The Prescott daily news. (Prescott, Ark.) 1907-1941, 1913-12-12
KNOWN AS "BIDpW MREE|
By MAURICE SMILEY.

in the neighbOrhOOd called nlm
Not that they looked down on him
for being so devoted to his mother.
That is, those whose opinion really
amounted to anything. OF course
some of the light-heads made fun of
man of twenty-five still tied to
his mothers apron strings" as they
rang the changes on the old cheap
witticism. Tom didn't care for that.
Perhaps. however. he really did care
after Mile Lee took the district
school He didn't want her to make
fun of him.
After Toms father had worn him.
self out on the old place and had
been gathered to his fathers, Toms
two brothers and sisters had married
off, one by one. But he stayed on.
wringing by unremitting industry
scanty living from the rocky soil.
If Tom had ever given any thought
to setting up home of his own, he
had resolutely banished it,
It's a shame, Tom" said his moth
er. wistfully that you should be tied
UoN IL hCiC vi thlS pIu fldNC W Oh oib
woman. when you ought to be setting
up home of your own"
"All right. then" he replied, with a
smile, "Ill bundle you off to the poor
house and strike out for the city"
Then he caught his mother up in
his arms and said. tenderly:
Never you mind. mother. I'm not
wOrryiH' about it and why need YOU"
But all the same Tom did good
deal of worrying. For one thing, Mil
lie Lee. while she seemed to like him
more than any of the other young
men in the neighborhood, was yet
little too fond. apparently, of Bud
Brighton to preserve Toms entire
peace of mind.
Then there was the matter of that
black streak down in the pasture
Tom hardly dared to hope that there
was coal down there. Secretly he
was sinking rude shaft, though he
told his mother he was only digging a
well to increase the supply of water
for the stock
Then came the day when he struck
1t. He could hardly realize all that
it meant when his drill hit the hard
black substance which proved to be
an excellent quality of coal
When he went home that night two
surprises awaited him His mother
was seriously i'll and Mile Lee was
waiting on her.
For reasons of his own, he did not
say anything about finding coal in
paying quantities. He would stake
his chance with Mile on the merits
of the case and if she cared for him
at all, she would accept a hard work
ing, poor man.
He watched her as she prepared
the evening meal and sudden re-
solve took possession of him.
1T looks awful homelike to see YOU
around the old place, Mile" he said.
I've got something on nv mind that
! have had there for a long time"
She paused in the act of taking the
biscuits from the oven and possibly
the heat from the stove made her
face flush
Il know amt good enough for
YOU. he went on. bluntly. Il haven't
had any education. I've Just been
taking care of mother ever since |
was boy and haint had the chance
that lots of young men have had
| You know what the old place is.
There amt much to be made out of IL
1t wouldn't support three people very
| VOL Gnapiu 11tr. ttha
been used to better things"
Mile was nervously setting the
table by this time. She nodded as he
| paused, but neither of them noticed
the disheveled figure peering in the
doorway the eyes wild with fever.
! don't mind telling you. Tom. that
! would marry you II 1t was not for
your mother. There isn't enough for
us all. You will have to do something
about her"
Perhars she put the test badly. for
Tom thought she really meant that he
must give up his mother and let her
shift for herself. The thought cut
bin like a knife and he stared ont
into the night too panied to say any,
thing for a time.
I can't do that Mile" he said
slowly Il can't leave my old mother
mot even for you. didn't think Won
was that kind. | thought you was diff
ferent."
Before she could explain Tom had
/ passed into the bedroom, to give a
cry OF alarm a moment later and
rush out into the darkness.
lie found her wandering aimlessly
a'one the road to the town. babbling
| incOhnrentlY In her dnliriu., -.