Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-06-06

million"
you think that don't know why
you're Offering me this money. Well,
old man, do. You want to get my
husband for your own daughter. Rose
Cannon"
1t was Cannon's turn to be speech
less. He had not for years received
so unexpected and violent blow. He
sat in the same attitude, not moving
or uttering sound, and looking at
Berny with pair of eyes that each
second grew colder and more steely
Come" he said with sudden author
ity, Il can't waste my time this way.
Are you going to take the money or
not?"
His manner, as if by magic, had
changed. Every suggestion of defer
ence or consideration had gone from
it.
will you take the money!"
mol" she said loudly. Don't ask
me that again!"
"All right" he answered quietly,
that ends our business. Do you know
your way out, or shall ring for Gran
1t was late, almost dark, that eve
ming when Cannon left his office. AS
he walked down Montgomery Street
to the car, he pondered on Berry,
wonderingly and with a sort of be-
grudging, astonished admiration of a
courage that he could not but admire
How she had found out about Rose
he could not imagine, only it was very
enraging that she should have done
so. 1t was the last, and most detest-
able fact in the whole disagreeable
business.
1t was the first of May. BY the
mornings mail he had received a let
ter from Gene announcing, with the
playful blitheness which marked all
the young mans illusions to the
transfer of the Santa Trinidad ranch,
that the year of probation was up and
he would shortly arrive in San Fran
cisco to claim his own.
Genes father had read this missive
in grim-visaged silence. The sense
of self-approval that he might have
experienced was not his; he only felt
that he had been done" Two months
before, thinking that the ranch was
slipping too easily from his grasp, that
he was making too little effort to re.
tain his own, he had hired detective
to go to San Luis Obispo and watch
the career of Gene for signs Of his old
waywardness. On the thirtieth OF
: April the man had reported that
: Genes course had been marked by an
abstinence as genuine and complete
as the most eXacting father could
wish.
His mood was unusually black when
: he entered the house. The servant
: who came forward to help him of
1 with his coat, knew it the moment he
saw the heavy, scowling face. The
: piece of intelligence the man had tc
convey-that Mr.. Gene Cannon had er
rived half an hour earlier from Sar
Y Luis Obispo-was not calculated t
. a0ate the Bonanza Kings irritation.
r Gene, however, was not at al
;, abashed by any lack Of cordiality. A
the best of times, he was not sen
sitive person, and as this had beer
his portion since his early manhood
he was now used to it. Moreover, to
night he was in high spirits. In hi!
year of exile he had learned to love
the outdoor life for which he wal
fitted, and had conceived a passionat,
desire to own the splendid tract o
land for which he felt the love ant
pride of a proprietor.
Always a loquacious person,
stream of talk flowed from him t,
which the old man offered no inter
ruption, and in which even Rose foun,
1t difficult to insert an occasional, al
resting question. Gene had a numbe
of new plans.
The old man listened without speak
ing, his chin on his collar, his eye
fixed in wide, dull stare on his happ
boy. At intervals-Gene almost clan
oring for a responsible emitted on
of those inarticulate sounds wit
which 1t was his custom to greet II
formation that he did not like or tn
exact purport of which he did nc
fathom.
The only thing which would hav
sweetened his mood would have bee
conversation, peaceful and uninte
rupted, with his daughter. He ha
not seen as much OF her as usual du
ing the last few days, as she had bee
confined to her room with cold. Thi
was the first evening she had been g
dinner for four days, and the old ma
had looked forward to one of thel
slow. enjoyable meals together, wit
long, comfortable chat over tn
black coffee, as was their wont.
When dinner was over, and she ros
from her seat, he asked her to pla
on the piano In the sitting-room nea
by.
Neither Of the men spoke for
space while the music crept in softl
from the sitting room. The old ma
gazed for while >maliciously at HI
son.
well, you've got III" said the Il