uriosity killed the cat."

Quick as a flash, she asked:

"What's in it?"

Jim threw up his hands and laughed.

"Didn't I tell you that curiosity killed a cat?" He pointed to the skin
on the wall. "That's what stretched that wild-cat's hide up there! She
got too near the old musket!"

"Anyhow, I'm not afraid of her end--what's in it?"

Jim scratched his red head and looked at her thoughtfully.

"You asked me that once before today, didn't you?"

"Yes----"

"Well, it's a little secret of mine. Take my advice--put your hand on
it, but not in it."

Again the sinister look and tone chilled her.

"I don't like secrets between us, Jim," she said.

She looked at the bag reproachfully, and he watched her keenly--then
laughed.

"I'd as well tell you and be done with it; you'll go in it anyhow."

She tossed her head with a touch of angry pride. He took her hand, led
her across the room and placed it on the valise.

"I've got five thousand dollars in gold in that bag."

She drew back, surprised beyond the power of speech.

"And I'm going to give it to this old woman----"

"To her--why?" she gasped.

"She's my mother."

"Your MOTHER?"

"Yes."

"I--I--thought--you told me she was dead."

"No. I said that I didn't know who she was."

He paused, and a queer brooding look crept into his face.

"I haven't seen her since I was a little duffer three years old. This
room and these wild crags and trees come back to me now--just a glimpse
of them here and there. I've always remembered them. I thought I'd
dreamed it----"

"You remember--how wonderful!" she breathed reverently. She understood
now, and the clouds lifted.

"The skunk I called my daddy," Jim went on thoughtfully, "took me to New
York. He said that my mother deserted me when I was a kid. I believed
him at first. But when he beat me and kicked me into the streets, I knew
he was a liar. When I got grown I began to think and wonder about her. I
hired a lawyer that knew my daddy, and he found her here----"

With a cry of joy, she seized his arms:

"Tell her quick! Oh, you're big and fine and generous, Jim--and I knew
it! They said that you were a brute. I knew they lied. Tell her quick!"

He lifted his hand in protest.

"Nope--I'm going to put up a little job on the old girl--show her the
money tonight, get her wild at the sight of it--and give it to her
Christmas morning. We've only a few hours to wait----"

"Oh, give it to her now--Jim! Give