The Quicksands of Pactolus, Parts X-XI [pp. 513-529]

THE QUICKSANDS OF PACTOLUS.
By this time Harry was back with the
water and began to sprinkle it in his
face. I did think I saw his lashes quiver,
but he remained so pale and still that I
dismissed the fancy. Ethel's self-control
seemed to be deserting her completely.
"0 I don't care if he is bad," she
mourned. "I'm bad too, proud and selfrighteous, and 1 never did anything to
help anybody in my life. i've always
just thought of perfecting myself. And
he would give his life for his neighbor
without a second thought."
Reuben opened his eyes and smiled at
her wickedly. "No I would n't, not
now," he said. "lt has become too
precious to me within the last five minLites.''
Bud had just come up. "Left again!"
he said, looking at me whimsically.
Poor Ethel turned all the colors of the
rainbow, and would have got up very
abruptly; but Reuben groaned piteously
at the first move, and she dropped down
again with a frightened expression.
"Old man," said Harry, "get up out
of that! You are a consummate fraud. I
don't believe you are hurt a bit."
"Yes I am," said Reuben. And so he
was, pretty badly; he has a dislocated
shoulder and a big thump on his head;
I suppose he was stunned just at first.
He swears he was. But Ethel never will
get over her mortification; it will be a
sore point with her for a good while. She
allowed me to curl her front hair this
morning, and is very busy just now, entertaining Reuben, who is staying with
us a few days, until he is able to go about
without bandages.
Battermnan Lindsay.
THE QUICKSANDS OF PACTOLUS.'
BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE ROMANCE OF JUDGE KETCHUM," THE "CHRONICLES
OF SAN LORENZO," ETC., ETC.
X.
UNDERSTAND," said Mr. Bar rington to his wife, "that
Chetwynd spent an hour and
a half with Nellie yesterday
afternoon?"
They were alone for a few
minutes before dinner. Mrs.
Barrington had dismissed her maid and
was adding a few touches to her toilet.
"It seems, Rufus, that Mr. Chetwynd
is fond of music. Nellie was playing to
him most of the time."
"How often has he called in the past
fortnight?"
"Several times, I believe."
l Begun in August Number.
"You believe? It's a mother's duty
to know such things. I don't approve of
these visits. Chetwynd is a distingutished man, but he is a foreigner. He
dines here tonight?"
"Yes. So does Mr. Desmond. He is
very attentive to Nellie, Rufus."
"Well, Alice, we must expect to lose
the child one of these days. I trust she
will marry a Californian, and live here
to be a comfort to us. As for Chetwynd,
he is dangerous."
"We can trust Nellie."
"My dear, few daughters can be
trusted, and few wives."
He took the sting from the words by
bending down and kissing her. He had
reason to know that she, gentle, loyal
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