The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-05
Copyriaht LOG By the Bo56s- Nerrim Co.


open and was augmented by a sort Of
exasperated dislike. The Bonanza
King had no patience with those who
failed from ill-health or the persistent
prosecutions Of bad luck His conten-
ton was that they should not have
been i'll, and they should have con-
quered their bad luck He had not ex-
cuses for those who were beaten back
against the wall-only death should
be able to do that. But when 1t came
to a useless, hampering vice, weak
ness that in itself was harmless
enough, but that was allowed to gain
paralyzing proportions, his original
contempt was intensified into a fierce
intolerance which would have been
terrifying if it had not been tempered
with an Indifferent disdain.
Roses attitude toward her brother
was a source of secret wonder to him.
She loved the feeble youth; a tie of
the deepest affection existed between
them, upon which Genes intemperance
seemed to have no effect. The Bonan-
"a King had always admitted that the
ways of the gentler sex were beyond
his comprehension, but that the two
women he had known best-his wife
and his daughter-should have Law
ished the tenderest love upon an in
temperate, incompetent, useless weak
ling was to him one Of the fathomless
mysteries Of life.
It was Roses suggestion that Gene
should be withdrawn from temptation
by sending him to the country. AS
the only son Of Bill Cannon he was
the object Of variety of attentions
and allurements in the city to which
a stronger-willed man might have sue
cumbed. The father readily agreed to
the plan. He could graciously sub
scribe to all Rose said, as the removal
of Genes amiable visage and unin-
him any particular distress or sense
of loss.
But when Rose unfolded the whole
of her scheme he was not so enthu-
siastically in accord with her. 1t was
that Gene should be put on his fathers
ranch-the historic Rancho Of the
Santa Trinidad near San Luis Obispo
should be placed in his hands, and
that If, during one years probation,
he should remain sober and maintain
record of quiet conduct and general
good behavior, the ranch should be
turned over to him as his own prop
erty, to be developed on such lines as
he thought best.
The Rancho of the Santa Trinidad
was one Of the finest pieces Of agri-
cultural property in California. The
Bonanza King visited 1t once a year,
and at intervals received crates Of
fruit and spring chickens raised upon
1t. This was about all he got out
OF 1t, but when he heard Rose calmly
arranging to have 1t become Genes
property, he felt like man who sud-
denly finds himself being robbed. He
had difficulty in restraining a roar
Of refusal. Had 1t been any one but
Rose he would not have restrained it..
or course he gave way to her, as he
always did. He even gave way grace
fully with an effect of generosity too
large to bother over trifies, not be-
cause he felt it but because he did
not want Rose to guess how 1t went
against him." Under the genial bland
ness of his demeanor he reconciled
himself to the situation by the thought
that Gene would certainly never keep
sober for a year, and that there was
therefore no fear of the richest piece
Of land in the state passing into the
hands Of that dull and incapable
young man.
The year was nearly up now. II
had but three months to run and
Genes record had been exemplary.
He had come to the city only twice.;
when his father noticed with a jeal-
ously-watchful eye that he had been
resolutely abstemious in the matter Of
liquor and that his interest in the
great property he managed had been
the strongest he had so far evinced in
anything. The thought that Gene
might possibly live up to his side of
the bargain and win the ranch caused
the old man to experience that feeling
of blank chagrin which is the state of
mind of the Unexpectedly swindled
He felt like king who has been dar.
ingly and successfully robbed by a
slave.
At dinner that evening Gene was
very laxative. He told Of his life on
the ranch, of it's methodical monot.
ony, OF its seclusion, for he saw little
of his neighbors and seldom went in
to the town. Rose listened with eager
interest. and the old man with a sulky
glowering attention. At intervals he
shot piercing look at his boy, eying
him sidewise with a cogitating intent.
ness OF observation. His remarks
were few, but Gene was so loquacious
that there was little opportunity for
another voice to be heard. He prat.
tied on like a happy child, recounting
the minutest details of his life after
the fashion OF those who live much
alone.
In the light of the crystal lamp that
spread a ruffled shade OF yellow silk
over the center Of the table, he was
seen to be quite unlike his father or
sister. His jet-black hair and uniform
ly pale skin resembled his mothers
but his face in its full, rounded con
tours, Slightly turned-up nose, and
eyebrows as thick as strips Of fur
had a heaviness hers had lacked
Some people thought him good-looking
and there was n sort OF unusual, Latin
picturesqueness in the combination of
his curly black hair, which he wore
rising up in a bulwark of waves from
his forehead, his white skin, and the
small. dark mustache, delicate as an