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About Polk County itemizer. (Dallas, Or.) 1879-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1908)
3 feel that you are a criminal, deserving and doomed to death ?” “1 certainly do." “Very well. Last night t was to all intents a dead man. A benefactor ap • H Y N O r.-fS O P P R E C E D IN G C H A P T E R S I'M w ard T y le r, a young te lle r In th e C ooper'« peared and brought me hack to life Now, N atlo r.a l B unk, is told by th<5 c a sh ie r. RebUwon. if I permit him to die I am a criminal, to go to tin* ra c k tn ii k an.l bet '»n^ th o u sa n d deserving death. H I deserve that death d o lla rs rn a horse n am ed S elim Bay« I will receive my desert. You proposed th e m oney w ith w hich to bet. i^v*irn , T y ler, g o in g to h is lodgings a fte r h an k in g hour«, going in my company, f will go in yours le a rn s th a t h is a c c o u n ts h av e been found one if you persist in going, f have said it.” th o u sa n d sh o rt, w hile R obinson h as rep o rted to th e p re sid e n t. M r. Kills, th a t T y le r had gone Brewster looked at his companion in a w a y u n d e r p lea of sick n ess, a n d la te r had been k n ow n to hav e lo st th e m issin g sum a t tl. t-* '3 silt.ice for a brief period. Then he spoke tra c k . T y ler, feeling th a t c irc u m sta n c e s a re quietly. overw helm !! gly a g a in st him . d e te rm in e s to ta k e “You are a fool,” he said. h is ow n life, lie goes to a ho tel In a su b u rb an v illa g e w rite s som e le tte rs, th e n s ta r ts fo r th e "Even so." riv er. O n th e w ay a s tr a n g e r Joins him and “Do you really mean to per-ist in such fo rces h is a c q u a in ta n c e . H e h as seen an d re c ognized th e y o ung te lle r a t th e tra c k an d d ivined folly?" h is In te n tio n , supposing, of co u rse, th a t h e is "ff such you term it.” foolish an d g u ilty . T he s tr a n g e r confesses h im se lf C h a rles B rew ster, a m an o f w ealth, w ho h as “And render valucles» the sacrifice I becom e e n g ag ed to a lady of his ow n social made in consenting literally to die a sec se t and. la te r, u n d e r a n assu m ed n am e, to a poor sa le sg irl, w ho h a s won h is h e a rt. R a th e r th a n ond time in order to save, not only your face th e o d iu m o f ex p osu re, h e chooses u e a tn an d m a k e s th e fa n ta s tic p ro p osal th a t th e y d ie life, but your honor?" to g e th e r. T y le r ag rees, a n d togeflier. In th e “My honor is saved. You will not m o o n lig h t, th e y w alk to th e riv er. In Tf*«™ fo r B re w ste r's confidences. T y le r n a rra te s th e undo what you have done. My life has c irc u m sta n c e s of w hich he is th e v ictim . A t the been spared thus far that I may make one v e ry b rin k of d e a th B rew ste r, a fte r m a k in g supreme effort to save you. When 1 T y le r sw e a r to th e tru th of h is tale, fo rb id s th e a r t of d e a th , a n d th e y re tu rn to th e hotel. H ere have made that effort, whether successful B re w ste r w rite s a le tte r to th e p re sid e n t o f th e b a n k , in clo sing a check fo r a th o u sa n d d o llars, or not, the worth of your sacrifice has w h ich he In tim a te s w as o v erpaid h im by m istake.* been proved. Last night you insisted on T h is w ill reliev e T y le r from th e c h a rg e of e m bearing me company through the white b ezzlem en t an d b rin g h im buck from d e a th to moonlight to the river. When all was life B rew ste r, h ow ever, p e rsists In his ow n d e te rm in a tio n to die. Tylei; striv e s d e sp era te ly ready you proposed half an hour’s wait. w ith him . se e k in g to sa v e th e life of th e m an w ho h a s sa v e d h is ow n. He p e rsu a d e s B rew ste r I assented. Then you proposed still to ta k e b ra n d y to ste a d y h is n e rv e s a n d su cceed s further delay. Now I propose that next in re n d e rin g him In to x icated . In th is con ditio n B rew ste r is fo rced to go to bed. w hile re ta in in g Saturday night we again walk to the fu ll co n tro l o f h is m e n ta l fa c u ltie s a n d p e rsist river at midnight. The moon will be ing in h is d e te rm in a tio n to a c t a s aoon a s th e shining them.” effects o f th e in to x ic a n t h a v e gone. “But it might be raining! Ugh!'' HE gray light of morning had “Then wc will go far away and await come, the newsdalear had ar another night such as last. But if in that rived with his bulky Sunday time I can lay before you proofs—you to papers, the village was astir with be the judge—that you can happily and tile life, drowsy and slow, which betokens honorably live, you will not refuse to do the morning of the day of rest. Tyler so?" moved to and fro upon the sidewalk in “Of course I would not. But what ceaseless vigil. At last he went up to you mention is absurdly impossible.” Brewster’s room and knocked at the door. “Nevertheless, it is my only chance for Brewster, half feverish, half stupid life. I ask you, in view of that fact, to from the