The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-10-01

They're gOin at me wrong" h@
said after time, bringing his chair
legs down with a solid thump. 4
The evening meal was eaten In ID
grim kind of silence.
The father had absent-mfnded ca
resseg for the baby and Tommy, but MOI
words, and they both eyed the big man
wonderingly.
"M's a wonder that boy wouldn't
come home" declared John, staringl
hard at the empty chair which had re-
matned tenantless TO the close of the
meal.
"Oh, I've been so worried about
Mms" said Jennie with pent-up feeling.
'He came home at noon over the back
fenca, and went out that way again.
He never said word about trouble.
though"
"And did you tell him anytttng7v
tNo.# somehow, 1t seemed so irunflf1
ating."
The back steps creaked softly juae
then, and the kitchen door opHued and
closed with quietness unlike Jack.
but the tattered figure that backed uJ
against the stove and stood blinking
CAA NRO pNANhhA9 was at iodEb I0CUAN
nisabia He was hatless. The unbIink4
ing optic was closed and hlackenehs
Ifs face was scratched and cut. His
ltp was swollen and tiny triclsling
stream of carmine oozed down from
one nostril and was occasionally swept
away by the tenderly caressing lick of
his tongue. His shirt was torn open
at the collar. His coat and pants were
r1YeR.cnofrnA xxtb Ia trfef -
yawned through a gaping hole in one
stocking. He clung resolutely to hia
book strap, and the books themselves.
with jammed and twisted corners, gave
evidence of having been used as ai
weapon of defense. For moment the
lad endured the questioning gaze OF
his father.
"A b-boy said You was scab," he
remarked In what he tried hard to
make tone Of unconcern, "and 4
Licked him for It." and then added,
doubtfully, hesitatingly, "but-but5
are your"
John started almost fiercely as he
heard again the knife-like stab OF that
hated word. But little Jack, with hi8
damaged face, wounded and uncomy
planning soldier in the war, looked up
so seriously and so Loyalty that his
heart was softened instantly.
"Are you, Dad?" he asked again.
more seriously. and less confidently
'fEat your dinner, boy" said tha
father, "and well talk about 1t after
wards" n
With. tender solicitude he heapsd the
boys plate, and watched the,disappeaL'
ance with the greatest satisfaction
taking pride In the thought that thera
would be food upon his table NEXT
week also, the best food a tournew
man nlolder's wages could buy. Whem
the meal was finished, there was d
suspicious brightness in John Martins
eyes as he took his son upon his kneas
the SON who had earned the right Cd
his fathers confidence by shedding the
first blood in behalf of the principle
for which he was contending. And
when the father had done. having
made the sacred and inalienabIe right
to work stand out more clearly in ais
mind than ever before, the boy dis
concerted him with questions
"But why don't you stand by you'd
gang?" he asked. "Hully chee;"
In the silence that followed the boy
slid down from his knee and stood
looking at him disapprovingly. why.
say" he continued, not sauciiy but
stoutly, IF I couldn't make q iivina
for tho family without takin' sides
against my own crowd. I'd throw em
in the river like sack of pups"
Then he turned disdainfully and
marched off to the sink, where he pro-
ceeded with sundry grunts to remove
the scars Of battle from his taQR
"I'n bet lick that Flanagan kid
again tomorrow" he muttered vic,
iously. between splashes.
AS for John Martin, he sat, gazing
at the floor, one hand upon his knee;
the other toying absently with his
pipe. For the first time a really seri.
Gus doubt had entered his mind. Was
1t possible that the instinct of thfs
innocent child was more sure than all
his finely reasoned conclusions? Waz
it true that he had no right to 80
against his class? The sickening fear
that It might be, and that he who. had
deemed himself a martyr for liberty
was only miserable traitor. crept
into his heart For an hour he SAT
bowed in forbidding silence, to be
reused at last by a bang at the door.
Il was a group Of the men. come az
they had come so many times befOre
to argue and TO bully. John welcomed
them gloomily
The first to enter was Stoclsdale.
heavy-shouidered Englishman, who
had been there before Behind him
walked the Scotchman. McKichnis,
taller. with clear blue eyes red cheeks
and a canny face. with a queer light
on IT, Next came two big. angular
men with great hands that reached al.
most TO their knees. aud ponderous
feet that they planted with clumsy
stolidity, These men had lumpy,
iushed faces and faxen hair was
matted low on their foreheads The
last was a German-looking person with
4 face the color Of beeswax He wore
thick glasses over eyes that had .
great deal Of white in them. His
breast was Ike a pouter pigeons and
he looked very bright and very merci-
less.
The giant Swades sat on the lounge.
Stockdale and McKichnie took chairs.
but the German remained bolt upright
In the center of the room. looking at
John, who. having discharged the tem-
Dorary duties OF a host in Offering
hairs for the comfort OF his visitors.