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Aft v 1 The I Shadow 1 :| of the i| I Sheltering I I Pines jjj A New Romance of the $ Storm Country >j 1 GRACE MILLER WHITE I YV . C<jpyrUht by the H. K. Fly Company. 5YNUHS>I5>. CHAPTER I.?Lonely and almost friendless, Tonnibel Devon, living on a canal boat, child of a brutal father and a wornout, discouraged mother, wanders into a Salvation army hall at Ithaca, N. Y. There she meets a young Salvation army captain, Philip MacCauley. CHAPTER II.?Uriah Devon, Tony's father, returns to the boat from * a protracted "spree," and announces he has arranged for Tony to marry a worthless companion of his, Reginald Brown. Mrs. Devon objects, and Uriah beats her. She Intimates there is a secret connected with TonnibeL CHAPTER III.?In clothes that Uriah has brought Tony finds a baby's picture with a notification of a reward for its return to a Doctor Pendlehaven. She goes to return the picture. CHAPTER IV.?With the Pendlehavens, a family of wealth, live Mrs. Curtis, a cousin, her son and daughter, Katherine Curtis and Reginald Brown. Katherine is deeply in love with Philip MacCauley. CHAPTER V.?Tonnibel returns the picture to Doctor John, and learns it belongs to his brother, Dr. Paul Pendlehaven. It is a portrait of Doctor Paul's child, who had been stolen in her infancy, and her loss has wrecked Doctor Paul's life. Doctor John goes with Tony to the canal boat and ministers to Mrs. Devon while she is unconscious. CHAPTER VI.?Returning to conscious- | ness. Mrs. Devon is informed by Tony of her visitor. She is deeply agitated, makes Tony swear she will never tell of Devon's brutality* and disappears. CHAPTER VII.?Tony's personality and her loneliness appeal to Doctor John and he arranges to take her into his house as a companion to his invalid brother. CHAPTER VHI.?Tony's presence in the house has a good effect on Doctor Paul. He begins to take a new interest In life. Visiting the canal boat, Tony finds Reginald Brown there. He attempts to kiss her. Captain MacCauley appears and throws the man into the lake. Uriah Devon orders MacCauley off his boat CHAPTER IX.?With the girl a captive Devon insists that she shall marry Brown. On her persistent refusal he beats her brutally, throws her into the cabin, un- j moors the boat, a.nd starts to leave Ithaca. MacCauley follows in his canoe. He takes the girl into the canoe through ^ the cabin window. The men believe Tony has committed suicide. MacCauley declares his love, and Tony acknowledges she returns it. The girl returns to the Pendlehaven home. ; CHAPTER X.?At dinner in the Pendle-. haven home MacCauley, not knowing of her presence in the house, meets Tony, and his affectionate greeting alarms Katherine and her mother. / f ?. CHAPTER XIII. Good for Evil. That night for dinner, five people Bat about the Pendlehaven table. Reggie, pale and miserable looking, sat next to his mother, and Philip MacCauley was opposite Doctor John. i Katherine, silent and morose, was at her own place. She had heard her mother's version of the afternoon's happening in amazement and anger, and it only added to her discontent to hear Cousin John tell the tale to Philip. "Sarah thinks." went on the doctor, "that we should have tamely given her up without a word to?to that brute!" "I can't see how you can keep a man's child from him, Cousin John," excysed Mrs. Curtis, a dull red mounting to each high cheekbone. Pendlehaven laughed. "She wouldn't have been much use to him in prison, my dear Sarah," was his answer. "What're you talking about?" demanded Reggie, turning red-rimmed eyes on his mother. "Your Cousin John insists on keeping the daughter of a man named Devon in the house here when her father wants her home," shp replied. Reggie's face grew a misty gray. " *-* " ^~ "JL>evon, ne repeaitm uin:iiaun.aiv, "I didn't know we had any such girl here!" "She's always with Cousin Paul," remarked Katherine, with a sidelong glance at Philip. "It does seem satisfying, though, to know who she Is. Mother says she