Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-09

send some when get my relief. Not
so much us used to send. | want you
to kind of explain why"
whats his first name. Dad, and
where does he live"
ITS lawyer that looks after him
a man that tends TO my business back
there
well, what's his name:'
"Scaylor-Ephraim Scaylor."
"Scaylor?" echoed George in amaze
ment.
"Yes. Why. do you know himT
"Why, that's the man mother and !
had so much trouble with. wouldn't
write to that man. He's rascal.
Dad"
what did he ever do to you and
your mother?
I'll tell you. Dad. though it's mat
ter I CON- t"lk nb)u. much. MY IA
ther had trouble back there fifteen or
sixteen years ago He was running an
engine and had wreck. There were
some passengers killed. The dispatch
er managed to throw the blame on IA
ther. and they indicted him for man
slaughter. He pretty near went crazy.
and all of sudden he disappeared.
and we never heard Of him from that
day to this. But this man Scaylor,
mother stuck to 1t, knew something
about where father was, only he al
ways denied It."
Trembling like leaf. Dad raised
up on his elbow. whats your moth
ers name. son? What's your name"
Georgie looked confused. "Pll tell
you. Dad. There's nothing to be asham-
ed of. was foolish enough. ! told
you once. 10 go out OH n strike with
the engineers down there. ] was
only n kid. and we were all blacklisted.
So ! used my middle name, McNeal.
My full name is George McNeal Sin
clair"
The old fireman made painful ef-
fort to sit up, to speak. but he choked.
His face contracted. and George rose
frightened. With Il herculean effort
the old man raised himself up and
grasped Georges hands.
"Son," he gasped to the astonished
boy, don't you know me"
"Of course know you, Dad. WHAT'S
the matter with you? Lie down.
boy, I'm your own father. My
name is David Hamilton Sinclair.
had the trouble, George" He choked
up like child, and George McNeal
went white and scared: then he grasp
ed the gray haired man in his arms.
When dropped In all hour later they
were talking hy5.erically. Dad was ex-
planning how he had been sending
money to Scaylor every month, and
George was contending that neither
lie nor his mother had ever seen cent
Of It. But one great fact OvershadOwed
all the vil!ainy that night-father and
son were united and happy and mes
sage had already gone back to the old
home from George to his mother, tell
ing her the good news.
".And that Indictment was wiped out
long ago against father" said George
to me. "but that rascal Scaylor kept
writing him for money to fight 1t with
and to pay for my schooling-and this
was the kind of schooling l was get
ting all the time. Wouldn't that kill
you"
l couldn't sleep till l had hunted up
Neighbor and told him about 1t, and
next morning we wired transportation
back for Mrs. Sinclair to come out on.
Less than week afterward gentle
little old woman stepped of the fier mt
GAINESVILLE and into the arms Of Geor-
gle Sinclair. A smart rig was In wait
Ing, to which her son hurried her, and
they were driven rapidly to the hos
pital. When they entered the old nre'
mans room together the nurse softly
closed the door behind them.
But when they sent for Neighbor and
me, suppose We were the two biggest
fools In the hospital, trying to look un-
conscious Of all we saw in the faces OF
the group ut Dads bed.
He never got his old strength back,
vet Neiglbor fixed him OFT. for n! that.
The skyscraper. once our pride, was
so badly stove that we gave zip nope
Of restoring her for II passenger run.
SO Neighbor built her over into a sort
of dub engine for short runs. stubs.
and so on: and though Dad had vowed
long ago when unjustly condemned,
that he would never more touch
throttle. we got him to take the sky
scraper and the Acton run.
And when George, who takes the
fiier every other day, is Off duty he
climbs into Dads cab, shOves the old
gentleman aside and shoots around the
yard in the rejuvenated skyscraper ut
hair raising rate of speed.
After awhile the old engine got so
full Of alkali that George gave her d
new namc-Soda Water Sal-and 1t
hangs to her yet. We thought the best
Of her had gone in the Harvard wreck,
but there came time when Dad and
Soda Water Sal showed us We were
very much mistaken.