The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-02-06
FOR THE SAKE OF HIS MOTHER

W.T.
steady calculating glances, this strong-imbed ath-
4etlc fellow, with keen resoute face and cold gray
eyes lie was quietly, though fashionablv dressed
and carried an air of command which impressed
even the station agent.
Can you direct me to the Woodruff farm here
aDouts :! the stranger asked that functionary
Sure, the latter replied wondering moan
while how in the mischief this visitor from an ont
side world ever managed to get that faultless knot
IN his red scarf. "1ou 60 up this ere road until
you come to the four corners Then turn to the left
and IT'S the second farmhouse"
Thank you" said the stranger courteousl1 and
turned to 60 He paused hesitatngIy, and asked.
as II on second thought-"Is-Billy home nowto
Yep replied the agent, as he scanned the i'm
maculate tit OF the unknown't topcoat "He came
home-wall-less see. about a week ago. Wa-no
not quite week; to think, faint more'n four
days ago."
Gosh! wish ] he'd suit like his'n," he added
10 himself as the stranger closed the station door
behind rhim, and strobe off down the country road
WHO in thunder do We spose he is y asked Ben
Sweezy gaping out the window at the RAPIDLY dis
appearing figure Purity sick-lookin' Teller amt
heg'
ooh, don't know" rejoned the agent. who was
the dandy Of the locality; "he amt so dumb slick
There are others" He glanced compacently ia the
three by four looking glass between the windows of
his tiny Office and began adjusting his tie as he
spoke.
Hush" snorted old man Bailey. whose peppery
tongue was universally dreaded; what arc you a
tryin' to ape him fur, them"
81 han't apin' him." retorted the agent getting
very red IN the face
'Yo haint eh!7 c, E ed this terrible ed ran
Mil Peck. ye be tly;n this minute 10 * youi
necktie stylish like lis'n. But We cant No use
Ne hain'l got the han Of it." The otact lauehcl
shrllly at the rural fops discontinue
Meanwhile Mr.. John Manning. from New York
was rapidly swinging down the frosty country road
towards the four corners, whose dim outlines he
could descry in the distance. So on that road to-
the left was his quarry. He had made no mistake
then IN following the boy straight to his country
home.
Nine times out of ten" he said to himself "the
rule holds good They haven't sense enough to lose
themselves in a big town, but run right home to
father and mother. Well it's too bad for the old
people"
There had been a powdering of snow the night
before, but the bare brown fields were showing
through the furry. 1t what the country folks
cali "open winter" There was even hint of
spring in the air-a fine, intangible suggestion of
crocuses and swallows. The sky was blue as sap
phlre, and the south wind steadily blowing.
Unless this wind changes" muttered John Man
ming, I'VE shall have a rain to go back in" He
paused a moment to look his watch. The silence
OF the landscape smote him. He stood gazing at
the bare, gaunt woods the wide stretching mead
ows, with patches of ice here and there yelling
little pools of water, the plain farmhouses perched
upon the hills and in the valleys. 1t was peace
full, although monotonous, scene It appealed to
this man, fresh from the noise and roar of the
great city.
by George how quiet it Isl" he said aloud.
and his voice gave him a start. at takes me back
back" He paused, and queer look stole in
the agate eyes. One might have said that those
eyes grew almost soft and suffused 1t was only
for instant. If John Manning was weak enough
TO swing open the doors of memory for one brief
comprehensive glance into his boyhood he as quick
w +hero lute d,1tC
$50 you've found me-"
The poured down its cold splendor. 1t
touched the naked limbs Of the orchard trees
glanced the of shining pals and pans OF
the kitchen stoop, and shone full the startled
face of young man standing before the great open
door of an old weather beaten, moss-grown barn,
the grain still nj his hands with which he had been
feeding the noisy sparrows that had swooped down
from the caves. He stared straight at the
who stood before him, strong, alert, keeneyed. The
newcomer regarded him steadily. His right hand
significantly touched his hip pocket.
$50 you have found me-" the boy repeated
Yes" said the other very quietly. "And | ad-
wise you Billy, not to make a row. You had best
come along without any fuss 1t viii be better for
you In the long run.
Billy took a step or two forward lurched heav-
lily like a drunken man. staggered back, leaned
against the trunk of and put his hands to his
face. John Manning watched him with cool, mar
rowing eyes, a tiger might his prey.
Suddenly Billy withdrew his hands and asked
almost in whisper, did you see any one at the
house~
Eyes" replied Manning quietly; there's fine
old man in the sitting reading newspaper
and dear old lady making apple pies in the kitch
en-. should suppose, Billy, they your father
and mother"
yes" said the boy, with groan of anguish
you didnt-you couldn't have told them" he
fercely questioned,
~No" responded Manning; q simply asked for
Won and they told me l would find you out about
the barn Oh, no, l didn't tell them You will
have to do that"
u tell them echoed the boy, with dry sob
81 tell them Why. man. | might as well kill them
and be done with it."
~ know. | know" Manning answered thought
fully. Its bad deal. Let me see" He medi-
tated for q moment Il will tell you what to do.