Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-04

for anything,
His parents arrived from Boston in
/ time for lunch. He received them roy
ally. He partook of deep potations.
He laughed with his new father from
Denver; he slapped his old father from
Boston on the back. They all got very
jolly. Dinner was a right merry meal.
The ladies had retired to the drawing
room. The two old gentlemen had
made terrific inroads on Van Lith's
wines. They each took q hand of
Barker's in theirs and swore he was the
jolliest fellow in the world
"And you like me all the better be-
cause I'm well fxed?" laughed Barker
Historically.
erich or poor" said Mr.. Hanson, of
Denver, sit wouldn't make any differ
ence to me. Only give me an honest
man and one who speaks the truth, for
despise liar"
Then Mr.. Barker, feeling that the
time had come, arose somewhat un-
steadily on his legs and faced the gen.
tleman from Denver, who was mellow
and smiling with wine.
"You have right to despise me, then,
Mr.. Hanson, for | am a hypocrite and
| the biggest liar on the face Of the GARTH"
The old man started as if he had been
shot. Something in the expression Of
his son-in-law's face told him that this
was no joke, but that he was speaking
| the truth.
"You amt bin tellin us wrong about
your forching, have ye:" he asked slow
| ly, relapsing into the vernacular Of his
early mining days, and with his face
gradually growing purple with anger.
Charlie Barker, for answer, put his
hand in his pocket, and drawing out {.
solitary twenty dollar bill he laid it on
the table.
world" he replied.
''But this house, all this fine furni-
tur'," almost pleaded the old man.
"That's yourn, amt it?''
"Not stick of it. It's the house of
friend of mine, and haven't penny.
worth of interest in it."
Mr.. Hanson, Of Denver, staggered
back from the table.
"You scoundrel," he was beginning,
''to go and steal my dorter;" but some
thing in the young fellows face stopped
him; something in the attitude of the
old gentleman from Boston, who had
crept close to his sons side and passed
his arm lovingly about him. The words
of abuse died away on Mr.. Hanson's lips.
"You must ha' bin dreadfully afraid
of me to hev done this" he said instead.
81 was" And as if it was relief to
him to speak the truth again, the young
fellow repeated the words. ~ was
but am no longer"
Mr.. Hanson locked for minute stead
ily at his son-in-law. Despite the fact
that he was cruelty disappointed, he
could not but admire the audacity of
the New Yorker.
"Gosh all hemlock!" he exclaimed.
eff give you chance you will come
out to Denver and make g man of your
self"
You bet will"
81 must do my share of this spoke
up the man from Boston, his arm still
around his sons waist. ''rll tell you
what Ill do, Mr.. Hanson. If You'll
give Charlie an interest in your bust
ness TIL put capital enough back of him
to make it an object"
''It's go!' cried the man from Dem
yer, and heput out his hand to the other
across the table.
The man from Boston seized it and
shook it heartily.
"Then we forgive him, don't we, both
of usT'
Won't some one forgive me, too?"
asked a musical voice from the door
way. I'm half forgiven already. I've
just confessed to mother in the drawing
ROOM"
''Yes, we'll include you," answered old
man Hanson, and your mother as well,
for not being sharp enough to detect you
two frauds from the very first. de-
spiseea liar, but I'm blessed if your hus-
band amt a dandy. Say, Barker, how
do you intend 10 square this with your
friend Van Lith:'
81 shall write him tonight full aC-
count of the whole matter. for I'm far
too happy to go to bed, and l shall ell
title my story, I'm Borrowed Plumes.'"
Austin Granville in Philadelphia
| Times