Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-03-20


| them-justifiably so, no doubt, if one
bears in mind the fact that they signi-
| 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 he
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 so
many years of separation and Ioneli-
ness. 1t required but little effort on
his part to meet his fathers indiffer-
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 he 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
no less than four visits to the library
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 a glance
at the almost empty decanter.
Jones'" said Danbury Dawes, with
great dignity and an eye that de-
ceived him to such a 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. VIVA
you mean, sir, by coming in-hic-
here thish time o. night dis-disturb-
ing"
you Internal ingrate,'' broke in Mr..
Riggs f1ercely, 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-and
utterly useless at a time like this
Take him along"
"Who the dev-hic-il are you, sir p
demanded Mr.. Dawes. regarding MT
Riggs as If he had never seen him
before.
You are both drunk" said Jones
succinctly
The heavy front door closed with q
bang at that instant and the sound OF
footsteps came from the hali-a quick
firm tread that had decision in it.
Jones cast furtive, nervous glance
over his shoulder.
I'm sorry to have Mr.. Frederic see
you like this" he said, biting his lip
He hates it So"
The two old men made a commend
able effort to stand erect, but no eff
fort to stand alone. They linked
arms and stood shoulder to shoulder
SHOW him in" said Mr.. Riggs, mag
nificently.
, Now we'll find out wass in tele
gram off briny Deep" said Mr.. Dawes
| spraddling his legs a little farthe
apart in order to declare a stanct
i front.
It's worth waiting up for" said MI
Riggs.
Absolutely" said his staunch friend
Frederic Brood appeared in tn
door. stopping short just inside tn
| u0dNy CuTIdluS 1HeT0 was mOmo1
tary picture, such as a stage directo
= would have arranged. He was still
wearing his silk hat and top-coat, an
one glove had been halted in tn
q process of removal. Young Broo
o stared at the group of three, fran
; stare of amazement. A crooked smil
came to his lips.
Somewhat later than usual. 1 see,
he said, and the glove came on with
: jerk. What's the matter. Jones? Re
> bellion?"
;. mo. sir. It's the wireless, SIR"
!, Wireless? %
: "Briny Deep" said Mr.. Dave,
vaguely pointing.
= oh" said young Brood, crossin
l, slowly to the table He picked up tn
. envelope and looked at the inscril
= ton "Oh,'' said he again, in quit
= a different tone on seeing that it wa
= addressed to him. From father,
= dare say" he went on, a fine line a.
= pearing between his eyebrows.
= The old men leaned forward, fxiu
~ their blear eyes upon the missive
A. Les hear the worst, Freddy" sal
n Mr.. Riggs.
q. The young man ran his finger unds
IN the flap and deliberately drew out ii
nt message. There ensued another ri
re- ture. As he read his eyes wfdene