LITERARY The Temptation Two young men sat by a table, one working over a lock for a safe; the other gazing lazily at him and talking in a dreamy voice. "You have the best chance in the world to be dishonest, if you want to and you would never be suspected. It's lucky for the banks and also for you that you're an honest man." Baxter, an expert on safes, put aside his work and the two men left the office together. As they walked along, the thoughts continually went through Baxter's head, and he could not help realizing how true all that his friend had said was. He knew how easily he could walk into almost any large bank in the city, help himself to the valuables, re-lock the vaults and walk out. Yes! it was lucky that he was honest. With a smile of true delight on his face, he turned in at the gate and walked up the path that led to the home of his dearest friend, Isabel Thomas. She greeted him at the door with the same cordial welcome that he had received from her so often. Isabel's parents did not welcome Baxter as they usually did. They seemed cold and indifferent. The reason was that Waldemar Elliott, a railroad magnate's son, had shown marked attention to Isabel recently. When Isabel promised to attend the theatre the next evening with Baxter, her mother said, "Don't forget, Isabel, that Mr. Elliott may call tomorrow evening." Baxter could see by the expression on her face that to Isabel, Elliott brought glittering prospects. He knew that the girl desired wealth and longed to be a belle in society as much as he desired it for her. ACORN 4 A few days later he again called upon Miss Thomas, and asked her if she could not love him if he were wealthy. "No, no," she said, "because if you should now come to me with a fortune I would know that you hadn't got it honestly." "Why should a question of wealth enter into the subject of outmarriage? Do you think that is all I care about?" The man raised his head, sorry because of the sin that was in his soul. He then resolved to prove himself worthy of one so good and Pure WILLIAM STEARS, '17. The Return of the Prodigal Son "Downey Morning Paper! Paper, sir? All about the big bank robbery. Four thousand dollars taken by Kid Decker. Robber escapes." Such was the cry of the newsboys for days after Kid had caught their clever police force napping and succeeded in accomplishing the most daring robbery in the history of Downey. This morning the people were filled with excitement. As Mr. Murphy came through the park with long strides, a large crowd was assembled in front of the police station. The sheriff and his two deputies, armed and ready to mount their horses, were the center of attraction. "What's up now, another posse after Kid Decker?" he asked of Marcus Kennedy, his office clerk, who at that moment left the crowd and walked up to his employer. "Yes, I guess so, but when Sheriff Bricks catches Kid you let me know. Why by now he's across the line or somewhere here in Idaho where Bricks has too thick a head to think of." Meanwhile, as Kennedy had said, Kid Decker had reached Clarkston, sold his horse, disguised his features and caught a freight train bound for Arizona with the four thousand dollars sewed up in the lining of his trousers. On reaching Arizona he purchased a horse and once more galloped through the desert, going he knew not where. Suddenly he started, for he heard the clatter of hoofs in the distance. He urged his horse into a gallop, then turned in his saddle and saw three horsemen galloping toward him. When he reached the farm house the dogs barked loudly as he jumped off his horse and strode up to the door and knocked. "Come in," and as the Kid stumbled into the room he was confronted by an elderly man in tan shirt and brown shaps. "How do you do, sir. Can you give me a place to stop tonight?" "Why, yes, my boy, you bet I can, but first come and clean up a bit. You look like a pretty good fellow."