The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-06-08

What does he DO 1or a living!
asked Randall; and yet he could not
imagine why he was interested.
Well, sir, like me-, he was brought
I'D in q rich home, and we were both
MASTERS in our youth. / couldn't turn
my hand to anything, and he's the
same. l guess we're both sorry now.
He was Waterman with Wiley CON-
pany till it dissolved"
Yes, l know" Randall sneered-
Both born to better things and can't
hold down a watchman's job. Here
take yourself off and take the child
with you!"
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 II
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 was 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 one
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 was
before his eyes 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 Off ce, after
ascertaining 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
watchman! He was not so much to
blame, il his story was true!
The address was a poor street Off
Third 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 seven 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.
1" LOI MIS-. NlHlpdii, SIG
stammered, and raj 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 that 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. It
was almost dark inside, but he heard
the woman sobbing at the side of the
man who lay there. She rose and
turned and faced him.
Il am your sons wife," she said with
simple dignity.
And in the dark Randall, incredu-
lous, saw the figure upon the bed.
i guess 1t was a mistake" the wom-
an continued. This is my little girl,
and Nh. Kimbali has been taking her
to the office nigats while my husband
was Ill. You didn't know, and-there
Is no need to stay, Mr.. Randall"
Randall struck a match with trem-
bling fingers and looked at the man
on the bed. He saw the fever-iushed
face OF his W son, whom he had
thought gone forever. And then the
mans will broke. "Old Crouch"
kneeled down at his side.
Horace" he whispered, taking his
hand in his. Horace, you will come
home! I have come to take you
home-you and your wife, and-and
Leonora. have wanted you-heaven
knows how much" he continued.
Only I didn't know It."
The woman turned away her face.
Not now" she answered. I'VE do
not want your forgiveness after these
years."
Randall looked at his SON. Hon.
ace?" he asked.
But the sick man turned his face
away and answered nothing. And
then Randall felt a little hand slipped
into his own.
IN 60 with you, Old Crouch" said
Leonora.
And suddenly the waters of pity