Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-03
THE WARD LEADER 6 BY Owen Kildare

What d'you think he was going to do? He had
sold everything and was going to pay back all he
had gotten oyoh, in the way of practical politics.
He had written his resignation from the organiza-
ton.
"And now I'm through he said and grasped
my hand "Ani you promise me not to let any
body know my whereabouts?
l was completely taken off my feet before
could say anything
it was as If had hit him. He tumblei into chair
and cried l never seen manor woman
cry before.
what father I've been to him! Not satisfied with
giving him crook for a father, had to make
him one, too.
But you're not all through with p6litcs?"
"Politcs?' he shouted. 81 pray I'd had
anything to do with that devilish game. l only
hope that amt too old to be honest And if m
spared until my boy comes home, I'll spend all the
rest o. my life to atone and to win his forgive
ness. Goodnight"
1 never heard from him until ten months later,
Just when the Kids time was up. Then Dave
wrote to to meet him.
| didn't waste a moment but chased down to
the Twenty sixth Street dock, where the boat from
the Island comes in. Dave was there and he look
ed like different man. All the swell togs were
gone. He looked strong and as healthy a young
fellow, and when looked at his hands l began to
smell at rat
"How's stone-cutting nowadays?" I asked.
How dyou find out?" he said and laughed
Then he started in about the Kid, whether he
would forgive him and whether he would speak to
him. until the boat landed.
Ahead of almost everybody, the Kid
ing down the plank, He didn't hurry much, but
came up slow and put out his hand to me.
I'm glad you came down to meet me, it makes
it less lonely he said
waited for him to say something to his father,
but he couldn't see him at ALL
Wl-Wilbur, amt You got a word for your
father" the old man kind groaned.
Yes have a word for you, but hoped you
would spare from uttering it," he answered,
his face going white. Then, becoming cooler,
"Ain't you satisfied yet with what you've done?"
he said "You are nothing to me. Our ways part
here. I'm going in search of my lost integrity
you go back to your politics and crookedness.'
The old man just looked at him with face
that almost grayish green. Then he hurried
away.
Well, had to talk like a Dutch uncle before
I made an impression on the Kid. When | told
the Kid softened considerably And when threw
out that the old man all broken up and not
responsible, and, perhaps, liable to do anything
the boy said Come, we must go to him.
We at the tenement in less than time.
The door was locked, but l heard him inside and
to it. He standing in front of bit of look
ing-glass and tried to hide something we fell
into the room. We didn't have to see 1t to know
what 1t
The Kid went up to him.
Dad, dear old dad you forgive me?"
Dad, dear old dad, you forgive me?" he
said, and put his arms around the old man.
That was my to take sneak, and tip
toeng to the door whe nthe Kid said again.
Were going to stick together now. amt we? Not
as politicians but just honest, square men"
The father couldn't answer and you know the
reason why not.
On my way down those four flights o. stairs l
came to the conclusion that it takes lot of prac
tical politics and crookedness to kill the love be-
tween father and son.