The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02

noeence .'but YOU can't deny that in the
days when his horn was exalted Jaeop
Romer OVERRIDE us unmereliully- IA
raoh and his chariots-yea, Pharaoh ana
his mighty menu =,
He was a good master to me- said
Walter Grinding doggedly, land so ne
was to you, McKil1-better than ever
either of us will see under any Limited
| Company "a,
Then you think he's done-smashed?
asked Hector McKill, with quite unhoiy
I Joy on his long horse countenance.
Kahn has taken away every cent ne
would" Grinding answered land what
he couldn't take he has speculated with,
The castle and all will have TO 60 l
can't think of an asset Mr.. Romer VIII
I have in the world-the purchase-money
is all paid and reeeipted for by the prop
er person--Kahn The vendors shares
were salabe on the open market. They
were sold there by the person in charge
of them-Kahn. But where is Kahn?
/ Where is Casimir? The police can't find
them. They may end by finding the au-
/ tomobles, yes But the money-not 50
much as a farthingl"
"Then the man is a bankrupt" cried
/ Mc<ill rubbing his hands gleefully.
Il did not say that" said Grinding
( wisely u never yet saw a smash so big
! that with care some basketsful might
not be gathered up. But this is big
! one and no mistake. Kahn had the
charge of all his investments for years.!
"Ah" said McKill. that would be
| what took the little CONFIDENTIAL SO often
to East Dene and Thorsby. I've had news
/ that things are every bit as bad theren'
And he almost danced with the mirth
| of man who has all the virtues which
( cost him nothing-but who is yet moth
! ing, lacking charity
/ Walter Grinding turned on his heel
with a hard word, offensive to the ear of
this good man. But before he went he
moralized.
"If | ever get to heaven by an acct
dent" he said. "and find it filled with
your sort, Hector McI<ill, [ will take one
jump into the Great Gulf Fixed-aye, if
ii were out of that old fellows bosom
l forgot his name, but l always was par
tial to hin-though he did let his wife
lead him too much by the nose, about
that poor girl out in the wilderness, [
I meant Abraham--yes, that was-the man.
] liked him. He had a feelin' heart, and
wouldn't have gone back on an old EN-
ployer! You read bit in your Bible,
MeKill, and attend to it. There are
some as true and living things in Gene
sis as any man could wish to read Bears
the daily papers all TO bits! Read your
Bible, MeKil and do what it tells you
once in a while-you will feel better
man.
McKill thought Grinding was mockng
because he did not go to church, but
Walter Grinding meant every word he
said. 1t had never struck him to read a
single chapter till one night, being left
alone with his sick master and Dick
Finnans Bible, he had made the best of
bad job The seed had fallen on tough
clayey soil. There were lots of thorns,
and thistles abounded. But, nevertheless,
it had taken root. Now McKill was get
ting the benefit of an early crop, that
was all, and Walter Grinding, by TAX
ing long railway journey and disgus-
ing himself thoroughly, was in hopes Of
becoming by-and-by the possessor of a
Bible of his own. OF course, he would
be ashamed to go and ask for such a
thing-at the Kirktown stationer'sl But
! all the same he meant to get one. 1t
was not often that he took to a book but
that of old Dicks was decidedly inter
esting.
Meanwhile, Jacob Romer lay on his
daughters bed in the little cottage, and
heard from a great distance the sound
of many waters. There was peace in the
chamber-a great exceeding peace. Even
DIR. Hugh Calmont approved in his
brusque manner-of the whiteness shaded
and soft, of the open window, of the
soft sough of the sea, saying regularly
"hush, hush" upon its pebbles outside,
of the freshness of the June morning
/ above all of the girl beside the bed
dressed in close fitting, supple blue serge
and white apron, who stood silent and
took his instructions. Yes, Dr. Hugh Cal
mont approved all these.
How do you keep everything so
quiet?" he demanded, suddenly turning
upon the nurse, my own place Isl like
a rookeryl"
Besides. Mr.. Romer," she answered.
smiling, there are only my two foster
fathers, Billy and Dick Finnan. And
they are mostly down yonder at the light
house. Also up or the cliff there is
Phil"
"Ah,' said Dr. Calmont grimly for
him, up on the cliff there is Phil You
mean my son? Well, what have you to
say to me about your prospects, you two
| young people?"
But for me-" said Vida frankly, "Phil
would have been part of-of The Rock
| eryr"
| The doctor WINGED a little.
mot quite that he said, in a more
serious tone than>he had yet used. Phil
was idle, but always quiet!"
well, sir,'' said Vida 'if I marry
Phil, I will see to it that neither of us
asks anything from anybody"
Not even from me?' said the doctor
Now, I can at least give you some good
advice without charging for it. And !
| will begin now"
They had passed out together and now
stood-the long rocky peninsula of Rough
Island glistening before them in the
white sun, and the cliffs rising high ur
! about the cove. There was a pleasant
wash of cool water all about, 1.-THE lispne
splash OF long seaweed in the pools, like
4 clothes lifted and let drop in a washinf
! tub-only cool and salt and June like
above, ALL the tall lighthouse tower, ant
two little dots moving about upon it.
| platform. Dr. Hugh smiled. and then HI
| sighed.
at is the ideal life" he said; At env,
Phil But do you know that in taking
/ Mr. Romer like this, you are as like1y
as not to lget him to keep. 1t seems tina
nothing can be recovered of the estate
and, for my part of the business, l fore
see that he may be somewhat better
even perhaps be able to walk about
little. But he will be a charge to some
one all his days In the years of hi
| riches he denied all about you-why, then
should you-?"
! The doctor was trying the girl
She drew from her pocket little striJ
! of parchment, worn into creases witt
carrying in an envelope. And Vida Ro
mer handed to the doctor her birth Ger
tificate.
| Silc Sdlu Will TIE ulflOSI SlmDnC
ity in the world.
"Ah, did hep said the doctor SLOWLY
hazel staffff hard on the ground so tina
as you dor
"Of course, Phil thinks as I do!p sal,
the girl Indignantly, "he always does!'
"Oh, Sacredest Innocence" murmure,
the doctor, and stumped his unsho
said that this time he held him.
he might not smile. "Well God bless yo,
YOU Babes!" he said, laying his ham
on Vida's head. perhaps. after all