Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1911-01-06
CHAPTER XXI.

OF Science, and one of the six prize
men in his class, was expected homo
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
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 promising young man who has
been unhappy enough, or imprudent
enough, to begin to make history for
himself in the irresponsible teens; but
also the act Of oblivion may be repeal
ed. When 1t became noised about that
there were two children instead of one
In the old dog keepers cabin in the
glen. Mountain View avenue was justly
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 G. Gordon and the Chiawas-
see Consolidated gave him no time 10
test its quality.
But after the first week he began 10
breathe it Enthusiastically. One evening
he called on the Farnsworths; the la
dies were not at home to him. The
next night he saddled Saladin and rode
over to Fairmount the Misses Harri-
son were also unable to see him, and
the butler conveyed deftly- worded in
timation pointing to future invisibilities
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 a 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.
once more, old boy, and then we'll
quit" he said to Saladin at the re-
mounting, and the final rein-d drawing
was at the stone -pillared gates of Rook
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
quisitive. Would there be consolida-
ton of the allied iron industries of Cor
donia when the Farleys should return?
Mr. Henniker thought 1t would be un-
deniably profitable to all concerned
and offered his services as financiering
promoter and intermediary. Would Mr..
Gordon come and talk it over with him
at the bank?
Tom found his father on the pictur-
esque veranda at Woodlawn when he
reached home. For a time there was
such silence as stands for communion
between men of one blood. and was The
father who first broke 1t.
Been out calm, SOM" he asked,
marking the Tuxedo and the white ex-
panse of shirt front.
NO, I reckon not" was the reply,
punctuated by short laugh. THE ave-
nue. seems to be depopulated."
so? hadn't heard of anybody 60
in away" said Caleb the literal
Nor l." said Tom, curtly; and the
conversation paused until the iron
master said:
"Ardee thinks a heap O. you, and II
you could jest we made out to keep
from gettln so tangled with that gal O.
Tlke-" he stopped abruptly, but not
quite soon enough, and the word was
as the flick of whip on a wound al
ready made raw by the abrasion of the
closed doors
so that miserable 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 l know"
said the father, with a backward nod
to indicate the antecedent of the pro-
noun Following which, he said what
lay uppermost in his mind. II been al
lowin' maybe you'd come back this time
with your head sot on lettn' that gal
alone, son."
you've believed all you've heard,
have you?-condemned me before l
could say word in my own defense?
That's what they've all DONE"
II don't say that, son." Then, with a
note of fatherly yearning In his voice:
I'm waitin' to hear that word right
now, Buddy-or as much of 1t as re
can say honestly"
You'll never hear 1t from me-nevcr
in this world or another. Now tell me
who told you'll"
why, it's in mighty near ever'body's
mouth, son!" said Caleb, in mild sur
prise. you certainly didn't take any
pains to cover 1t up"
Didn't take my painsi WHY should