Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-08-30
CONTINUED

thought of you as a little boy for all
these years, Dannie. as no higher than
that dropping his hand to his hip.
Sand here you are a man grown. But
you got your mothers look. I'd have
known you by it among a thousand"
If Dan had felt any fear of his father
It had left hin the instant he entered
the room. Whatever he might have
done, whatever he might have been,
there was no question as to the man
ner of man he had become. He stepped
to his sons side and took his hand in
one of his own.
"You've made a man OF yourself. l
can see that. What do you do here for
Hliving?'
Dan laughed Queerly.
81 am the general manager of the
railroad, father" nodding toward the
station and the yards. But it's not
much to brag about. It's only a n
horse line he added.
"No, you don't mean it, Dannie?'
And he could see that his father was
profoundly impressed. He put up his
ffee hand and gently patted Dams
bead as though he were indeed the lit
tie boy he remembered.
"Did you have an easy trip west,
father?:" Oakley asked. You must be
tired"
mot a bit, Dannie. 1t was wonder
ful. I'd been shut off from it all for
more than twenty years, and each mile
was taking me nearer vou,''
The warm yellow light was begin
growing late.
81 guess we'd better go uptown to
The hotel and have our supper. Where
Ii your trunk: At the station?"
give got nothing but a bundle. It's
at the door"
Dan locked his desk. and they left
the Office.
"Is it all yours?" Roger Oakley ask
ed, pausing as they crossed the yards
% glance up and down the curving
tracks.
ITS part Of the property l manage,
Il belongs to General Cornish. who
holds most of the stock"
*And the train l came or, Dannie-
4Rho owned that?'
"At Buckhorn Junction, where you
changed cars for the last time. you
caught u local express. 1t runs
through to a place called Harrison
the terminus of the line. This is only
a branch road. you know"
But the explanation was lost on his
father. His sons relation to the road
was a magnificent fact which he pom
dered with simple pleasure.
After their supper at the hotel they
went upstairs. Roger Oakley had been
given a room mex his sons. 1t was
the same room General Cornish had oc-
cupied when he was in Antioch.
would you like to put away your
things now?' asked Dan as he placed
his fathers bundle, which he had car.
died uptown from the Office, on the
bed.
"Ill do that by and by. There amt
much there-just a few little things
Eve managed to keep or that have
been given me-"
Dan pushed two chairs before al
open window that overlooked the
square,. His father had taken a huge
hlackened meerschaum from its case
and was carefully filling it from 8
heather pouch.
"You don't mind if l light my piper
he inquired.
"Not a bit. I've one in my pocket
but it's not nearly as fine as yours"
Our warden gave it to me one
Christmas, and I've smoked it ever
Ednce. He was a very good man, Dan
ME. It's the old warden I'm speaking
OF, not Kenyon, the new one. though
he's a good man too
Dan wondered where he had heard
the name of Kenyon before; Their he
remembered-it was at the Emorys'.
Try some of my tobacco, Dannie.'
passing the pouch.
For q time the two men sat in 81
ience, blowing clouds Of white smoke
cut into the night.
Roger Oakley hitched his chair near
ar his sons and rested a heavy hand
an his knee. II like it here" he said.
"Do you? am glad"
What will be the chances of nv
2nding work? You know I'm a cabinet
Eaaker by trade"
There's no need Of your working
90 don't worry about that"
"But l must work, Dannie. l ain,
used to sitting still and doing nothing
"Well," said Oakley, willing to hui
2mor him, there are the car shops"
Can you get me imp"
"Oh, yes, when you are ready te
start. I'll have McCllntock, the mas
9er mechanic, find something in you,
line for you to do"
TIL need to get a kit of tools
Il guess McClintock can arrange tina
TOO. I'll see him about it when 70,
ARE ready"
'"Then that's settled. I'll begin In III,
morning" with quiet determination.
"But don't you want to look AROUND
slrstr"
"Ill have my Sundays for that
And Dan saw that there was no use /,
arguing the point with him. He wa,
f&qnt IN having bta nyvp NAV