The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-12-24
The Prodiga|'s RetuTn---
A Xmas Story
CONTINUED from Page p

die l took a close scrutiny of the
room
II l was at once struck by the I'M
tidiness of the apartment Evidently
left almost as it was on the day of
his boys departure, save that the
bed was made, and a small fire kim
i died in the old-fashioned CRATE
Removing my shoes and drawing |
up close to the fire I rolled a cigar
cite, lit it, and commenced to think
of Dick, then of the non-appearance
of my hosts wife, who, during my
! previous visits showed such friend
ship towards me.
II l know not to this day what came
over me, but letting fall my half !
smoked cigarette I must have dozed |
for some time for I awoke with |
a start to find the fire burnt out and
the candle almost to it's end. I strobe
toward the window as the snow
covered yard cast a reflective light
]
| objects familiar to me, one in par
ticular, large dog kennel And as
| | gaZed upon it | wondered whether
Dicks faithful old hound was still
its occupant. But alas, as I learned
| later, the creature had pinned away
| within a few months of his masters
absence
| But where was Dick himself?"
| I recalled our friendship, our many
| walks and our happy fishing excur-
| sions in those old times when every
| thing seemed so bright for the lad
and his heart was young. Why, oh
why, had he gone from that circle?
Surely there must be some mystery
attached to his departure.
/ Oh, Dick, could l have but fore
seen the subsequent events that were
to happen what would I have not
given to change the hands of fate
And to think. too, that I should have
! been the real cause. / hardly dare
. thing of it to this day. Thus pom
dering on a short while, / began to
| feel drowsy, so removing my coat and
| placing my wallet, as is the custom
of some, underneath my pillow, I
1 turned into bed and prepared to|
sleep
i But sleep I could not, no matter
I how | tried, and as l half gazed at
1 the window my mind conjured up all
i manner of hideOus things.
/ Suddenly l was startled to hear
a noise apparently beneath my very
window, and I saw the ivy around
the window move in sways. Anxious
and almost breathless | waited, gaz-
ing out into the night.
/ Could | be mistaken? No, For,
peering above the window sill was
a face and almost as quickly it dis
| appeared. l was scared beyond
! measure. but quickly and silently l
arose, partially dressed myself, and
I crept underneath my bed to await
events.
/ Scarcely had | done so when the
noise was repeated and | could dis
tinctly see the window uplfted and
l knew l had company in my room
Frightened, | followed the figures
movements round the room and
saw him throw what appeared to me
to be a well-flled seafaring handker-
chief in the corner of the room, and,
with the words, What will the dear
folks say?" he tossed into the bed,
the bed I had just vacated, and was
soon lost to sleep, apparently a deep
Il sleep for he snored rather loudly,
Il evidently tired right out. The whole
II circumstances, so strange, yet SO real,
u must have unhinged the minds of
4 most, and whatever steps I might
been frustrated at once, for gently
II the handle of the door began to
turn and a very dim light fell into
the room. Were these strange hap
penings never to cease?
The next instant I was aware of
the presence of mine host and his
! wife, for though unable to see their
faces I could distinctly see the same
old carpet slippers he had worn the
evening of my arrival, and l could
detect the rustling of a skirt. The
following events took place SO quick
ly that nothing short of the inter-
vention of Providence could alone
change them The old man took two
! strides to the bed, hesitated, but, as
he did so woman's voice whispered
Coward; strike Strike he did, and
that quickly for I heard a moan
which I seem to hear repeated to
] this day, and they both took a hur
ried departure.
Collecting myself together, for
seemed all at once to feel myself
again, l crept from under the bed
/ and struck a light. My coat was on
the floor Gently turned the sheets.
! {1o{