Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-04-07
CHAPTER XXI.

- in his class, was expected home
he first day Of July; and 1t was re-
'ked as a coincidence by the curious
Deer Trace manor-house WAS
led for the summer no more than a
TX before the return of the Gordon
~..ck sheep.
That Tom was a black sheep. hope
less and incorrigible social iconoclast
was no longer q matter Of doubt In the
minds Of any. Something may be for
given a promising young man who has
been unhappy enough. or imprudent
enough, to begin to make history for
hiEsek in the irresponsible teens; but
also the act OF oblivion may be repeal
ed. When 1t became noised about that
'e1re were two children instead of one
the old og-keepers cabin in the
n, Mountain View avenue was Justly
lignant, and even the lenient Cor
mans scowled and shook their heads
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 TO
test Its quality.
But after the first week he began TO
breathe 1t 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 Paramount; the Misses Harrl-
son were also unable to see him, and
the butler conveyed a deity 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 q little better. The
Young Dicksons were going out for an
hfter-dinner call on one of the neigh
RS, and Tom met them at the gate as
was dismounting. There were re-
ITS apparently hearty; but in recast-
the incident later, Tom remembered
NJ 1t was the husband who did the
king, and that Mrs. Young Dickson
stood In the shadow of the gate tree,
frigidly silent and with her face avert
Cd.
Once more. old boy. and then we'll
cult" he said to Saladin at the re-
mounting. and the Anal rein ORA wing
was at the stone pillared gates Of Rock
HILL Again the ladies were not at
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 a consolida-
ton OF the allied iron industries of Cor
donia when the Farleys should return?
Mr.. Henniker thought It would be I'M
deniably profitable to all concerned.
and offered his services as financiering
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,
rking the Tuxedo and the white ex-
Use of shirt front
No, reckon not" was the reply,
.Actuated by aeshort laugh. THE ave-
nue. seems to be depopulated"
$50? / hadn't heard OF anybody 60
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 IL
you could Jest we made out to keep
from gettin' so tangled with that gal O.
Tike-" he stopped abruptly, but not
quite soon enough, and the word was
as the flick of q whip on a wound al
ready made raw by the abrasion of the
closed doors.
80 that miserable story has got
around to you at last has it?" said
Tom, In fine scorn. IT did hope they'd
spare you and mother"
"She's spared yet, so far as 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 lettin' that gal
alone. son."
you've believed all you've heard,
have you?-condemned me- before
could say a word in my own defense7
That's what they've all done"
At don't say that. son." Then, with a
note Of fatherly yearning in his voice:
I'm waitin' to hear that word right
w, Buddy--or as much of It AZ ye
n say honestly"
You'll never hear II from me-never
this world or another. Now tell me
40 told you"
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 It up"
Didn't take any pains7 Why should
II" Tom burst out. After which he
tramped heavily to the farther end of
the veranda, glooming over at the
darkened windows Of Deer Trace and
letting bitter anger and disappointment
work their will on him. And when he
finally turned and tramped back II was
only to say an abrupt Good might"
and to pass into the house and up to
him room.
He thought he was alone In the
raoon-lighted dusk OF the upper cham
ser when he closed the door and began
to pace a rageful sentry beat back and
forth between the windows. But all
unknown to him one of the three fell
.a.tAra- she OF the implacable front and