News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1906-08-22


had just died out in the distance, and
the informal committee of town loaf
ers which met each train was plodding
up Main street to the postoffice in SOL
emn silence.
He glanced around as the door into
the yards opened. He saw a tall,
gaunt man of sixty-fve, little stoop
heavily and solidly. His large head
was sunk between broad shoulders 1t
was covered by a wonderful growth
of iron gray hair. The face was clean
shaven and had the look of a placid
mask. There was a curious repose in
the mans attitude as he stood with a
big hand-the hand of an artisan-rest-
ing loosely on the knob of the door.
SIS it you, DannieT
The smile that accompanied the
words was at once anxious, hesitating
and inquiring. He closed the door with
awkward care and, coming a step near
er, put out his hand. Oakley, breathing
hard, rose hastily from his chair and
stood leaning against the corner of his
desk, as if he needed it's support. He
was white to the lips.
There was a long pause while the
two men looked into each others eyes.
Don't you know me, DannieW visit
fully. Dan said nothing, but he eX-
tended his hand, and his fathers fin
gers closed about it with a mighty
pressure. Then quite abruptly Roger
Oakley turned and walked over to the
window. Once more there was abso-
Tute silence in the room save for the
ticking of the clock and the buzzing of
solitary fly high up on the ceiling.
The old convict was the first to
Break the tense Stiffness
Il had about made up my mind /
should never see you again, Dannie.
When your mother died and you came
west it sort of wiped out the little
there was between me and the living.
In fact, really didn't know you would
care to see me, and when Hart told me
you wished me to come to you and had
sent the money l could hardly believe
It,"
Here the words failed him utterly.
He turned slowly and looked into his
sons face long and lovingly. I've
thought of you as a little boy for all
these years, Dannie, as no higher than
that" dropping his hand to his hip.
"And 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
1t had left him the instant he entered
Che 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. ]
can see that What do you do here for
living?"
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 one
horse line" he added.
mo, you don't mean it, Dannie?'
And he could"see that his father was
profoundly impressed. He put UP his
free hand and gently patted Dams
head as though he were indeed the lit
tle boy he remembered.
"Did you have an easy trip west.
father?" Oakley asked. "You must be
tired"
"Not a bit. Dannie. 1t was wonder
full I'd been shut off from it all for
more than twenty years, and each mile
was taking me nearer you"
The warm yellow light was begin
ning to fade from the room. 1t was
growing late.
81 guess we'd better go uptown to
ghe hotel and have our supper. Where
is your trunk? At the station"
'I've got nothing but bundle It's
at the door"
Dan locked his desk. and they left
fhe office.
as it all yours?" Roger Oakley ask
ID, pausing as they crossed the yards
30 glance up and down the curving
cracks.
''It's part of the property l manage.
i belongs to General Cornish, who
holds most of the stock"
"And the train came on, Dannie-
gho owned thati'
AT Buckhorn Jun ,tion, where you
changed cars for the last time. YOU
caught our local express. 1t runs
through to a place called Harrison
tie terminus Of the line. This is only
branch road, you know"
But the explanation was lost on his
father. His sons relation to the road
iTRs a magnificent fact which he pom
aered with simple pleasure.
After their supper at the hotel they
vent upstairs. Roger Oakley had been
given a room next his sons. 1t was
1ile same room General Cornish had oc-
sTpied when he was in Antioch.
would you like to put away your
rdfngs now?' asked Dan as he placed
ais fathers bundle, which he had car
sied uptown from the office, on the
BED.
I'll do that by and by. There amt
saach there-just a few little things
I've managed to keep or that have