effects of his recent intoxica agree to next Saturday night." tion, opened the door. He had not un “What do you intend to do5” dressed when going to the room. "I hardly know. But I w ilt do nothing “What do you want?" he asked, irri which is not honorable, place you in no tably. false light, tell no lies. With these con “I want," Tyler firmly replied, my ditions I ask liberty." breakfast and you in my company. You “Well,” said Brewster, "you have won are ill. and for a few hours you are in again You are a fool, but a game and my charge Whatever you do, you must chivalrous fool. Saturday night let it be.” restore your strength of mind. A .quick, The meal was finished almost with cold bath white f wait outside, then cheerfulness. Brewster agreeing coffee and food and you will be yourself to remain at the Then, hotel, Tyler returned to and know what to do.” where he was promptly Brewster hesitated, then closed the door his lodgings under arrest on a warrant sworn with an abrupt promise to appear soon. placed by Robinson, charging with the theft He came out a few minutes later, hag a thousand dollars. him But, as he knew, gard, with bloodshot eyes, but calm and of was already provided, Brewster rational, though his features were set and bail having telegraphed a friend for that pur stern. "I think,” he said, ill quiet tones, "that pose. morning he unflinchingly present you are very impertinent in your inter ed Next himself at the bank. There was much ference with my affairs." staring and whispering, and then Mr. "Quite as much as you were when you Robinson, and awful, appeared. interfered with mine,” Tyler answered “I am red-faced astonished, young man," he quite as calmly. “Let us go to the dining said, “that you dare to show yoursqjf room. My interference will not go far. what has happened!" I have done what I believed was right. after “You mean after losing the thousand The coffee will clear our minds and wc dollars you gave me to bet on Sclint will know what to do." Bay?” Tyler responded, coldly, but in The two men went to the table, and for tones which could be heard by all near. a while they ate little, gulping down quantities of coffee and nibbling at the “What do you mean by such inso buttered toast. lence?" Robinson blustered. "Do you Then first Brewster and then Tyler be think in that way to account for the gan in real earnest to eat. thousand dollars you were short?" “I have heard that criminals, on the "I think that L a very good way." morning of execution, usually eat well.” “Do you mean-— Brewster grimly remarked, cutting at his “I mean that it is your word against steak.’ mine. You know as well as I who is the "So I believe. And usually, I have liar and thief." heard, they take ham and egg s.” Tyler Robinson stammered in his anger, and responded. while he was hunting for words to express “I think you arc right. Waiter, bring hts wrath a clerk came to ask both of them me an order of ham and eggs." to appear before Mr. Ellis. “And me, also,” Tyler said. “So you were at the racetrack Satur “Don’t trouble to accommodate yourself day?" the president asked. to my taste,” Brewster said. “I am only "For Mr Robinson." trying to carry (he fashion." “And bet a thousand dollars on Selim “And I also,” Tyler replied. “If the Bay?” comparison applies to you, it does to me “For Mr. Robinson.” as well. We can speak plainly. You still "You know that my invariable rule is T the discharge of any employee who bets at the tracks?" “I do. It is a good rule.” “And yet you broke it?” "For Mr. Robinson." "And you now expect to be dis charged ?” “I certainly do” “And you acknowledge the discharge just?" "I do " “And what have you to say of the thousand dollars in which your cash was short ?” "By advice of my lawyer I say nothing. I believe a criminal charge lies against me." “Mr. Robinson,” said the president, turning sharply upon the cashier, “did you give this young man a thousand dollars to bet at the track?” “I did not. I hope you don’t be lieve----- " "Do you think he had a thousand of his own to bet?" "I am sure he had not. You know that he came here just from college penniless, and that he has had only his salary since." "Yes I know. But where did he get the money he took to the track.” “Well, of course, you know that the cash was a thousand short.” “Yes, Mr. Robinson, but that was by your act.” said the president, sharply. "Look at that letter.” He handed over Brewster's letter, which had come in the morning’s mail. “Well, I—I-----’’ stammered the cashier in bewilderment. “And here is a letter for you in the mail," Mr. Ellis continued, handing over Brewster's letter addressed to Mr. Robin son. and watching the latter closely as he read it. "Well, I—of course, I'nt sorry," he said, very pale and trembling, “but under the circumstances I will acknowledge my mis take and will offer my resignation.” "Which is accepted." said the presi dent, curtly. “And you will go ,10 court at once and withdraw your charge against this young man. Mr. Tyler, I believe that you have told the truth. Whether