The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-09-25
And the RigOr Of the Game
By ROBERT BARR,

1u blO Ivy . "uSI hoNO hhONh
the hours he kept, yet she had said moth
ing. This made the matter all the
blacker. The father felt that mother
and son were leagued against him. He
had been too lenient. Now he would go
to the root of things. The young man
would speedily change his ways or take
the consequences. There would be no
half measures.
Poor old Mrs. Saunders saw the mo-
ment her husband came in that there
was a storm brewing, and a wild fear
arose in her heart that her boy was the
cause. The first words of the old man
settled the question.
"What time did Richard come in last
night?"
IL don't know" she hesitated.
"Shuffling, her husband always called
it. She had been a buffer between IA
Their and son since Dick was a child.
"Why don't you know? Who let him
IMP"
She sighed. The secret had long
weighed upon her, and she felt it would
come at some hapless moment.
"He has a key" she said at last.
The old man glared in speechless
amazement. In his angriest mood he
had never suspected anything so bad as
this.
"a key! How long has he had a key?'
about six months. He did not want
to disturb u.s."
"He is very thoughtful, Where does
he spend his nights?"
81 don't know. He tells me he be-
longs to a club, where he takes some
kind of exercise"
did he tell you he exercised with
cards? Did he say it was a gambling
club?'
II don't believe it is. I am sure Dick
doesn't gamble. Dick is a good boy, ia
Their"
"a precious lot you know about it
evidently. Do you think his employer,
Banker Hammond, has any idea his
clerk belongs to a gambling club"
az am sure l don't know. Is there
anything wrong? Has any one been
speaking to you about Dick?'
eyes, and not to his credit"
"Oh, dear!' cried the mother in an
guish. WAS it Mr.. Hammond?'
II have never spoken to Hammond
in my life, " said the old man, relent-
his wife was. mo; l propose to stop
this club business before it gets to the
bankers ears that one of his clerks is a
nightly attendant there. You will see
Robert when he comes home this even
ing. Tell him I wish to have a word or
two with him tonight. He is to wait
for me here. 1 will be in shortly after
he has his supper"
"You will not be harsh with him,
father. Remember, he is a young man
now, so please, please advise and do not
threaten. Angry words can do nc
good"
II will do my duty" said the old
man unconpromisingly.
Gentle Mrs. Saunders sighed, for she
we'll knew the phrase about duty. II
was a sure prelude to domestic trouble.
When the old gentleman undertook tt
do his duty, he nailed his flag to the
mast.
See thai he waits for me tonight
was the parting shot as the old MAJ
closed the door behind him.
Mrs. Saunders had had her share o.
trouble in the world, as every woman
must who lives with a c~antankeroui
man. When she could save her son
harsh word, or even a blow, she wa
content to take either uncomplainingly
The old mans severity had put him on
of touch with his son. Dick sullenly re
sented his boyhood Of continual fear
During recent years, when fear hat
gradually diminished and finally disap
peared, he was somewhat troubled t.
find that the natural affection which
son should have for his father had van
ished with it. He had, on several occa
sions, made half hearted attempts at
better understanding, but these at
tempts had unfortunately fallen on il
opportune moments, when the old ma
was not particularly gracious towar
the world in general, and latterly theI
had been silence between the two. TIL
young man avoided his father as muc
as possible. He would not have II
manned at home had it not been for b,
mother. Her steady, unwavering atfet
ton for him, her belief in him, and tn
remembrance Of how she had stood u
for him, especially when he was in tn
wrong, had bound her to him wit
bonds soft as silk and strong as stee
He often felt it would be a pleasure
go wrong, merely to refute his father
ideas regarding the way a child shout
be brought up. Yet Dick had a sort
admiration for the old man, who's
many good qualities were somewh'
overshadowed by his brutal temper.
When Richard came home that evel
ing, he had his supper alone, as w
usual with him. Mrs. Saunders drew HI
chair near the table, and while the me-
went on she talked of many things, bl
avoided the subject uppermost in h
mind, which she postponed until Il
last moment. Perhaps after all 81
would not need to ask him to stay. F
might remain of his own accord. 81
watched him narrowly as she talk'
and saw with alarm that there was an
iety in his face. Some care was worr
ing him, and she yearned to have hi
confide his trouble to her. And yet 81
talked and talked of other things. 81
noticed that he made but a poor preten
of eating, and that he allowed her
talk while he made few replies, al
those absentmindedly. At last he push'
back his chair with a laugh that SCUM
ed forced.
"Well, MOTHER he said, "What