Newspaper Page Text
IP
IWff
to trouble you about 1117 money. That
is safe, I know. It Is as safe ad my
faith in you."
"Her faith in him!" And Clancy
had telegraphed that the state inspec
tor in the west was to visit the mine
the day before this and that his dis
covery of the fraud would be fol
lowed by a visit from the federal au
thorities. Of a sudden a panic
seized him. He wanted to get away
before the authorities came down on
him.
"I was shopping," continued the
girl, "and mother asked me to get
you to come to dinner tonight. So I
just looked in."
"Yes, 111 come," muttered Corri
zan, conscious that he was speaking
abruptly and seeing the surprised
look on her face. "Excuse me I'm
very busy "
The'girl made a haughty little bow.
"If you are busy, Mr. Corrigan, of
course I won't detain you any long
er," she said, moving toward the
door.
Jim Cortigan forgot everything-.
"Forgive me," he pleaded, catching
her hands in his. 'I didn't mean that,
Delia. I was troubled I was not able
to Bay that"
Her face softetied. "Business trou
bles?" she queried, pondering. "I am,
so sorry I misunderstood. It was very
thoughtless of me "
"No, it was about you," Jim
blurted out. And something stronger
than himself took possession of him.
He wanted to tell her everything, in
cluding his love, to ask for forgiv
eness and to restore what he was
able. The girl, seeing his emotion,
waited until he could control himself.
"Delia," he began, and a footstep
sounded in the passage outside and
the door was opened.
The federal officer read his recogni
tion in Jim's startled look.
"You are Mr. Corrigan, I believe?"
he asked, though the formality was
unnecessary "And this lady is "
"One of my customers," said Jim,
"and not connected With this office."
"I shall have to ask her to wait a'
while all the same," said the man.
"Don't be scared, miss; there won't
be anything done to you and you're
to be pitied."
"What does all this mean?" ex
claimed Delia, bewildered.
"It means that I am under suspi
cion for fraudulent practices," an
swered Jim bitterly. "The govern
ment doesn't believe there is any gold
in the mine."
"But of course there is!" exclaimed
the girl indignantly. "Officer, I am
Miss Delia Heming. My father was
president of the national bank here.
I can vouch for Mr. Corrigan's
honor."
The officer, without paying the
slightest attention, began to runi
mage among the papers on Jim's
desk. The stenographers and other
girls in the, large room adjoining, hav
lng gotten wind of what was happen
ing, appeared at the door with fright
ened faces.
JfMr. Corrigan Jim, dear, I believe
4n you to the last!" cried Delia, los
ing all self-control. She came up to
him and slipped her hand into his and
stood defiantly by him.
Jim smiled a little Wistfully. At
that moment this was the hardest
thing that he had to bear, her trust
fulness. If only he had gone before
she came!
"What's this?" queried the officer,
picking up the telegram.
Jim had forgotten Clancy's mes
sage. He groaned as the man deftly
opened it Clancy was always oufc
spokea and. he was no more careful
in his dispatches. That meant the
end of all, of Delia, of what shreds of
honor he .had hoped to retain after
the investigation.
The officer read the telegram and
laid it down. Jim picked it Up and
read: "Huge gold deposits discovered
in Red Lion mine. State inspector
notified. Is coming at once to re
examine. Clancy."
The federal officer scratched his
head. "My orders are to Beal v
vjVh5- t -2 - ti2 'L. ..-.