comes of common stock." MacCauley's face grew dark, and Pendlehaven cast a glance of anger at his young cousin. "Both Kathie and I," began Mrs. Curtis. "Why, Reggie, my darling, I never saw you look so sick in my life!" "Aw, cut it!" growled the boy, unsteadily. "Toll me what became of the girl's father." "He's going to jail for a nice long ' ' > -L .. . > T rest,'' mierjecieu i'enuiena\t*:i. n seems he was mixed up in a theft In Syracuse." Reginald got up from the table. "I don't want anything more to eat," he growled, as his mother started to remonstrate with him. "I'm going to bed." When he got upstairs, h* looked at himself in the glass. How white and thin he had grown! He looked as if he had died and was trying to come to life .again, ,He was frightened alv ~ ** * most "out-of his ~wits too. Then Tonnibel Devon really was in the house. It hadn't heen her ghost that had thrown him bodily from the window sill after all. Uriah, knowing that, had come and made a demand for his daughter and had been arrested. Perhaps he would be arrested also, and for a crime worse than stealing. Had the girl mentioned the fact of his trying ! to poison Paul Pendlehaven? If she hadn't, would she? When Mrs. Curtis came in to ask how he felt, he was crumpled in a big chair, shaking as If he had been attacked with ague. "My goodness, Reggie, you look "My Goodneses, Reggie, You Look Awful." awful," she said, coming to his side. 'Tell me, child, what's the matter?" "There's matter enough," faltered the boy. "If you don't want me arrested like that man today, then give me some money to get out with." He dropped his head, and for a mo ment she stood staring at him. Then her mother-heart relaxed, and she sank beside his chair. "Darling," she crooned, "d?rling boy, go to your Cousin John and tell him all about it. He will forgive you and help you?" The boy bounded up, maddened beyond endurance. "Great God," he cried, "he'd 'box me up for ten years! No, no, you've got to help me get away from Ithaca. I must have money!" "Wait," said Mrs. Curtis, and she hurried from the room. When she appeared before Doctor John in his office, he arose hastily. "What's the matter, Sarah?" he asked. "John," she entreated, forgetting to raise her handkerchief to wipe away her tears. "I must have some money tonight. A lot of it!" "For F.eggie?" boomed forth Penddlehaven. "Yes, he's sick, aDd I want to send .3./w f . t. hlm avay, John. Oh'! You can't refuse me this, you simply can't." "Going away doesn't seem to help your son any, as I see," answered the doctor. "He might better stay home. Wait till I tell you something, Sarah," he went on with a wave of his hand to stop her plea. "You are ruining that boy. Three-quarters of the time you don't know where he Is, and lie drinks like a fish." The woman knew what her cousin said was true; but the money she had to have. lret she dared not confess . what made it necessary. "But this time, John," she wept brokenly, "he'll go to a place I send him. He's promised he would. John, you must help me." Pendlehaven sat down and took up ' the book he had been reading. "I refuse to hand out any more money for that boy," said he. "Let him stay awhile, Sarah, and see how that works out. . . . No. no, there's no use of your begging me, I refuse absolutely." Mrs. Curtis fled away almost distracted. If she should see her son taken to prison like Devon had been that afternoon, it would kill her. And how could she face him without a means to help him escape! If she could only gain admission to Cousin Paul! He had always been the more tender headed of the two. For n while she walked up and down her room, wringing her hands. She was in a state of terrible anxiety when Katherine came in. "He's got to go," repeated Mrs. Curtis, after she had told the whole story to her daughter. "He says he'll be arrested if he doesn't and has made me promise not to tell John. Oh, if I could only get to Paul." "No one but that girl is allowed near him," flashed back Katherine. "By John's orders," supplemented