Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-25

am afraid it means that we are snow
ed in"
When the morning dawned he re-
turned from 4 fruitless search. He
slept till 8 o'clock and. noticing that
the house was dark. asked the girl
what it meant.
The man hurried about the house,
looking in vain for n glimmer of light
from the outside. Presently he came
back to her II am afraid it is true,
he said You wonderful girl. do you
take all your misfortunes so happily?
The girl laughed merrily. You can
not tell fibs successfully. but L am
very sure that Aunt Martha will not
worry. 1t isn't her nature. She will
know l have fetched up somewhere"
Early in the afternoon they sat. one
on either side of the fireplace. the dogs
shaggy length stretched at the girls
feet while the man read aloud. Pres
emily. feeling the concentration Of her
eyes upon him, he looked up from
the book
John Ryder" said the girl sudden.
". why did you come hereF"
The man started visibly. and his IA
Daled 80" he said. you know my
manner
She lifted a book from the reading
table and. opening it. held it out to
him in the lampllghty Upon the ny
leaf was inscribed, To John Ryder,
From His Mother" The mans face
hardened. then he said: You must
have heard the whole miserable story.
1t has been well advertised throughout
the country"
The girl leaned forward. "WfII you
let me tell you all that l have heard?''
she asked gently. He made an impa-
tlent gesture of dissent.
1T will be better for you" the girl
urged. Ito talk it over. Bearing so
much alone has made you morbid
las you will" said the man and
buried his face in his hands.
Il remember the day'-ber voice was
tender with sympathy-''t the news
boys were calling. Extra" along the
streets and l stopped TO buy paper
with its glaring headlines. John Ryder
Abscondedr / had heard about his
extravagant entertainments. his gener-
Gus gifts to charity. Now ] read of
widows and orphans left destitute. of
homes destroyed because of his dis
honesty. Then. while the world was
still talking of his great crime. another
extra was called-'John Ryder Dead"
As read the sad story tears filed my
eyes. for he was returning home. re-
turning old and broken after one week
TO give himself mp to the authorities.
when they found him. But he never
reached the prison walls. Heart dis
ease, the papers said. though it SEEM
ed to me that. realizing the eDormity
OF his crime and Sorrowing for ii, he
had died. Then j read of the son left
to bear the shock and disgrace. They
had blamed hiQ. toO-the papers-with
sharp, singing words, limiting that, as
sociated closely with his father in bust
ness affairs. he must have known that
the money which provided him with
every luxury was not honestly earned.
Oh. 1 was glad when be showed him
self true and longed to go to this sec
ond John Ryder to tell him how splen-
did he was. for he gave up everything
the independent fortune which his
mother had left her son. his automo-
biles. not even Withholding the beau
tiful horse which had been his pet and
pride. Then. penniless and quite alone,
he disappeared.
John Ryder" asked the girl again.
''why did you come hereT
The man raised his face. 1T was
the coward instinct. suppose" he
said bitterly. The fight was too strong
for me. so / deserted. My mother
loved this little place. and l could not
let it go. so it was here we came to
hide away from them all. Laddie
and IL
You a deserter." cried the girl. and
her eyes were gleaming-"the bravest
man that{I have ever known. Shall l
tell you why you came here TO be alone
for a time? 1t was that you might
gather your forces together and then.
going back into the very midst of the
fight, show them, not what a John
Ryder has been, but what John
Ryder can be-"
The mans eyes seemed to have