Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-18


HENRY, his foster son,
Jack Standing
THOMAS BROWN, a butler,
Morris MCGEE
ALICE Jacks wife Pearl Sindelar
CHAPTER i.
For six years Reginald Marshall
banker, had paid in cash and shame
for the debts and disgraces OF his
son Jack.
Warnings had done no good; the
cutting off of the young mans al
fowance had done no good, for Jack
could borrow far and wide (and deep
on the strength of his fathers name
and his prospective inheritance.
But when there came to Mr.. Mar
shall a letter from his lawyers Of
fee saying that breach of promise
suit for $25 200 had been filed against
the boy by Kitty Cont, of the "Flary
Fairies Burlesque Company, the end
had come.
The aged man paced his study fu-
rousy for a minute; then rang for
Thomas, his butler
Tell Mr.. John to see me herein
stantly," he commanded.
Then he caught up the telephone
and called his lawyer. Stevenson.
The lawyer arrived before the boy,
because Jack had been out late the
night before with gay crowd. and II
took Thomas an hour to get him up
and dressed.
II want to change my will, Steven :
SON" said Marshall. Il want codi-
Gil cutting off Jack completely. The
entire property is to go to the adopt
ed boy, Henry He has been my only
true SON"
Jack, bIear-e eyed and nervous, shut
fed into the room.
Whats up, dad?' he asked. ANY
thing gone right
Nothing" replied his ftther y
wanted to show you this, ana 10 tel
YOU to leave this house forever. You
have brought disgrace enough upon
my name and the name of your dead
mother
Jack scanned the codicil and
gasped:
Dad! You can't mean THAT!
You can't turn me off without cent
because some lying woman takes ad-
vantage of me. / never asked her TO
marry me It's all dirty framed up
scheme-it's blackmail"
she has shown me some very con-
vincing evidence" remarked the law
Yer. "She called to ask if you would
like to settle the matter out of court.
The door opened. Henry Marshall
stepped in and stopped suddenly
Your pardon, father he said. i
thought you were alone"
Come in; | was about to send for
you"
Jack brushed past his foster broth
er as he bolted from the room. so
it was you that did it?' he whispered
fiercely
I'm sorlY-Im sorry, father cried
Henry. i've had all I could ever ask
from you. Jack is your real son.
wish you'd go and tell him that you
won't do it,
II am going to tell him where |
believe he can get honest work at
low wages and make a man Of him
self if he will That is all ] shall
have to say to him. He is no longer
my SON"
Mr.. Marshall raped at the door
of Jacks room like a stranger. he
heard sudden movement as of some
one hurrying across the floor, but
there was no answer He opened the
door and sprang forward just in time
to seize a revolver from Jacks hand.
spendthrift, cheat and liar" painted
the venerable man You haven't
courage to pay your debts of wrong
doing any more than your money
debts"
Father" called Henry's voice out
side the door Il want to come in"
Come then, and look at the splen-
did craven who would kill himself
because he has done wrong"
Mr.. Marshall laid the revolver on
the table. Jack, quivering with shame
and hate, stood apart. silent.
Mr.. Marshall let the will fall upon
the table. i fell on top OF the pistol,
covering it.
Il want YOU to know" Numbered
the father with appraised hand, that
this attempt to kill yourself only con-
firms my determination to cut you
off ! mean what ! say"
In emphasis he brought his hand
down heavily upon the table.
There was the crash Of a revolver
shot, and Mr. Marshall choked sud-
denly and reeled back. He fell in the
arms Of the terrified Henry. He had
struck the revolver lying under the
will and exploded it, A bullet had
penetrated his heart.
Thomas! Help! Thomas" Jacks
voice rang down the hail.
The butler rushed in.
He's shot my father" screamed
Jack pointing at Henry, who was
kneeing distracted over the dead
form.
Get a doctor-ouick." commanded
Henry. There might be chance"
Jack sped from the room, but II
was policeman. not a doctor, that
ne brought back. Henry was placed
under arrest. while Thomas. the but
Ter stood beside the table and softly
folded in his fingers a piece Of paper.
II was the will that Mr.. Marshall
had made.
Thomas tore it in two along the
fold and slipped the codicll into his
pocket He laid the original back on
tho table and followed the officer who
led Henry, = prisoner from the room.
CHAPTER ~.
For two years Henry had been in
prison His sensational trial. when he
was accused by his own brother, was
only \ public memory now.
Stevenson. the lawyer, had made A
strong defense, but It was regarded
as victory when he saved Henry
from execution.
Jack testified that his father had
changed his viii because of a plot be
tween Stevenson and Henry: that he
had repented a moment later. mad