Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-04-15

sort of scientific interest for nile
which was deeper than the personal
aud over which the disappointed mag.
nate would ponder.
As Gene grew older and his intern.
perancs assumed more serious proper
tions, the fathers scorn grew morc
open and was augmented by 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-
ticn 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 it came
to useless, hampering vice, weak
ness that in itself was harmless
enough, but that was allowed to gain
psralyzing proportions. his original
contempt was intensified into fierce
intolerance which would have been
terrifying II 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; tie OF
the deepest affection existed between
them. upon which Genes intemperance
seemed to have no effect. TIE 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 vile
and his daughter-should Fave Law
ished the tenderest love upon an If
temperate, incompetent, useless weak
| Ling was to him one Of the fatho1nless
mysteries of life.
1t was Roses suggesucs; 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should be withdrawn from temptation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 1plan. He could graciously sub
scribe to all Rose said. as the removal
Of Genes amiable visage and unin-
spired conversation would not cause
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 k.s fathers
ranch-the historic Rancho Of the
! Santa Trinidad near San Luis Obispo
-as manager, that all responsibility
! 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 agr1-
cultural property in California. The
Bonanza King visited it once year,
and at intervals received crates OF
fruit and spring chickens raised upon
/ it. This was about all he got out
Of it, but when he heard Rose calmly
arranging to have it become Genes
property. he felt like man who sud
denly finds himself being robbed. He
had difficulty in restraining roar
of refusal. Had it been any one but
| Rose he would not have restrained 1t.
OF course he gave way to her, as he
always did He even gave way grace
fully with an effect of a 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 Tor 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 jeaI
| ously-watchful eye that he had beex
resoIutely abstemious in the matter oi
LIQUOR and that his interest in TIE
great property he managed had beer
the strongest he had so far evinced II
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 swindied
He felt like king who has been dar
ingly and successfully robbed By :
slave.
CTO BE CONTINUED)