, 1901-10-12
pected grandeur. After it was finish
ed, the ~prodigal looked it over admir-

pected grandeur. After it was finish
ed, the prodigal looked it over admir-
ingly.
The old man'll like these silver
handles, he said with a pleased smile.
And the name on that platell Just
simply fetch the whole town. They
take great stock in such things down
in the country. I'd have bought a fin
er one. but I had to save care fare
down therefor myself and for Jim
ME"
And so, IN the same train Jerry
and the gentleman who had slipped off
his identity and lost it forevermore.
went down to the quiet village.
Not that the village vas asleep now.
Jerry's message had preceded him;
and the entire countryside had turn
ed out to see the burial of old Amos
Sanger's ~long-gone son-the reburial,
it appeared, for it seemed that Jerry
had found his tomb, where he had been
buried a year ago, and had simply
changed the abiding place. AS the lit
tie procession moved down the street,
the coffin in a wagon leading the way
n all the people walking two and
two. Jerry walked beside the old man.
holding his arm and talking TO him.
"Of course l traced him." he said.
It's mighty easy to trace a lead man.
Now, when a fellows alive he's hard
to keep track of, but when once he's
dead, there he is. | found the people
he used to live with-nice people
good old woman
Il wonder if Mrs. Blenkinsop would
recognize herself from thai descrip-
tion?" he added inwardly, with the
ghost Of a smile.
Ies-yes-" said the old man, lean
ing on him more and more.
And she cried when she spoke of
him." Jerry went on shamelessly. She
said he was such a kind, thoughtful,
generous young man
III used to be that" cried the old
man, tears rushing to his eyes. He'd
have been a great comfort to me some
day-if he'd lived"
Yes" said Jerry steadily. He
couldn't come back, because he
thought-he thought you'd not be glad
to see him, after he'd been so migrate
full. He told her that. And after his
mother died--and all-but she said he
was never tired of talking about his
father and mother-and the old home.
She told me some things that'U help
you to judge If it was really YOU son.
He said something about a big tree in
the yard, and a place he used to climb
up to n sit there to read"
Yes, yes, it was my boy" cried the
old man. THE trees there yeti"
And he said something about a
creek, and a place in it where he used
to fish for a big trout that always got
away"
"Oh, Jimmie, Jimmie," cried the lit
tie old man, laying his hand w~istfully
on the black cloth that covered the
coffin; "an' so you've come home at
last"
And with tears still OH his brown,
wrinkled cheeks, a smile settled there,
co.. His boy had been long dead, and
he was about to be laid to rest beside
his mother. He was no longer a wan
derer. at seems too good to be true"
he whispered childishly. And l can
bring flowers there-snme O the chill
dren O. them same flowers he planted
when he was a little boy,"
There was reading, solemn and deep
toned, in the little cemetery. and there
was singing out under the trees. while
all the men stood with uncovered
heads. Jerry. looking around, could
hardly believe 1t. He thought regret
fully what a pity it was that the gen
tleman, the unknown gentleman, could
not see how much better his was than
a shallow hole in the potter's field.
Think Of doing two good deeds at one
and the same time!-he, Jerry. the
p%rodigal!
The people went away, talking
among themselves OF the man who
stood there, unfathered. unhomed, his
identity swallowed up and lost, and
speaking we'll of him, as one does of
the dead. The old man had gone away
too. but presently he came back with
a spade and a basket OF flowers. He
set the flowers all over and around
the bare mound, while Jerry watched
wistfully. Then the old man stood up
and looked away through the trees to-
ward the glow Of sunset in the west.
Lord" he said aloud; be good to
Jimmie, wherever he is! Amen"
Amen" said a voice like an echo:
and the prodigal wiped his eyes and
went his way-a better man.