Mrs. Curtis. Katherine's lip curled. "Then why not appeal to her, mamma? Perhaps she'd reach the ears of his majesty, the Lord Almighty," said she. "Oh, Katl-ie, don't be horrid," sobbed her mother. "You know very well I couldn't ask him through her." "Then what . ill you do?" demanded the girl. "You say Cousin John won't help Rege. and you refuse to ask the girl to ask Cousin Paul. Then what will you do?" "You ask her, Kathie," said MfcS? Curtis, in coaxing tones. Katherine tossed her head. "You've got a nerve to send me to her for anything," she shot back; ^ will not!" Mrs. Curtis came forward with trembling footsteps. "Not for your brother's sake? Oh, Kathie, do!" "No, I won't," said the girl. "So just don't ask me. Reggie's not my i son. _and I haven't any sympathy for him." "With that she" made for tEe door and was gone. I For over an hour the anguished mother walked up and down. Then , as if she had at last reached a con-| elusion, she went to the servants' : quarters. There she sent the maid to ask Tonnibel to come out to Doctor , Paul's conservatory for a minute. Tony silently stared at the white woman when they came face to face. I Mrs. Curtis swallowed her pride, gulp- 1 ing at the lumps that rose in her j throat. "I'm sorry about this afternoon, Miss Devon," she said. "I really didn't understand." Tonnibel thought In a flash that Mrs. Curtis must have gotten religion ; nothing but a softening of j heart could account for the apology. ; "Never mind," sne choked. "I'm ! . awfully sorry about my daddy, but if he will be bad, then I suppose be must go to jail." This statement renewed the dread in Mrs. Curtis' heart about her son. "Could you take a message to my Cousin Paul for me?" she ventured. "What is it?" asked Tonnibel, thickly. "My son is 111," Mrs. Curtis ex- ! plained tearfully, "and he must go away. I haven't any money, but if Paul knew about it he'd help me. Will you ask him?" Tony thought a minute. "Not tonight!" she replied. "Mebbe Doctor John?" "No, he hates my son," the other cried passionately. "Oh, you mustn't say anything to him about it." Tonnibel Devon was awfully tempted to refuse the haughty woman who had pulled her around by the hair only that afternoon. But she re-1 membered Philip, remembered his love for her, and relented. "Come along back tomorrow morn- j Ing, and mebbe I can get you some," ! she answered, walking away. Then over her shoulder she flung back, "I'll try, anyhow-." With this last statement Mrs. Cur-j tis had to be satisfied. Reggie suffered dreadfully the night through, his mother sitting at his bedside. Tony Devon also had been awake most of the night. In the morning after breakfast, she set about gather- j ing courage to approach Doctor Paul, j With Gussie Piglet in her arms, she sat down beside him, and now the minute was there to speak, Tony didn't know how t? begin. But to begin meant to begin, Tony had learned, so she coughed and blurted: "Your cousin, Mrs. Curtis, is kind I of pretty, ain't she?" "She would be if she didn't cry so; much," responded Doctor Paul. This gave Tony the opening she j wanted. ? "Her boy's awful sick, so she says," j she broke out, "that's why she cries. If he don't go away, he'll die, mebbe." The lovely gray eyes grew darker as they searched his, and Doctor Paul leaned over and looked keenly at her. "Did Cousin Sarah ask you to come to me. little girl?" he questioned In a , kindly tone. Tonnibel nodded. "She says Doctor John don't like her boy, and mebbe you'd help her," said the girl, blushing. The man considered the red face a j moment. "Would it please you to have me j - - - - 9 _ li help her and him?" he then queneu. : "I should think you'd be the last per- i son to ask that. My brother told me ! 1 she's always very unkind to you." "She don't know any better," re- ; < plied Tony. "She's never learned j what lovin' awful hard means, and i 1 mebbe ?he's so worried over her boy | she's got to be horrid to some one." Paul Pendlehaven laughed, then he j ,( grew grave. "Perhaps that's it. Now j do"you think you could find my cousin and bring her here?" 1 Tonnibel looked at him doubtfully. 