Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 147, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1915 — ONE WOMAN'S FAITH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ONE WOMAN'S FAITH

By HAROLD CARTER.

(CopySabtTlMAby W. G. Chapman.) Now that the moment tor action had arrived Jim Corrigan felt his courage oozing away. All he had to do was to take the packed suit case that lay underneath his desk, go out of the door, jump on a street cat, and make his way to any railroad depot. Yet during the three months in which he had- lived in princely styje at the Repington hotel, and spent his days in the mahogany-furnished offices, a sort of attachment to his environment hart grown up in him. Somehow he had begun to feel a sense of respectability. He hated to lose '-the esteem of these good people, who were already thanking him publicly Tor the good he had done the town, for ihe factory that he was going to start, who had openly broached his name tor the mayor’s office. And there was Delia —delicious, sweet, just the bride tot a worthy man. Delia, with her inherited hundred thousand dollars, which had not spoiled her, Delia who unmistakably liked him, and had placed her whole capital in the Red Lion mine. The man felt the sweat start out on his forehead. He opened the door and looked in at the stenographers’ room. At once the young women began hammering harder; the bill-folders accentuated their speed and worked self-consciously. The eye of their boss was upon them. And all this was to be shattered like the crystal of a dream. For Jim Corrigan would be an outcast in twenty minutes. He had been tijrned off that the federal authorities intended to raid his office that day. Thousands of worthless shares had been sold in a worthless gold mine, which was little more than a hole in the ground. And Delia’s

hundred thousand had gone with the rest. The man felt ashamed and humiliated. “I must have got cold feet!” he Jeered, to hearten himself. A telegraph boy appeared and placed the yellow envelope upon his desk. Corrigan did not open it. He knew Clancy was to warn him when the police raid was imminent. This must be the warning. He prepared to go. He stooped for his bag. Then the door opened and on the threshold stood the prettiest of young women. She wks simply dressed, but the furs about her neck were of rich sable, her bearing, a little Imperious, was softened just now by evident admiration. Corrigan had given, the girl every reason to believe he loved her, but he had not asked her to be his 'ftife. Delia had waited, a little curious, but never doubting him. "Why, Delia!” exclaimed the man. “How do you do, Mr. Corrigan!” said the girl, smiling. “I haven’t come to trouble you about my money. That is safe, I know. It is as safe as my faith in you." , “Her faith in him.” And Clancy had telegraphed that the state inspector in the West was to visit the mine ,the day before this, and that his discovery of the fraud would be followed by a visit from the federal authorities. Of a sudden 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, I’ll come,” muttered Corrigan, conscious that he was speaking abruptly, and seeing the surprised look on her face. “Excuse me—l’m very busy—" The girl made a haughty little bow. "If you are busy, Mr. Corrigan, of oourse I won’t detain you any longer,” she said, moving toward the door. Jim Corrigan forgot everything. "Forgive me,” he pleaded, catching her hands in his. “I didn’t mean that Delia. I was troubled—l was not able to say that —” Her face softened. “Business troubles?” 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, including his love, to ask fbr forgiveness and to restore what he was able. The girl, seeing his emotion, waited till he •oold control himself.

-Delia—" he began, and a footstep sounded in the passage outside, and the door was opened. The federal officer read his recognition in Jim’s startled look. "You are Mr. Corrigan, I believer* he asked, though the formality was unnecessary. "And this iudy»is—"One of my customers," said Jim, “and not connected with this office.” •T shall have to ask her to wait a while all the same,” said the man. "Don’t be scared, miss; there won't be nothing done to you, and you’re to be pitied.” “What does this all mean?” gKt claimed Delia, bewildered. "It means that I am under. suspicion for fraudulent practices,"- answered Jim bitterly. "The government doesn’t believe there is any gold in the mine.” "But of course there is!" exclaimed the girl indignantly. “Officer, I am Miss Delia Homing. 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 rummage among the papers on Jim’s desk. The stenographers and other girls in the large room adjoining, having got wind of wbipt has happening, appeared at the door with frightened faces. "Mr. Corrigan—Jim, dbar, I believe in you to the last!” cried Delia, losing all self-control. She came up to him and slipped her hand into his and stood defiantly beside him. Jim smiled a little wistfully. At that moment this was the hardest thing that he had to bear, her trustfulness. If only he had gone before she came! “What’s this?" queried the officer, picking up the telegram. Jim had forgotten Clancy's message. He groaned as the man deftly opened it. Clancy was always outspoken, and he was no more careful in his dispatches. That meant the end of all, of Delia, of what shreds of hohor 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-ex amine.' Clancy.” The federal officer scratched his head. "My orders are to seal —” he began; and then a second man appeared at the door. He took in the situation instantly. “Come off, Louis!" he said. "Mr. Corrigan, this is a mistake for which we owe you a good many apologies. We had Information which led us to believe that—well, anyway, later news has come which shows us we were wrong. We had our orders, sir, and no doubt you’ll receive apologies from the proper quarter. We know your company is beyond reproach. And I wish I had a few shares in it,” he added. They were gone. Delia was standing at Jim’s side and they had just exchanged their first kiss. "As jf you could be dishonest, dear!" she said softly. Jim looked at the packed suit case and winced. In another minute that, too, would have been examined. It would have been harder then. He knew that the inner shame he felt must be his punishment for many a year to come. But when he lpoked at Delia he knew that he would be given strength to bear it. .

"I Was Shopping," Continued the Girl.