Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-10-20
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Copyright, by W. q. Chapman.)


to that domicile.
Miss Beverly" he inquired re-
specially.
Eyes, what is your business?" came
incisiye as the challenge of some Off
ciai censor.
Il wish to see Mr., Beverly. I have
important business with him"
MY father is not in condition to
receive visitors" the same inaeXibll-
ity of tone, the same compressed lips.
pardon me, but l am Lane Girls
com, and l have come
Miss Marcia Beverly drew herself up
haughtily A bitter expression crossed
her face, Young GriScom felt its con-
temptuous reproach.
Eyes" she spoke between set, cold
lips, 'you had, perhaps, better see him.
l hope it is to restore to him the money
of which your father robbed him"
Lane Griscom turned pale. He trem-
bled, but faced the cruel, unjust charge
without a CULVER
"Madam," he said Jelly, ''my father
is dead. Spare his memory. He was
just, honest man. That is why l am
here to make reparati0n if it is in my
power"
She led him into the house, paused
at a closed door, stood aside motioned
that he might enter, her lips curved
in fine scorn.
This had happened: John Beverly
had been stricken down in his prime,
q helpless invalid on the eve Of his fail
ire in business. All was swept away
from him except his home, which was
in the name of the daughter, Marcia.
That, too, he would have turned over
to his creditors, but Marcia had re-
sisted in her hard, determined way.
In a distant city the father Of Lane
Griscom had suffered like wreck of
business. The blow had killed him
When his estate was settled up Lane
had found a claim Of $4,000 borrowed
money, due to the unfortunate John
Beverly.
Now the son entered the room in
which John Beverly sat in an inva-
lids chair. Wan despair was in the
aged face, but his eye lit up with a
glad sudden light
81 know you" spoke Mr.. Beverly
eagerly. "You are the son of my dear
old friend, William Griscom. would
know you anywhere from the resem-
blance. Poor dear friend-and you
his son! Welcome, welcome, indeed"
81 bring you poor news" said Lane
sadly. "My fathers estate has barely
paid the secured claims. The eXecu-
tor refused to admit yours with the
preferred ones. The only hope for
the future is the favorable settlement
of a suit against the Union Steel
company, and they may litigate that
for years."
Don't mind that" cheered Mr.. Bev-
erly, but he sighed as he said it. 81
thought so much of your father that
l refused to take his note. 1t was
loan of friendship, and I am glad l
did it."
$50" went on Lane, 81 have come
to work out the debt"
ITO work it out?" repeated Mr.. Bev-
erly vaguely,
"Just that. l am young. I have
ability. I have a proposition to make
to you. / understand that you have
no income, no prospects, nothing but
your home here. make you the plain
to allow me the privilege
Of sustaining your household expenses |
until my fathers estate is definitely
settled up. All ask is a roof to shell
ter me, the happiness Of contributing to
your comfort and that of your family
until you get strong and well again"
"That will never be-" mourhed Mr..
Beverly sorrowfully. "No, no. can
not accept the servitude of your young
life"
"The privilege, you mean, sir" de-
INJURED Lane proudly,
AT all events, so it was settled-a
strange agreement. Marcia Beverly |
from the first treated Lane as an I'M
derlng, a trespasser, but she made no I
effort to assist in sustaining the fam
lily, although she was an expert mu-
stefan. All the work of the house I
was left to her young sister. Ora,
sweet, energetic little creature who I
tried hard to atone for her sisters con
duct to Lane by being friendly, even I
more, almost sisterly towards the I
guest she h0nored for his rare devo-
ton to the interests of the family.
"Your work must be very eXacting,"
said gentle Ora to Lane one day.
"Not at ALL" disclaimed the energetic
young fellow cheerily. "You mean the
night work.
Eyes, Mr.. Griscom."
"Oh, | always craved the literary
life" he eyaded, for evasion it was,
and the Beverlys understood that "he
was doing something on a newspaper"
Lane left the house at five every aft
ernoon. He reached home at six the
following morning He was neat as a
pin as he sailed forth. he returned in
the same trim. He would sleep for
eight hours, and this was his regular
Marcia seemed to devote her after
moons to visiting old aristocratic
friends, bemoaning the cruel fall of the
family from opuence to penury, as