1 "She might make you nervous," she said dubiously. "I don't think so," replied the doctor, smiling. "I'm so much better. We won't speak of this to John, and I j , won't get nervous." He made the j last promise because the girl's face j ( was troubled and anxious. I Tonnibel nodded and hurried out. She knew which room Mrs. Curtis oc- . cupped and sought the other wing of ( the house. When she knocked at the door, a woman's voice called a low: ] "Come in i" Tony stepped inside and, turning, < shut the door before she took a sur vey of the room. When she did, she ] almost fainted. Reggie Brown, the awful man she had known in the canalboat days, the man who had dropped the poison into Paul Pendle- ] haven's medicine, was seated very near Mrs. Curtis, and Katherine was < by the window, wearing a very bored i expression. An exclamation came from each one of the three as the girl faced , them, looking as if she were ready to collapse. "You didn't get the money then, girl," demanded Mrs. Curtis, sharply. "Reggie dear, I didn't tell you last night, but your Cousin John refused me when I asked him for help, and I had to reach Paul through?" Tony's- eyes were on Reginald, who was crouching lower in his chair. Her forward, staggering step broke off the speaker's explanation. "You want the money for him?" she cried, pointing a tinger toward . the cringing boy. Mrs. Curtis nodded. "Yes, he's my son," she answered. Tony drew a long breath, letting it hiss out through her teeth. "If he's your son, ma'am," she said i falteringly, "then you got a murderer > for a son. lie tried?he tried to I poison Doctor Paul." Mrs. Curtis got up slowly, a cold rage rising in _her_jpale__eyes. Kath-' eiTne came forward to her "mother's siil*1. hut Reginald remained silent. "You lie," snarled Mrs. Curtis. "I don't lie," cried Tony, hoarsely. "I don't lie, either. Look at him, and see if he ain't guilty. He did put poison in Doctor Phil's medicine, and I pushed him off the window. But I didn't know he was your son." By forcing her eyes around, the mother caught sight of her boy. "Reggie," she screamed, "for God's love, don't look that way. Why don't you tell the huzzy she lies! Tell her you'll go to your cousins and let them know of her accusations. I'll go myself!" She darted across the room, but Reginald's husky voice called her back. "Don't do that," he walled. "Don't do it, mater! What she says is true. I did exactly that thing. I?I tried to kill Cousin Paul." Mrs. Curtis sank down with a groan, and Katherine uttered a cry. "I thought you wanted me to, mater," went on the boy, wearily. "1 thought you said, if he died, we'd get money?" "But, my God, I didn't want you to kill him," moaned Mrs. Curtis. "I didn't," said Reggie. "But you tried," thrust in Tonnibel. "And you've told my cousins, eh?'' he asked hopelessly. "No, I didn't," denied Tony. "] 'spose mebbe I would have, but 1 didn't know you belonged here. ] knew you used to steal with mj daddy and do all sorts of wicked things?" Mrs. Curtis cried out again. "But I didn't know you'd try to kill a poor sick man," Tony went on, "and then send your ma to get money ??i him." "Y )r7, tell hfm, I know yon will ron terrible girl," screamed Katharine no longer able to restrain herself. "You Want the Money for Him?" She Cried. Tonnlbel thougnt quickly. CoubIx) Paul Pendlehaven lived in the house with an enemy who had tried to take his life. This same enemy had tried to destroy her, toe. "You said he was going away?" she questioned Mrs. Curtis presently. "Didn't you?" "If I get money," put in Reggie, drearily, "I will." "Doctor Paul wants to see you, ma'am," said Tonnibel, her dark gray eyes fixed on the woman, "and if he goes," she pointed at Reginald, "and stays a long time, I'll* keep mum. See?" Completely overlooking Katherine, Tony ran out of the room. The next clay she didn't look up when she heard Doctor John tell Doctor Paul that Reginald