The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-11-18
CHAPTER XXI.

on the first day of July; and it was re-
marked as coincidence by the curious
that Deer Trace manor-house was
closed for the summer no more than q
week before the return of the GORDON
black sheep.
That Tom was black sheep, hope
less and incorrigible social iconoclast
was no longer a matter of doubt In the
minds of any. Something may be for
given a promising young man who has
been unhappy enough. or impruden,
enough, to begin to make history fol
himself in the irresponsible teens; but
also the act of oblivion may be repeal
ed When 1t became noised about thai
there were two children instead of one
In the old dog keepers cabin in the
glen, Mountain View avenue was justly
b Indignant and even the lenient Cor
domains scowled and shook their heads
at the mention of the young boss
name.
To such an atmosphere of potential
social ostracism Tom returned after the
final scholastic triumph in Boston; and
for the first few days he escaped as
phyxiation chiefly because the affairs
OF Gordon & Gordon and the Chiawas-
see Consolidated gave him no time 10
test It's quality
But after the first week he began to
breathe 1t Enthusiastically. One evening
he called on the F'arnsworths; the Ia
dies were not at home to him. The
next night he saddled Saladin. and rode
over to Paramount; the Misses Harrl-
son were also unable to see him, and
the butler conveyed deftly- wOrded in
timation pointing to future invisibiltties
on the part of his mistress. The even
Ing being still young. Tom tried Rock
wood and the Dell. suspicion settling
into conviction when the trim maid
servant at the Stanley villa went near
to shutting the door In his face At the
Dell he Jared little better. The
Young Dicksons were going out for an
after dinner call on one of the neigh
bors. and Tom met them at the gate as
he was dismOunting There were re-
grets apparently hearty; but in recast-
Ing the incident later, Tom remembered
that 1t was the husband who did the
talking, and that Mrs. Young-Dickson
stood in the shadow of the gate tree.
frigidly silent and with her face avert
ed.
quit" he said to Saladin at the re-
was at the stone pillared gates Of Rock
Hill Again the ladies were not st
home but Mr. Vancourt Henniker came
out and smoked cigar with his Gus
toner on the piazza. The talk was
pointedly of business, and the banker
was urbanely gracious-and mildly in
uufsitive. Would there be consolida-
'tion Of the allied iron industries Of Cor
aionia when the Farleys should return?
Mr.. Henniker thought IT would be un-
deniably profitable to all concerned,
and offered his services as fnanciering
promoter and intermediary. Would Mr..
Gordon come and talk 1t over with him
at the bank?
Tom found his father on the pictur-
esque veranda at Woodlawn when he
reached home. For time there was
such silence as stands for communion
between men of one blood. and was The
father who first broke it
Been out calm, SOM" he asked.
marking the Tuxedo and the white ex-
panse of shirt front.
mo, l reckon not" was the reply.
punctuated by short laugh. 1.-The ave-
nue. seems to be depopulated"
so? I hadn't heard of anybody go
In away said Caleb the literal
Nor l." said Tom. CURLY; and the
conversation paused until the IRON
master said:
"Ardee thinks a heap o. you, and II
you could jest We made out to keen
from gettin' so tangled with that gal o.
h0 ofn oh~
quite soon enough. and the word was
As the flick of whip on wound al
ready made raw by the abrasion of the
closed doors.
$50 that misenable story has got
around to you at last, has it," said
Tom, in fine scorn. Il did hope they'd
spare you and mother"
She's spared yet. so far as know. !"
said the father, with backward nod
to indicate the antecedent Of the pro-
noun Following which. he said what
lay uppermost in his mind. II been al
owin' maybe you'd come back this time
with your head sot on lettin' that ra]
alone. son."
you've believed all you've hear
have you?-condemned me before
could say word in my own defence,
II don't say that. son." Then. with .
Cote of fatherly yearning in his voice
I'm waitin' to hear that word rirh,
now, Buddy-or as much of It an :.
can say honestly"
You'll never hear It from me-neva,
In this world or another. Now tell m,
who told you!"
why. it's in mighty near everybody.
mouth. son!" said Caleb. in mild sur
prise. you certainty didn't take an,
pains to cover it up
Didn't take any pains? why Shout,
II" Tom burst out. After which n
tramped heavily to the farther end 8
the veranda, glooming over at tn
darkened windows OF Deer Trace an
letting bitter anger and disappointment
work their will on him. And when h
finally turned and tramped back It wa
only to say an abrupt "Good might.
and to pass into the house and IN /
him room. /.
He thought he was alone II -
moon-i lighted dusk OF the upper char
when he closed the door ana 49,
% pace rageful sentry-beat bacIr 4,
H0Yfh