Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-01-08

| lyiCs Jul tiil liothiuS iCN. 10 /
must have some spirit, strong spirit. or
l can't keep up
Certainly. father. Why not? 1t is
all right as medicine. Willie, you so
and get some brandy while / take fa-
| Their upstairs"
| Their flat was on the second floor.
1t was neatly furnished, fitted with
electric light and contained five rooms.
John talked freely, explaining house
keeping arrangements. the puzzle as
| to their fathers size, for the first bed
| they bought was n short one: their
hours of work, the variety of theil.
supplementary and every cheering
topic, indeed. until Willie came with Il
bottle.
Both Of them glanced askance at the
quantity Mason consumed but they
passed no comment. He tried to
smoke and sat so that the light should
not fall on his face. And then he said
to them:
Tell me all you know about Philip
Arson. 1t interests me-
Snap! The hard composition of his
| pipe was broken III two.
| what pity" cried Willie. shall
l run and buy you Il new one:'
NO, my boy, no. can manage.
Don't mind me. can't talk. but will
listen. May the Lord have mercy on
me. l will listenw
He suffered that night as few men
have suffered. Many murderer has
/ hoI 40 ln tnn Sc,
ed conscience, but few can have been
narrowed by hearing their own sons
lauding to the sky the victims bene-
factions to themselves and to their
dead mother
He was master of his emotions suifi.
GENTLY to control his voice He pune
tuated their recital by occasional COM
ments that showed he appreciated ev-
cry point. He examined with interest
specimens of their work. for they I'M
derstood both the stitching and the
Stamping of leather, and once he found
himself DULY Specializing as to what
career lie would have carved out for
himself We're he given in boyhood the
opportunities they rcjoced in.
But throughout there was in his sur
charged brain Il current of cunning
purpose. First, there was Greiner,
away in the north, rohbing n dead man
and plotting desolation to some girl.
He must be dealt with.
Then he, the slayer, must be slain
and by his own hand. lie would spare
his sons as much pain as might be
within his power.
He would not merely disappear leav-
ing them dubious and distressed. No.
They must know he was dead, not by
suicide, but by accident. They would
mourn his wretched memory. Better
that than live With the abiding grief
of the knowledge that he was Philip
Anson's murderer.
He was quite sure now that the dead
would arise and call for vengeance il
he dared TO continue to exist. Yes.
that was tia life for life-a prayer
thdt his deeds might not bear fruit in
his children--and then death, speedy,
certain death.
Some reference TO the future made
by Willie, the younger, who favored
his mother more than the outspoken
John, gave Mason an opportunity to
pave the way for the coming separa-
ton.
81 don't want you two lads to make
any great changes on my account" he
said slowly. 1T is far from my in
tention to settle down here and let
all Your friends become aware that
you are supporting Il ticket of leave
father. Yes l know. You are good
boys. and it won't be any more pleas
ant for me toto live away from YOU
than 1t would be for you-undel'-oth
conditions-to be separated from me.
Butt am in earnest in this matter.
Will stop here tonight lust to feel
that l am under the same roof as you.
1t is Your roof, not mine. Long ago
lost the right to provide You with a
shelter. Tomorrow / go away. have
some work to do-a lot of work. Ii
must be attended to at once. OF
course you will see me often. We can
meet in the evening so out together
but live herewith you'll can't
His sons never knew the effort that
this speech cost him. He spoke With
such manifest hesitation that Willie,
who quickly interpreted the less pro-
nounced signs of mans thoughts,
winked warning ut his brother.
He said, with an optic signal:
Not word now, John. Just leave
things as they are
Under any ordinary conditions he
would be right. He could never guess
fIln of In; i,
his father. delivering him fettered to
the torture, bound hand ana foot, body
and soul
At last they ull retired to their
rooms. the boys TO whisper kindly
plans for keeping their father a pris-
oner again in their hands, Mason to liz.
open eyed, dry eyed. through the night,
mourning for that which might not be.
The rising sun dispelled the dark
phantoms that fitted before his vision
lie fell into Il iitful slumber, disturb.
ed by vivid dreams. Once he was on II
storm swept sea at night ON Il sinking.
ship, ship with Il crew OF dead men
and dead captain ut the helm.
Driving onward through the raging
waves, he could feel the vessel settling
more surely as she rushed into each
yawninS caldron. Suddenly through
the wreck of flying spindrift he SAW II
smooth harbor, IL sheltered basin, in
Which vessels rode in safety. There
We're houses beyond, with cheerful
lights, and men and women were
watching the doomed craft from the
firm security of the land.
But strain his eyes as lie would he
could see no entrance 10 that harlor,
naught save furious seas breaking over
relentless walls of granite
Even in his dream lie was not afraid.
He asked the captain, With an oath:
SIS there no way in:'
| Aud 1hn lnntnin t.lrnnl 1.,nn.Al H.