had left Ithaca. When she peeped at Doctor Paul, he smiled at her. CHAPTER XIV. A Will Is Changed. The two years that had passed since Tony Devon had entered the Pendlehaven home, the greater part of which she had spent in school, had brought about many changes. Paul Pendlehaven had taken his place nmong the world's workers, but this does not say that he did not still long for the child who had gone from nis life eighteen years before. Mrs. Curtis was no nearer giving Cousin John to Katherine as a father than she ever had been, and Ithaca had caught no sight of Reginald Brown since he had fled from it with the notion that he might follow Uriah Devon behind the prison bars. Philip had carried on his wonderful work, living in the joyous letters he received from Tony and spending his spare time in answering them. One morning Tony came to Paul Pendlehaven, smiling and blushingly girlish, and he motioned her to a little stool at his feet. "Darling," he began in a moved tone, "I sent for you because I've come to perhaps the most important decision of my whole life." Tony glanced up at him wonderingly. He appeared solemnly sober and lnnf-prl ns if he hadn't slept. "If it affects me, Cousin Paul, it can't be greater than the one you made over two years ago when you tcnk poor little me into your home," she asserted. His hand fell lovingly upon her curly head as though in benediction. They both lapsed into a Ions silence, the girl's dreamy eyes fixed on space, and the man gazing at her shining head. "Tony," he ejaculated at length. There was something in his voice as he pronounced her name that dispelled her revery instantly. "Yes," she breathed. "Yes, what is it?" Pendlehaven cleared his _throat. "I would never have believed that anyone could have wormed her way into my heart as you have," he told her. "How would?how would you like me for your father?" Tony tried to speak but, seeing he had something else to add, waited expectantly. "Once, as you know," went on the doctor, "I had a little girl of my own, but the years have been so long and so many since she was taken away, I feel I shan't have her again in this world." Tony's dark head dropped against his knee in silent sympathy. "Could you think of me as your father, dear?" he said after an emotionsilence. "T'rri not fit for thnt " aicrhofl nPrwrnr * *** JL. V/il J ? "No, no, not that. I come from people who are not your kind, Cousin Paul. You know that! Everybody does! Then I'm not so good as you think I am. First of all I haven't always told you the truth." "So my brother told me," remarked Doctor Paul. "Long ago he took me into his confidence about the pelson i? my medicine. I've watched you foi two years, Tony, and it seems to me that I know every secret of your soul. I'm sure you love me, dear child. I'm going to adopt you legally for my daughter. After this I'm your father, and I give warning to my Captain; MacCauley that if he tries to take you j from me, he's going to have some fight on his hands. From now on, I'm not Cousin Paul. I am?what?" "My father," gulped Tony. "It | seems as if I couldn't stand so much ; happiness. And if you're ray father, ] that makes Cousin John?" "Your uncle," laughed a voice from! the door. "So Paul has told you, has he, little girl? Well, Tony, you' wouldn't have slept & wink one night if you'd heard our argument about j you. We spent several hours wran-! gling which of us should adopt you. I said I should because I saw you first,; r.