The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-04-21

He's getting over an aItack Oh
pneumonia" continued Kimban.
What does he do for Iving?"
asked Randall; and yet he could not
imagine why he was interested.
We'll, sir. like me, he was brought
up in a 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 COM
pany till IL dissolved"
Yes, | 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 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 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 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 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 office, 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
Waterman! He was not so much to
blame, if his story was true!
The address was poor street Oh
Third avenue. Randall gazed around
him in disgust as he passed through
the slum. A drunken man was cling.
ing to post. Two shrews were scold-
ing each other from different door.
ways. What place in which to bring
up child! Suppose 1t had been
Minnie!
At few minutes after seven he
stood before a door in a tenement
building. He rang, and 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
I'm 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 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 dark passage anG
halted at the door of a tiny room II
was almost dark inside, but he heard
the woman sobbing at the side of the
man who lay there. She rose ant
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.
. Il guess 1t was a mistake" the WON
an continued. This is my little girl
and Mr.. Kimball has been taking hel
| ~ eAO OAhNC Lights AuSpdut
: was ILL., You didn't know, and-ther,
:. is no need to stay, Mr.. Randall"
Randall struck a match with trem
!, bling fingers and looked at the maj
l on the bed He saw the fever-fushet
! face OF his own son, whom he hat
thought gone forever. And then tn,
/ mans will broke. "Old Crouch
: kneeled down at his side.
l "Horace!" he whispered, taking hi
Q hand in his. Horace, you will COM
Q home. l have come to take 20,
home-you and your wife, and-an,
4 Leonora- l have wanted you-heavel
knows how much" be continued
( Only l didn't know it."
The woman turned away her face
Il Not now" she answered. I'VE d.
not want your forgiveness after thes
8 years"
u Randall looked at his son. "Hol
- ace?" he asked.
" But the sick man turned his fac
away and answered nothing. An
4 then Randall felt littIa hand slippe
V into his own.
I'll go with you, Old Crouch" sal
- | Taonora