The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-17

handspring of a great deal of human
endeavor.
When Charlie Barker heard hirnsep
called "a daisy he took new heart.
In five minutes he was a man aDai,
Re went back to the breakfast table
and told another falsehood-abop.
having a sudden indisposition. Pa
was now determined to sec matters
through.
Suddenly there ws.s {. ring q. THE bell
"A telegram" said Barker, aIoud
Perhaps to say that father and mother
can't come. How provoiSinglu but IN.
wardly he rcjoiced with an exceeding
Joy. He tore open the envelope. ana
the sight of that telegram nearly occa.
stoned MIN relapse:
1--WE are coming home Mrs Van Lith op,..
sick. Expect US tonight
''P. VAN L1rH.n
THAT settles it," muttered Barker,
''If ever Van Lith gets into this bouss
Pm done for. He's as straight as !.
string. And his wife, well, she wouldn,t
tolerate such fraud as this for a mo-
ment.7
There was no time to consult EVELYN.
be must act at once.
He went out in the hall. The bov
was still there.
Have you a telegraph blank with
you?" he asked.
"Yessir'
Then he wrote:
Don't come. Smallpox in the house Fvelv,
I and the servants ere in quarantine An
writing CHARLES BARKER
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 rartook 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 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 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 fixed" 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
l despise liar
Then Mr.. Barker, feeling that the
time had come, arose some what 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 hypocrite
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 amt bin tellin' us wrong about
your foreh6ng, 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 l 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 a
friend OF mine, and l haven't a penny
worth of interest in it,
Mr.. Hanson, of Denver, staggered
back from the table.
"You scoundrel," he was beginning.
ito go and steal my dorter," but some
thing in the'young fellow'slface 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 hev 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 Il was
but l am no longer"
Mr.. Hanson looked fer 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 hemloclz," he exclaimed.
"lf ! give you chance you will come
out to Denver and make iaan of your
self"
You bet 1 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 I'll do Mr.. Hanson. If you'll give
Charlie an interest in your business I'll
put capital enough back of him to make
it an object"
ITS a 60" cried the man from Dem
yer, and he put out his hand to the
other across the table.