^,-1 Dn,ll " auu t aui? "Has the prior right because you saved me, Tony," interrupted Paul, j "Now I think the family had better know of our changed arrangements." | Paul Pendlehaven acted as spokes-1man when Mrs. Curtis and her daugh-' ter, Katherine, had been summoned to r the library. He told them very gravely that as his will now stood, his brother, John, and his cousin. Sarah, were the beneficiaries of it. Mrs. Curtis smiled at him and arranged the lace ruffies around her neck. "You've always been most generous, Paul dear," she simpered. "Hut now," went on the doctor, paving no heed to the lady's remark, "our household's going to have a mistress." . Katherine lifted her chin from the palm of her hand, and Mrs. Curtis j straightened up. Were her ambitions . going to be realized after all? Was it Paul who was going to put her in her rightful place? The smile broad- i ened on her lips, and she sank ba'-k with a happy sigh. She had to ad- ! mit Cousin Paul looked very handsome, yes, even handsomer than Cousin John. What a fool she had been not to have caught him soonefc. ! "The woman you put at the head of your home will be most fortunate and happy, dear Paul," she murmured. "I hope so," returned Pendlehaven, and Doctor John pulled at the corners of his mouth to keep back a malicious grin. "I'm going to adopt Tony Devon?" Doctor Paul had only time enough to make this statement when Mrs. Curtis jumped to her feet. "You couldn't do that!" she cried. "That would be wicked, Paul, abso- ; lutely wicked! Oh God, don't do that!" Without heeding in the slightest his cousin's bitter ejaculation, Paul Pen- t dlehaven picked up a box that lay at j his elbow. With much ceremony he opened it and took out an exquisite pearl necklace. j "I do not need to remind any of ' you," he said, turning his eyes from his brother to his two white-faced cousins, "that these belonged to my j dear wife. I have always considered them the property of her daughter too. That is the reason, Katherine, why I've always refused your request ! to wear them. But now I have a daughter." He turned smiling eyes upon Tonnibel. "I shall allow her to wear them whenever she wishes, and If?if her lost sister isn't found, then they are hers?hers forever." A long hissing breath broke from Sarah Curtis, and a gasp came from Katherine. "I couldn't wear them," Tony got ! ?-> + "T cnm-nltr prmlfln'f" M WUl ai ICUglll} X oiujjyij vvu>uu V? "Not to please me, your father, Tonnibel?" demanded Paul, almost : brusquely. "And me. your new uncle?" laughed Doctor John. "Why, honey, little girl," i he reached out and took Tonnibel's hand, "don't look as if you'd lost your last friend!" Then Paul Pendlehaven drew Tonnibel Devon to his side, and, when he had clasped the jewels around her neck, he lifted her face and kissed her. "There, little daughter!" His voice : choked with emotion, but he- conquered his feelings and went on, "they're very lovely, very precious, Tony, doubly so because you're wear- ! ins thorn." "Oil," she exulted, "how happy I am! ... It isn't the pearls, though thev're simply great, but it's that I have some real people." She turned a flushed and radiant face to each man. "Somebody that's my very own. My mother's dead, and my fa tlmr?" "Is in prison," snapped Mrs. Curtis, vindictively. "I'm wondering what he'll say to all this when he comes home." "Ilis opinion won't make any differ- ' ence to us/' Paul Pendlehaven stated coolly. "He has forfeited every right to any claim on Tony." H| "Hideous!" exclaimed Mrs. Curtis, H and "Well, I never," dropped from ^ Katherine. J "And," went on Doctor Paul, re- A lentlessly, for he knew the barbs that AH were being thrust into the souls of his two cousins. "I'm going to change my will in favor of my new daughter IS 11 4 M J T ^ \aliu i limit; iu luvur ui uur young w Salvation Army captain who is going m to marry my new niece," chuckled fl Doctor John. "I guess that's all we B have to say, Paul." 1 In silence Katherine and Mrs. Cur- M tis faded from the room, carrying 11 with them bitter humiliation and I nursing outraged feelings. j "It's all your fault, mamma," scolded Katherine, bursting into tears when mm they were in the seclusion of their own JH apartments. "You've whined and wept jlB jourself right out of Cousin John's BU life, that's what you've done. God, .VH how I hated that girl when I saw Caroline's pearls around her neck!" "What are you doing now?" thrust flag back her mother. "Aren't you crying as if your heart would break? I tell you tears?" Vfl "Oh Lordy, tears! What good do they dc?" came sharply. "Here we B are without a future, without a home! jm That interloper will see we go the moment Paul gets out those papers! 