The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-03-25
Black Is White
GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON
by WALTERS
GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON

ILLUSTRATIONS by RAY WALTERS

whims; he endured them because
there was nothing else left for him TO
do. But, for all that, he despired
them-justifiably so, no doubt, II one
bears in mind the fact that they signl-
fed more to James Brood than DID
his long-neglected son.
The cold reserve that extended to
the young man did not carry beyond
him In relation to any other member
of the household so far as James
Brood was concerned. The unhappy
boy, early in their acquaintance, came
to realize that there was little In COM
mon between him and the man ne
called father. After a while the eager
light died out of his own eyes and he
no longer strove to encourage the IN
innate relations he had counted upon
as a part Of the recompense for 30
many years of separation and lonell-
ness. 1t required but little effort on
his part to meet his fathers indifer-
ence with a coldness quite as pro-
nounced; he had never known the
meaning Of filial love; he had been
taught by word of mouth to love the
man ne had never seen, and he had
learned as one learns astronomy-by
calculation. He hated the two old men
because his father loved them.
The patient butler, Jones, had made
loge +bop fo,,r vicifc fn tho library
since ten o'clock to awaken them and
pack them off to bed. Each time he
had been ordered away, once with the
joint admonition to mind his own
business"
But it is nearly midnight" pro
tested Jones irritably, with glance
at the almost empty decanter
Jones'" said Danbury Dawes, with
great dignity and an eye that de
ceived him to such degree that he
could not for the life of him under
stand why Jones was attending them
in pairs, Jones, you ought to be In
hic-bed, d-n you-both of you. Wha
you mean, sir, by coming in-hic-
here thish time O. night dis-disturb
ing"
you Internal migrate" broke in Mr.
Riggs fiercely, don't you dare to touch
that bottle, sir Let it alone!"
ITS time you were in bed" pro
nounced Jones, taking Mr.. Dawes BY
the arm. Mr.. Dawes sagged heavily
in his chair and grinned triumphantly
He was a short, very fat old man.
Take him to bed, JONES'" said Mr.
Riggs firmly. Hes drunk and-ant
utterly useless at a time like this
Take him along"
who the dev-hic-il are you, sir?'
demanded Mr.. Dawes, regarding Mr.
Riggs as if he had never seen hin
before.
You are both drunk" said Jones
succinctly.
The heavy front door closed with
bang at that instant and the sound o
footsteps came from the hall-a quick
firm tread that had decision in it.
Jones cast a furtive, nervous glanc
over his shoulder.
Pm sorry to have Mr.. Frederic Sc
you like this" he said, biting his lii
HE hates it So"
The two old men made a commend
able effort to stand erect, but no e
fort to stand alone. They linke
arms and stood shoulder to shoulde
SHOW him in," said Mr.. Riggs, maj
u nificently.
\ Now We'll find out wass in tell
A gram off briny deep" said Mr.. DAVE
i spraddling his legs little farthG
= apart in order to declare stanc
front.
It's worth waiting up for" said M
Riggs.
ABS lutely," said his staunch frient
Frederic Brood appeared in tn
door, stopping short just inside th
heavy curtains. There was a mome
tary picture, such as stage directt
e would have arranged. He was sti
wearing his silk hat and top-coat, ar
one glove had been halted in tt
n process Of removal. Young Broc
o stared at the group of three, a fran
p stare of amazement. A crooked smi
l. came to his lips.
IL Somewhat later than usual, see
. he said, and the glove came off with
- jerk What's the matter, Jones? R
10 bellion?"
j. mo, sir. It's the wireless, sir"
> "Wireless?"
e "Briny Deep" said Mr.. Dave
vaguely pointing.
10 oh" said young Brood, crossil
20 20 slowly to the table. He picked up Il
;" envelope and looked at the inscri
70 tion. "Oh," said he again, in qui
~ different tone on seeing that 1t w
addressed 70 him. From father,
~ ~ dare say" he went on, fine line a
~ ~ pearing between his eyebrows.
y The old men leaned forward, fixil
~ their blear eyes upon the missive.
~ Les hear the worst, Freddy" sa
RI Mr.. Riggs.
a The young man ran his finger und
m the flap and deliberately drew out t
,t message There ensued another p
70 ture. AS he read his eyes widen
,e and then contracted; his firm you
#. Jaw became set and rigid. Sudden
/. short, bitter execration fell frc
e. his lips and the paper crumpled in I
or hand. Without another word,
r: strobe to the fireplace and tossed
H. upon the Goals. 1t flared for a s,
ly ond and was waited up the chimney
is. charred, feathery thing
i'd Without deigning to notice the t.
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