you have or not, you have broken a rule, for which the penalty is loss of your po sition. I will give you recommendation as far as possible, and if I can assist you in any way I will do it. Blit I positively never will have in this bank any employee who ever places a bet on horseracing." “I appreciate your justice and thank you for your kindness," said the young man, and, bowing, made his departure. JTlttside the bank lie stood for a moment with a kind of mistiness before his eyes as he realized that he was breaking irre vocably with the associations of his past business career. Then he went unhesi tatingly to the railroad station and after an hour alighted at the village to which Brewster's letter to Miss Catherine Ball had been addressed. An inquiry of the first passer-by and ten minutes’ walk and he stood before an old mansion in the midst of beautiful grounds. "I must see Mass Ball,” he insisted, in reply to all the servant's inquiries, and at last a handsome woman of about thirty years, with a refined, intellectual face and somewhat sad expression, came to the door. “I desire a conference with you,” he said. "It is a matter, pardon me, of life and death. On your decision rests the matter of two lives." “Come into the library,” she said, lead ing the way. "Now what have you to say ?” "I have a letter for you.” Tyler began. “A letter from a friend who contemplated suicide, but has been prevented for a time from carrying his plans into execution. He believes that his letter ha. gone by mail I come to you in the dc-perate hope of assistance in overcoming his disposition for another attempt." “Give me the letter." He handed it to her She read, then Hid the letter in her lap and rested Iter cheek in her hard. “It is what I expected," she said. “Pardon me, Miss Ball. I do not know what the letter contains, hut I know the history upon which it is based. The case seems nearly hopeless, but I must do what I can. I would spare you, hut I would save my friend." “Tell me frankly what you know.” “I know that he lias long been engaged to you.” “Yes, and what else?" “That he has—has----- ” , “Has engaged himself to another woman?” “Yes.” “I knew that he did not love me." she said, still dreamily looking out of the win dow, "but I did not think this of him.” “It is an infatuation, a blindness," said Tyler, with all the sage wisdom of his twenty-five years, “to which men have been subject from the beginning of the world." “Why do you speak so? What do you know of the young lady?” “I know nothing, save that she is a salesgirl in a department store.” “And does that prove to you that she is unworthy ?” “God forbid!" said Tyler, flushing hotly. “My own mother, now among the saints of heaven, was once thus employed. I said that was all I knew. I believe her worthy. I used the word infatuation, i -tly because I could not understand— pardon me, I speak sincerely—this is no time for mere compliment—because 1 could not understand, after seeing you. why he should care for another. Partly. I believe, because 1 wished to use soothing words, knowing how you were hurt.” “I am not hurt." she said, in her soft, quiet way. “I am I, she is she. Charles Brewster loved her for some qualities I do not possess. Alt women cannot be alike. He is entitled to his preference. But he should have told me long ag®.” “That is true. But it was his desire not to hurt you which held him back." “Well, there is no reason why he should not marry tile girl he loves. You can tell him so. I have never loved him any more than he loved me. But I liked him and I believed him an honorable man. I had, perhaps, a natural human desire to marry. But 1 see now that I was wrong to engage myself without love, and f am glad it is all over.” Tlte man was by this time so fascinated by the noble and beautiful woman that he could not resist the desire still to preserve the engagement between her and Brewster “But. Miss Ball,” he said, “suppose that I prove that Miss Lattghlin is not really in love with Mr. Brewster, as he sup poses ?” “That would have no interest for me." “Would you not marry him if he should return penitent and ask your love?” “Never 1" He was silent, for he felt that her word was irrevocable. “Now tell me.” she said, “how he was prevented from suicide after writing this letter." Tyler sat in embarrassed silence. “In this letter,” she said, “he says that he is going down to the river in company with a bank thief.” Tyler flushed so painfully that Miss Ball instantly divined a part of the story. "And yott exchanged confidences," she said, sarcastically. “Par nobile fratrum.” Tyler’s flush departed, leaving his face deadly pale. "I beg of yon, Miss Ball," he said, “to hear my story to the end. I am not a thief, though I contemplated and still contemplate suicide.” Something in his manner checked her rising scorn. She felt that she was indeed in the presence of tragedy. Then in a few words he told her of his misfortune at the bank, of his rash deter mination, of Brewster’s action in savins him. ( Conlmur-i an fa g / 33.)