The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-08-15


yellow light that the sun sent In
- through the west windows, he
nearl a step OH the narrow board
walk that ran between the building
and the tracks The last shrill shrek
Of No. Z as usual, half an hour late,
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,
eaunt man of sixty-five, little stoop
shouldered and carrying his weight
heavily and solidly His large head
was sunk between broad shoulders. II
was covered by wonderful growth
Of iron gray hair The face was clean
ahaven and had the look of a placid
mask. There was curious repose In
me mans attitude as he stood with q
Dig hand-the hand Of an artisan-rest.
ing loosely on the knob of the door.
us 1t you, Daimler
The smile that accompanied the
words was at once anxious, hesitating
and inQuirlng. He closed the door with
awkward care and, coming step near.
or, put out his hand. Oakley, breathing
hard, rose hastily from his chair and
stood leaning against the corner Of his
desk, as II he needed it's support. He
was white to the lips.
There was long pause while the
two men looked into each others eyes
"Don't you know me, Dannie?" visit.
fully. Dan said nothing, but he ex-
tended his hand, and his fathers fin.
gers closed about it with mighty
pressure. Then quite abruptly Roger
Oakley turned and walked over to the
window. Once more there was abso
lutte silence in the room save for the
ticking Of the clock and the buzzing OF
q solitary fly high up on the ceiling.
The old convict was the first to
break the tense stiffness.
II had about made up my mind
should never see you again, Dannie
When your mother died and you came
west 1t sort of wiped out the little
there was between me and the living
AZ AdSl, really diuh hAOW YOU NOuiN
care to see me, and when Hart told me
you wished me to come to you and had
sent the money | 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 little boy for al
l. f.,f. ~,
that" dropping his hand to his hip
And here you are Il 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 him 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 il
one Of his own.
You've made u man of yourself.
can see that What do you do here fol
q living?"
Dan laughed queerly
II am the general manager Of tn,
station ami the yards. But it's no
much to brag about. It's only on,
horse line" he added.
mo, you don't mean it. Dannie 2
And he could see that his father wa!
profoundly impressed. He put up hi
free hand and gently patted Dams
head as though he We're indeed the lit
tie boy he remembered
ibid you have an easy trip west
father" Oakley asked. You must bt
tired"
"Not a bit, Danne It was wonder
full I'D been shut off from it all fol
more than twenty years, and each mile
was taking me nearer you
The warm yellow light was begin
ming to fade from the room 1t was
growing late
Il guess we'd better 90 uptown tC
the hotel and have our supper Where
is your trunk? At tie s.ationT
I've got nothing but a bundle It's
at the door"
Dan locked bis desk. and they left
the Office
rs II all yoursT Roger Oakley ask
ed. pausing as they crossed the yards
TO glance up and down the curvins
tracks.
Its part Of the property | manage
Il belongs to General Cornish. who
holds most Of the stock"