The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-04-21

And as he prOspered the pallent |
figure of the mother in the doorway /.
grew mere and more indistlnct He
sent money TO her with unfailing reg
ularity-and occasionally he wrote.
But sle picture grew DINNER
He went abroad He mixed with
great captains of industry. They rec
ognzcd him as a rising force. He sat
with them. He was one Of their num-
Der.
And the patient woman in the far
off doorway looked in vain for the
coming Of her boy.
John Ridgeway was a busy man.
His interests were many. His Time
was brief. Small wonder that the Old
home grew further and further away
In time It quite disappeared.
Men trembled at John Ridgeways
name. The financial power he welded
had been fairly equalled. Clutched in
his strong right hand were threads
! that ran in many directions and con-
trolled many interests.
And then one day he saw the pa
tent figure in the door way again.
He hadn't been quite himself that
day. He was duh and heavy and he
knew It. And being capable Of think
ing Of his schemes and plans, he sud-
denly thought Of himsclf-of his boy
hood, Of his early home,
It was after this that he went TO the
fine old doctor The touch Of senti-
mont worried him. He feared a mem
tai breakdown,
And 10! the doctor had confirmed
his fears and what was Sun mure
strange, had brought up the very Wis
ion that disturbed him,
When he left the doctors Office he
took letter from his pocket and read
it through. Then he carefully put 1t
back IN the envelope which bore the
postmark Of the old town,
Bah" he suddenly growled, I'm
getting childish"
He had bought a country home to
help the owner, whom the money
market had wrecked 1t was grand
and lonely. If 1t had not been for the
airship experiments he would have
gone back TO the rooms in the city
But the aeroplane engrossed John
Ridgeways attention. 1t quoted his
mind. II was a soothing playtning.
What was that? Where was he?
Then he saw the picture again. TIT
mother in the doorway, but her fact
wore a look Of terror and her hand
were stretched out in agony.
A sudden sharp chill came owe
him, a crashing blow stunned him
He remembered no more.
When John Ridgeway opened hi
aching eyes he was lying in a dark
ened room, but he could family maxi
out the anxious face Of the fine oil
doctor
He tried to speak
The doctor went down.
How long was ! falling?" he whis
pered.
cone of the villagers happened 4
= have his watch in his hand when h
caught sight Of you the doctor an
7 swered. "He saw the aeroplane col
lapse and watched your fall, Yo
l were buoyed up by the planes and th
I descent from the moment of the dis
I aster until you dropped into the mi
pond was exactly thirty seconds"
The pale lips moved,
The doctor bent again,
at was thirty years-oXactly thirt
years."
The doctor drew back He did nc
smile.
THAT must cover thee period {
your public life,' he gravely said.
The eyes said yes.
The doctor bent to catch the CON
ing message,
u lived it all again." said job
Ridgeway,
The doctor slowly nodded.
"You have had a miraculous e'
cape" he said. you have been 81
verely shocked and badly bruised, bl
you are going to get well. What al
you trying to say?"
How soon can I be moved?'
an a few days, | hope"
There is something | want"
Eyes. What is it? Take your time
81 want to go home" whispere
John Ridgeway.
"Home?'
"You know the home l mean. Yc
asked me about It,"
Eyes, yes, remember. Go on"
There Is a letter-in my coat poe