Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-05
Copyrighted. 1915,

Larry will never be coming home
etched Dennis Flanagan as he looked
out into the March twilight It's nse
wears since he went away to seek MS
fortune. Molly, and do you never Won
der what he's foundF
Molly Delaney looked at her uncie
through unshed tears.
81 am always wondering that oncie
Dennis" she answered.
eight the lamp. Molly, and read his
latest letter." requested Dennis.
when the lamp was lighted 1t dis'
closed comfortable sitting room,
clean and coy and warm 1t snoWeu
Dennis in his big rocking chair. Els
helpless rheumatic feet propped on
stool. Lovely Molly Delaney. with ner
misty black hair and her irish Diue
eves. sat down at the table ana open
cd the worn envelope that contained
Larry Flanagan's letter and read:
Dsar Fatber-Although it's five years
s,nce left YOU with high hopes in my
heart that my returning would be soon 4
fear that must wait little iohssi
fore seeing your dear face again anu lesi
ing the hearty clasp OF your hand Goio
;s an aIl,Irjng Jade She has led me a
pretty chase in this bleak. cola country
and now she is only just IN sigh.- 1900
God when next I write 1t VIII De 10 tei'
YOU that I have struck 1t rlcn, that ~
coming home to buy a grand mouse iof
Won and Molly and we will all be happy
together Remember that promised MOI
" that when I came home d orinf. her q
bunch of emerald shamrocks, the rear
Jewels and now they are just within my
each A bow from Hazenville is due here
tomorrow. and with his coming expect
to hear direct news from you BOTH win
love from your dutiful son. LARRY.
Molly lifted her eyes and looked
across the table at Dennis Flanagan.
"Uncle Dennis, I'm afraid that Larry
will never come home" she whispered.
The old man lifted a tremulous hand
Flush, child; I've "a feeling that
Larry will come back to us. l had
a dream last night. / thought there
came a knocking at the door ana L
opened it to see our Larry. Instead
of wearing fine clothes and silk hat.
moor Larry was in rags. And instead
of pinning a bunch of emerald sham
rocks on your bosom, where they'd be
ont of place on that iimsy cotton
gown, my dear, our poor Larry car
ried a little pot of the living green
plant from old Ireland. And then
Molly was sobbing softly.
az don't care how poor he is. Uncle
Dennis, IL he will only come home to
u.s."
NO more do I, childie," whimpered
DennIs.
Don't sorrow, Uncle Dennis" COM
forted the girl, slipping to her knees
beside him. Larry will soon come
tt,;c los nnaSt for gold
should prove useless. 1 can see him
turning about and coming back to us.
Between the lines of his letter 1 could
read that he was hungering for the
ones he had left behind"
'.God bless you, daughter" smiled
Dennis more cheerfully.
The Alaska twilight had fallen swift
ly like a dull gray blanket tossed over
the frozen world; then ghostly moon
appeared over the eastern mountains
and revealed bleak expanses- of glisten-
ing snow and the dark masses of pine
trees.
Under the shoulder of the hill crouch
ed little cabin. and before the blaz-
ing fire on its hearth two young men
were sitting. The hoy from HaZen-
vilIe'' had arrived, and Larry Flanagan
was listening to his story Of home and
the home folks.
"And my old father helpless with the
rheumatism repeated Larry incredu-
lousy why, Mike Dolan, the old
scout never wrote word Of it to me!
But, thank heaven, the railroad stocks
will keep him comfortable. but
Mike Dolan looked at the big framed
man, whose brown hair was CRAVING on
the temples and whose handsome face
had taken on new lines of doggedness
during the past five years. Was it pos
sible that Larry did not know that the
little western railroad had blown up
and that old Dennis Flanagan's stock
was worthless?
Larry" he interrupted soberly,
didn't you know that the railroad
busted and your father lost every
penny?"
You lier' cried Larry savagely, for
he was struck to the heart by the news.
Mike Dolan smiled pityingly.
Its all true. Larry. and what's
more true is that your little cousin
Molly is wonderful girl. When the
bad news came the lass opened a mill
linery shop, and with her clever fingers
she certainly has made money hand
over fist She's taken good care of your
father, and
''Whisht, man." cried Larry in an
agonized tone. II cannot bear to hear
any more! Look at me, Mike Dolan.
Laugh at me. l came away to make
my fortune. / said when 1 returned /
would bring Molly bunch of sham
rock made from emeralds, with dia-
mond dewdrops on 'em. and look at
this" He swept his arm in gesture
that included the four corners of the
rough cabin. Me. still striving tc,
make good that promise. and Molly
sweet little Molly Delaney-not bother
ing her dear head about emeralds or
diamonds, but doing her duty day by
day. Laugh at me. Mike Dolan. for I
am a blind fool"'