Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-04-12
CHAPTER Y.
n ATE one afternoon, as Oakley sat
at his desk in the broad streak of

at his desk in the broad streak of
yellow light that the sun sent in
- through the west windows. he
heard a step on the narrow board
walk that ran between the building
and the tracks. The last shrill shrek
Of No. 7, 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 tall,
gaunt man of sXty-five, little stoop
shouldered and carrying his weight
heavily and solidly. His large head
was sunk between broad shoulders. 1t
was covered by wonderful growth
Of iron gray hair The face was clean
shaven and had the look of 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.
'Is 1t you, DannieT
The smile that accompanied the
words was at once anxious, hesltating
and lnquiring. 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 its 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" wist-
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
a solitary fly high up on the ceiling.
The old convict was the first to
break the tense stiffness.
81 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 | 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 all
these years, Dannie as no higher than
that" dropping his hand 10 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
II 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
70 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
livlngf
Dan laughed queerly.
81 am the general manager Of the
railroad. father" nodding toward the
station and the yards But it's not
much 10 brag about It's only a one
horse line" he added.
"No. you don't mean IT, Danniet
And DE could see that his father was
profoundly impressed. He put up his
free hand and gently patted Dams
head us though he were indeed the lit
tie boy be remembered.
did you have an easy trip west
fatherg' Oakley asked. You must be
tired"