The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-24

called IA daisy" he took new heart
In five minutes he was tnan again
He went back to the breakfast table
and told another Observation-Disclosures
having sudden indisposition. lie
was now determined to see matters
through.
Suddenly there was ring ut the bell.
"a telegram" said Barker, aloud.
Perhaps to say that father and mother
can't come. How provolzing." but in
wardly he rejoiced with an exceeding
JOY. lie tore open the envelope. ana
the sight of that telegram nearly occa-
stoned him Il relapse:
1--WE arc coming homo Mrs Van Lt,h cul:o
sick. Expect us tonight
"P. VAN L;Ta."
THAT settles it," muttcred Barker.
"If ever Van Lith gets into this house
I'm done for. He's as straight as a
string. And his wife, we'll, she wouldn't
tolerate such fraud as this for 9 mo-
mcnt.''
There was no time to consult Evel-n.
Hc must act at once
He went out in the hall. The boy
was still there.
"Hnvc you n telegraph blank with
you?" he asked.
"Ycssir."
Then he wrote:
Don't come Smallpox in the house Evelyn.
I and the servants in quarantine Am
writing. CHARLES BARRIER.
The boy looked at the telegram, read
it, and bounded to the sidewalk. He
didn't stop until he reached the corner.
Barker was now desperate He was
in such state of mind, and had so far
committed himself, that he was ready
for anything.
His parents arrived from Boston in
time for lunch. He received them row
ally He partool1 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 4 right merry meal.
The ladies had retired to the draw
ing-room. The two old gentlemen had
made terrific inroads on Van Lith's
wines. They each took n hand of
Barier's in theirs and swore he was the
jollicst fellow in the world.
And you like me all the better be-
cause I'm we'll fixed" laughed Barker,
hystc; ically.
"I.!cl or poor" said Mr. Hanson, of
Denver, lit wouldn't make any differ
cucc to nc. Only give me an honest
man and one who speaks the truth, for
l dcs7isc q liar
Then Mr.. Barker, feeling that the
time had come, arose somewhat I'M
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 n hypocritc
and the biggest liar on the face of the
earth.
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 he was speaking the
truth.
You ant bin tellin' us wrong about
your forehing, have YEP" he asked,
slowly. relaxing 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 a
solitary twenty-dollar bill he laid it on
the table.
That's every cent own in the
world" he replied.
But this house; all this fine furni-
tur'," almost pleaded the old man.
THAT'S your'n, amt it?"
mot stick of it. It's the house of O.
friend OF mine, and haven't a 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 fellow's,face stopped
him. Something in the attitude of the
old gentleman from Boston, w no had
crept close to his sons side and passed
his arm lovingly about him. The
words of abuse died away on Mr.. Han.
sons lips.
You must ha' bin dreadfully afraid
of me to hcv done this" he said in.
stead
Il was" And, as if it was a relief to
him to speak the truth again, the young
fellow repeated the words: 81 was
but l am no longer"
Mr.. Hanson looked for a minute
steadily 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 hemloclS!" he exclaimed
eff give you chance you will come
out to Denver and make man of your.
self"
"You bet I will"
81 must do my share of this" spoke
up the man from Boston, his arm still
around his sons waist. "I'll tell yo,
what I'll do, Mr.. Hanson. If you'll give
Charlie an interest in your business III
put capital enough back of him to make
it an object"
'Its co." cried the man from Den
yer, and he put out his hand to the
other across the table.
The man from Boston seized IL anf