Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-05-02

up behind him and put an arm careSs- f
ingly about his neck" The skeleton
laughed, working it's bony jaws with a
succession Of cracking sounds that
made Gordon shiver. .'How it used to
startle him! He would turn white as
sheet as he looked up into my face
Once he sprang to his feet in despera-.
ton. and we had awrestle all about the
room. overturning chairs, tables and
everything else that came in our way"
::'You succeeded well in shortening
my fathers life, returned Gordon |
gloomily. "Under your tyranny he sank
into his grave long before his time
$50 he did, SO he did, and he passed
me on to you with the rest Of his prop
erty, real and personal It was rich
inheritance. my dear boy, even though
I had to be dragged 1T its heels. Yet
don't accuse me Of any RESPONSE biity
for your fathers taking off. He was the
author Of my existence. Like F'ranken-
stein, he built me up, bono by bone,
and was not content until he had made
gigantic monster and had breathed
into my bony breast the breath Of life.
Then, in order that might not afaict
his sight, he slowed me away in that
closet. Suppose I became the instru-
ment of his own undoing. Is it not true
that he was nevertheless the author Of
his own downfall?''
"Your logic seems to be as merciless
as it is correct answered Gordon,
with knitted brows. "Still, there are
some points relating to your history on
which my mind is a trifle obscure.
What possessed my father to call into
being creature Of your disagreeable
character p
"The almighty dollar, young man.
He created me in order that you might
inherit little more wealth. He did
not think, then, how I should one day
sit astride his shoulders like an Old Man
of the Sea, nor did he think that it was
possible for me to aff1ict his son. For
obvious reasons, my relations with you
are not SO intimate as they were with
your worthy father. I was evolved out
OF the wheat pit of the board of trade.
Your father was a bull, and he merci-
lessly gored both life and fortune out Of
a certain bear who was not nimble
enough to get out of his way
''And who was this bear?'' asked
Gordon.
"a man named Hepburn
Amy Hepburn father?' murmured
the young man, rubbing his hand across
his brow in an effort to remember
eyes. Hepburn lost every penny he
had in the world through that disas-
} trous wheat deal. He was forced into
bankruptcy and, unable to bear the dis
grace, took his own life. His money
!: went to increase the store your father
: left you, my boy, and it is now possible
for you to live in luxury while Hep
} burns wife and children must struggle
on as best they can. However, and
: the skeleton got up and started back To
, its closet, cit is not for me to mUralize.
; Now that I've caught myself deliver
ing hon1ily. I'll just take MY depart
} ure Au revu1r, MY dear fel1uwV
Halting at the closet dcor, the skele-
: ton waved its adieu and Disappeared
) Within Gordon sat in his Chair, deep
in thought, while Ills cigar butned II.
self out between his fingers.
: At last be gut up and s11uok his broad
7 shoulders as though freeing himself u
} disagreeable burden.
"Society has dured me" he mutter.
cd, "but Know thy heart. now; ant
l III do as I p1gasel''
After Harry Gordon and Amy Hep
!, burn had been married and had re-
turned from their honeymoon Harry
brought his bride up stairs to his o1t
4 bachelor den and seated her iii chair
MY DEAR" he said, II lave con
), fession to make to you. My father oncl
4 did your father a grievous wrong, at1d
have made myself the happiest fellow
in the world by unduing it, However,
as we are not to have any secrets from
each other, you must know about this.
A look Of establishments came int
. Amy's blue eyes as she watched he
husband proceed to the closet, throw
open the door and go rumn,aging abon
inside.
"What in the world. are you looking
for, Harry?' she asked as he returned
to her side.
'EI'm looking for something that doe
not seem to be there-the Gordon fam
= lily skeleton. Amy. For the first time i
10 years it is not to be foun nd in tina
closet
Just then clanking tread.was hear
in the hallway without, re door wa
, pushed slowly ajar and tae skeleto
! limped in, supporting itself on a crutc
- and looking very much tile worse Il
y wear.
'There it isl" cried Goreon. <'What
the matter with you, old chap? Her
:. sit down. want to make you acquain
= ed with my wife. -
The family skeleton dropped into
% chair and shook until it ratified like
score of castanets.
s'I'm done for, it, grOaned. "!7ou''
. fixed me, young man. J. just dropped
> to say goodby forever But don't .tntr
!, duce me to your wife: We've met b
FORE ~- .
. ''That's so, Harry - said Amy.
know all about this family skelett N
!. yours. Don't let it worry you, n
y DEAR" and she th: rev her soft Z Ut
about his neck. 7"Le n-thedead past 19u
4 its dead. If we ar q happy, isn't Il
: enough7'' ~s....... @5.s@.
j Enough, yes!" And he pressed
:. rapturous kiss upe N her fair cheek. :
That kiss prone Mnced the doom Of t