The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-08-07
CHAPTER XIV.
Journeys End.

Journeys End
Harrigan dined alone. He was In
disgrace; he was sore, mentally as
well as physically: and he ate his din
ner without relish, in simple obedi-
ence to those well-regulated periods
of hunger that assailed him three
times day, in spring, summer, an-
tumn and winter. BY the time the
waiter had cleared away the dishes,
Harrigan had a perfecto between his
teeth (along with certain matrimo-
NAL bit), and smoked as If he had
Wagered to finish the cigar In half the
usual stretch. He then began to walk
the door. much after the fashion Of Q
man who has the ,toothache, or the
earache, which would be more to the
point. To his direct mind no diplo.
macy was needed; all that was neces-
sary was a few blunt questions. Nora
could answer them as she chose.
Nora, his baby, his little girl that used
to run around barefooted and laugh
when he applied the needed birch!
How children grew up! And they
never grew too old for the birch; they
certainly never did.
They heard him from the drawing.
room; tramp, tramp, tramp.
Let him be, Nora said Mrs. Harri-
gan. wisely. He is In rage about
something. And your father Is not
the easiest man to approach when he's
mad. If he fought Mr.. Courtlandt. he
believed he had some good reason for
doing SOL
Mother. there are times when !
believe you are afraid OF father"
7 am always afraid OF him. II is
only because make believe I'm not
that can get him to do anything. 1t
was dreadful And Mr.. Courtlandt
was such q gentleman. could cry
But let your father be until tomor
4 row." ,
"And have him wandering about
with that black eye? Something must
be done for it. I'm not afraid Of him. =
Sometimes wish you were"
SO Nora entered the lions den fear
lessly. Is there anything can do
for you, dad?''
"You can get the witch hazel and
battle this lamp Of mine," grimly.
She ran into her own room and re.
turned with. the simpler devices fol-
reducing a swollen eye. She did moi
notice, or pretended that she didn't
that he locked the door and put the
key in his pocket. He sat down in
chair, under the light; and abe went
to work deity.
tive got some makeup, and tomor
row morning I'll paint it for you"
You don't ask any questions" he
said, with grimness.
Would it relieve your eye any r
lightly.
He laughed. mo: but 1t might re-
lieve my mind"
well, then. why did you do SC
foolish a thing? At your agei Don't
you know that you can't go on whip
ping every man you take a dislike
tor"
Il haven't taken any dislike tc
Courtlandt But saw him kiss you
Il can take care of myself"
Perhaps. asked him to explain
He refused One thing puzzled me
though / didn't know what it was al
the time. Now, when q fellow steals
q kiss from a beautiful woman like
you. Nora, don't see why he should
feel mad about 1t. When he had all
but knocked your daddy to by-by, be
said that you could explain.
Don't press so hard" warningly
well. can your"
Since you saw what he did, l dc
not see where explanations on mi
part are necessary"
mora, I've never caught you In 1
lie. never want to. When you were
little you we're the truthfulleet thing
/ ever saw. No matter what kind Of
licking was in store for you, YOU
weren't afraid; you told the truth
There, thatll do. Put some
cotton over 1t and bind it with 9
handkerchief It'll be black all right
but the swelling viii go down. j car
tell 'em q tennis ball hit me. II was
more like cannon BAH, though. Say
Nora, you know I've always pooh
poohed these amateurs. People uset
to say that there were dozens OF mer
In New York in my prime who coult
have laid me cold. used to laugh
Well, guess they were right. Court
landt's got the stifiest kick ever rar
into. A pile driver. and II he had LANDED
on my jaw. it would have been dorm
bene as you say when you bid me goot
night in dago. That's all right nov
until tomorrow. want to talk Il
you. Draw up chair, ThereI As
aid. I've never caught you in lie
but md that you've been living lii
for two years. You haven't beer
square to ma. nor to your mother, MOI
to the chaps that came around ans
made love to you. You probably