'd fi; '
I'd become what he was, anu
wltb him. I'd give him all I had
money, position, friends. Influence,
nay people cldT'L I i tnli
hang. I'd give them up and Join b
I'd use every dollar, every wile a
feminine device that I possessed. -
his service. When a woman loves s
doesn't core what the world snys. ",
man may be a weakling or worse, I t
he Jo still her lover, and she will go
him."
The words had como tumbling frV
until Cherry wns forced to pause for
breath.