Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-01-08
By Louis Tracy,
hor of wings of the Morning" 1.-THE p
EAht." Etc.


Ing how we came to meet in such a
place said John.
1T might puzzle me if / found time
TO think"
We'll, the superintendent arranged
everything. Unfortunately, he was
away on his holidays when-when YOU
We're releasal-or we would have met
20" then. ana his deputy was not
aware of The circumstances. AS soon
us the superintendent returned no
wrote to the governor and was very
EIch annoyed to find that you had
slipped away in the meantime"
lie wouldn't be so annoyed if lie
WAS there himself" growled Mason
good iiunoretlly.
oh, John didn't mean that, father"
broke in Willie. THE annoyance was
his and ours. You sec, we had not
known very long where you were. We
didn't even know you were alive"
"Of course. of course. Somebody has
been looking after you well. That's
clear enough. They worldnt be always
telling pair of boys that their father
was Ill Portland"
ut gave us such a shock when we
heard the truth" said downright John.
But we We're so glad to hear that
our father was living and that we
should soon see him." explained the
younger.
when did YOU hear first?'
"About four'months ago. Just before
we took our present situations. We are
saddlers and ornamental leather work
ers. Between lis we earn quite de-
cent living. Don't we, John?'
"In fifteen weeks we have saved
enough to pay for half our furniture
besides keeping ourselves well. There's
plenty to eat, tad, You won't starve.
big as you are
They all laughed. The cab was pass.
ing st. Thomas !s,spi,al. Across the
bridge noble piW pee met their eyes.
london had q ;::...i ,our for Mason that
night it never ia!.. before.
80 Robinson Woo TO Bradley
knowing that Ymu!,, report myself to-
day. and Bradley arranged
who Is Robinson. iather:" inter
rupted John.
THE superintendent. 70 lie sure ife
used to be inspector at k'hitce'tapei."
''IIe is not the ilar ,,-a mean We
are talking OF Mr. Gies. supcrinteuti
rnt of the Mary .Annon ham."
The two boys felt ihs'tr fathers START
of dismay. of pcslti%r alright T!,cy
wondered what had happened 20 sivc
him such shoes. i'eering ut him
! sideways from the corners of the ran
Bom, they could see the quick rallor oil
his swarthy face.
you forget, John" put in the aGIoIl
William, that father knows as little
about our lives us we knew about his
until very recently. When we reach
our flat we must begin at the begin
ming and tell him everything
'"There isn't much to tell,'' cried John
when poor mother died we We're tax
ell care of by a gentleman whom Mr.
Philip asked to look after us. When
the Mary Arson home was built we
| were among the first batch of inmates
If ever a young man has done good In
this world, it is Mr. Philip Anson See
| what lie did for us. Mother was nursed
and tended with the utmost kindness,
hut her life could not be saved. We
were rescued from the workhouse
taught well and fed well and given
such instruction in n first class trade
| that even at our age we can earn Is a
week between us. And what he has
done for us lie does for hundreds of
others. God bless Philip Arson. I
| say.'
| "Amen!" said his brother.
| The voices of his SONS reached Ma
sons tortured brain like sounds heard,
| remote hut distinct. through long
| tunnel. His great frame seemed to
collapse. In. an instant he became an
| old man. He set his teeth and jammed
/ his elbows against the woodwork OF
tie cab. but. strive as he would with
Ihis immense physical strength and his
logged will. he shook with a palsy.
Father" cried John anxiously. little
| dreaming how his enthusiastic speech
had pierced to the very marrow of his
nearer. "are you i'll? Shall we stop:"
"Perhaps, john u little brandy would
do him good" murmured Willie.
FEATHER. Go tell me what is the mat
ter. Willie. reach up and tell the man
10 stop
Then Mason forced himself TO speak.
i"No. no" he gasped. Go on. 1t is.
only-a passing spasm."
He must have time, even n few min
Ctes. in which TO drive off the awful
.pecter that Rugged him in the EN-.
brace of death. He dared not look nj
his SONS. II he We're compelled to
face them on the pavement in the far
ing gaslight lie would run away.
Ills anguish was pitiable Great
! ,lro;,S nf c,vaot stood cln,nmy m hje