The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-04-15

They went away the little girl shak.
ing her hand at him and laughing.
Randall, when they were gone, sat at
his desk thinking. His life was pass
ing in review before him, the empty
years, the thankless years. What IL
he had dealt hardly with the boy?
He cursed himself for a sentimen-
talist. Why should these thoughts
come to him now? And yet-well, he
might give Kimball another chance.
He might do that. He would give
him that vacancy in the clerical de-
partment. And the girl! 1t vas odd
how she reminded him of Minnie. His
daughter had looked Just like that
when she was a child.
He rose and went home, frowning,
and anyone who had met him on the
road would have thought he was the
surliest looking man that he had en-
countered in many a day. But once
In his room the old man paced the
floor, shaking his head and conscious
of the same sense of uselessness.
He could not sleep. The child vas
before his ayes all night. Minnie!
"Old Crouch" was at his worst next
day. He refused three applications
for increase of salary, scolded the de-
partment managers roundly, and made
himself even more feared than usual.
But at night, when the force had gone,
he crept quietly out Of the office, after
a~scertaining the night watchman's ad-
dress.
He, "Old Crouch" was going to tell
the man that he could come to work at
eight, as usual. Poor devil of a
Waterman! He was not SO much to
blame, il his story was true!
The address was a poor street of
Third venue. Randall gazed around
him in disgust as he passed through
the slum. A drunken man was cling
ing to a post. Two shrews were scold-
ing each other from different door
ways. What a place in which to bring
up a child! Suppose it had been
Minnie!
At a few minutes after sever he
stood before a door In a tenement
building. He rang, and a tired-looking
woman opened to him. The woman
was Enthusiastically the mother of the
girl. And, weary as she was. and
poorly dressed, she was Enthusiastically
a lady.
Good evening, Mrs. Kimball," said
Randall roughly. I'm Mr.. Randall,
and I've called to say that your hus'
band can have his job back"
The woman stared at him in terror.
Tim I'm not Mrs. Kimball," she
stammered. and ran back into the
apartment. Randall heard her sob.
bling as she ran.
Then he was aware of a tiny figure
at his side, and the little girl was
looking up into his face.
"Old Grouch!" she lisped. "Old
Crouch. come and see papa!"
1t was strange tlat the child's touch
turned his will to water. Randall
suffered her to lead him by the hand
He went into a dark passage and
halted at the door OF a tiny room. II
was almost dark inside, but he hearc
the woman sobbing at the side of the
man who lay there. She rose ant
turned and faced him.
Il am our sons wife," she said will
simple dignity.
And in the dark Randall, incredu
lous, saw the figure upon the bed.
Il guess it was a mistake" the WON
an continued. This is my little girl
and Mr.. Kimball has been taking hel
to the office nights while my husband
was i'll. You didn't know, and-thert
is no need to stay, Mr.. Randall"
Randall struck a match with trem
bling fingers and looked at the mar
on the bed. He saw the fever-fusheC
face of his own son, whom he haC
thought gone forever. And then thu
mans will broke. "Old Crouch
kneeled down at his side.
"Horace!" he whispered, taking hi
hand in his. Horace, you will com
home! l have come to take vol
home-you and your wife, and-anC
Leonora. ! have wanted you-heave1
knows how much" he continued
only l didn't know it."
The woman turned away her face
mot now" she answered. I'VE d.
not want your forgiveness after thes,
years."
Randall looked at his son. "Hor
ace?" he asked.
But the sick man turned his fac,
away and answered nothing. AM
then Randall felt a little hand slipped
into his own.
I'll go with you, Old Grouch!" saiC
Leonora.
And suddenly the waters of pit,
gushed from the mans eyes. Goo
forgive mel" he cried, catching her t
his breast.
In a trice the mother was sobbinj
in his arms. And the three, by thu
sick mans bed, the son and fathel
clasping each others hands, was tn,
sight that met Kimball's eyes as h,
entered.
"Old Crouch" broke the silence.
Get to your job, Kimball!" he bel
lowed. Tomorrow I'll have some
thing to say to you. Get to work now
or Tll-Iu discharge you!"
For he meant to keep up his repu
tation to the last.