11 Oh, what shall we do?" m "I wish that man?her father, I B mean?was out of jail," mused Mrs. B Curtis. "I really believe he could do Jj something, Katie. Perhaps, Reggie?" A Katherine wiped her eyes with a V sudden movement. i "Mamma, why don't you send for Reggie?" she questioned. "Now, lis- j ten to me. Reggie confided in me M before he left that he really was fond B ^ A AV? wiow-tma m U1 LUAl gill) CXLiU 11 vyII, uipiuuia, x ?v ? thought of a wonderful thing. Send 3 for Reggie, shove the girl under his SM nose every minute. Let him cut Philip V "And perhaps have my son marry 1 that thing," objected the mother curtly. 1 "That thing, as you please to call J Tony Devon, is one of the prettiest and richest young women in this coun- 11 ty," Katherine snapped back. "She's? B heiress to the Pendlehavens, and en- JI gaged to be married to a man who dH owns half the town. Thing, eh? Well, I think she's a little higher up in the j world at this moment than my halfbrother, Reggie, if you want my opinThat night an urgent message from the frantic mother traveled by wire! M to Reginald Curtis, summoning him fl home. H CHAPTER XV. jflj The Last Card. One day some weeks later, Regi* I nald Brown walked rapidly along th B boulevard past the row of squattei 5 shacks. He had received word thai J TTrfnh Devon released from Drlson, 1 would anchor the Dirty Mary near j 1 the Hoghole in her accustomed place. J Devon was on deck when Brown : 9 ran up the gangplank. If "So you came, old top," was Uriahs i | greeting. ."It's good you did; I want , to know what's doinv* A woman came to the door of the cabin and peered out. When she saw . the newcomer, she scowled and went back. "I thought yoti said she was dead," commented Reggie, with a wag of his head toward the spot where the woman had stood. \ * "Well, she ain't! Worse luck!" growled Uriah. "I told that to the kid to make her feel bad. Ede wag willing to be dead for a while, anyhow. What's the news of Tony?" "Oh, she's ft lady now," answered j Reggie, sarcastically. "The Pendle- A havens have sent her to school ever since you went away. My mother tells me Paul Pendlehaven's going to adopt her. And what do you think else?" he demanded. wE "I dunno," grunted the other. "Good ^ God! Don't sit there tearin' me to J - ' * j pieces with curiosity, mre aneaa, and tell me." "She's copped Phil MacCauley," returned Reginald; "Ithaca's snob of a Salvation Army captain, the fellow who threw me in the lake that day, and he's as rich as the Pendlehavens put together." ' \ "Well, he won't get 'er," asserted Uriah, sharply. "I've told you the / ^ girl's rich too. Her father's got J money to burn." "A lot of good that'll do you, Ry," sneered Reggie. "She wouldn't look at the likes of you and Edith. You aren't In her class any more." "Ain't I so?" queried ' Devon, grouchily. "I reckon her hide ain't no tougher nor thicker'n it used to be. ' ^ I'll thump h?11 out of 'er once or twice; I'll show 'er what class she's | In." 1 "V mi *11 ho-iro trt pfltnh hpr hafnra you beat her, won't you, Ry?" Reg- ^ gie inquired tauntingly. "How're you r ' going to get your hands on her? Tell me that, will you?" "Yep, Mr. Mealy-mouth, I will," thrust back Devon. "We ^ot to steal 'er." He clenched his heavy fist and swung it menacingly and suggestively. "What's left of 'er when I'm done with 'er '11 marry you all right. That over, I'll tell 'er who she is, providin* you promise to halve up the stuff with me." i ' "I did promise you once, didn't I?" j / asked Reggie, sulkily, "Of course, I will, but what's the use of dreaming? The Pendlehavens're too much for us. Now that Paul's well, he and John j are a big team, and they worship the ground that girl walks on. You're I i biting off more'n you can chew, Ry. j * You aren't any too strong, you know, j A prison record doesn't help any." JJriah grunted anil followed a ring ' ? -c J ' j| . - - -- - -> *.? --