Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-03-30
The Runaway S
Return
b ETHEL HoLMEs

Z absence Of ten years His was case
) Of stepmother Tie second Mrs Bar
ringer was one OF those women who
when they marry taan propose =
appropriate him aud everything tht
belongs 10 him 70 themselves, The only
person. except herself. for whom her
husband had any affection was his son.
and on this account she hated the
son. Ned. who was Of a rising gener-
alton. concluded to take himself away.
But there came a time when Ned
having made a strike. concluded t0rgo
back home and see bis father. Posi-.
bly, he might add to the old mans
comfort, though he doubted his ability
If the second Mrs Barringef were fiv-
ing. The homeeomer reached at 10
o'clock at night the town where he
had spent the first fifteen years of his
/ life.
On reaching the house he saw lights
/ within. but heard no sound. He rang.
but received no answer. He tried the
front door and found 1t locked He
walked around the house, looking
through the windows. but saw no one.
Standing below the window of what
had been his own room. he looked up
at it. There was the trelis that he
had so often descended at night and
assembled in the small hours OF the
morning. Yielding to temptation, he .
put foot on it and went up almost as
spry as when a boy. There was no
light in the room, so he could see moth
Ing. He tried the sash, and it went
up. Softly stepping inside. he was
heading for the place where the gas
fixture had been when suddenly there
came food of electric light. A girl
stood with a finger on button beside
the door. while in the other hand she
held revolver pointed at Ned's head.
Come. lower that gum" he said st
might go off. I'm no burglar. Why
didn't you answer my ring?'
The girl had no voice for reply, and
Ned went on:
''I'm Ned Barringer Is my father
alive or deadT
The weapon dropped from the girls
hand. and she showed signs of keeling
over. Ned started toward her, but she
shrank back. By an effort she con-
trolled herself and finally said:
"Ycur father is living"
where is he?"
I'm hospital. He has just submit
ted to dangerous operation. He needs
to pull him through. | hope
your return will do it."
81 will go to him at once"
mot tonight I have just left him
sleeping"
Did you just come in?"
Eyes; by the front door,"
That's howl missed you. Is the
at still living"
"What cat?''
1.-The second Mrs. Barringer."
"She died three years ago."
'And you are
"Your cousin, Margaret Curtis"
"Ah, my mothers sister. Aunt Mar
aret's childr
Yes. When Mrs. Barringer died IN
lie asked mother if | might not come
nd live with him."
Ned approached the girl. put an arm
round her, drew her gently to him
nd kissed her.
so you have been doing" be said,
what should have done-taking care
father"
How fortunate that you have come
ack! He has been pining for you for
ears"
How about his wife?"
THAT is sad story. She was hor-
d to him."
so you think I'd better not try to
e him tonight?"
Certainly not. and only tomorrow If
g doctor advises it,"
well, cousin, I've had nothing to
t since noon. | think III go down
the sideboard. where mother used
keep nice things to eat. She kept it
,ked to prevent my getting them, but
had way of taking out top draw.
and reaching down through the
ening."
You don't need to do that now.
me-"
Margaret started to lead the way
but Ned stepped up be-
e her and insisted on going down
nd in hand. Having turned on the
hts in the dining room. Margaret
'ught out some substantial refresh
nts from the refrigerator and some
icacies from the sideboard. Then
} sat on the table, and Ned pro-
ded to make himself at home as
had not done since the advent of his
pmother. When he had finished
lighted cigar and he and his cousin
on sofa in the living room till
might Then Ned went up to the
m be had entered earlier In the
ming by the window and went to
ne thing Ned was sorry to see In
old home. The place had become
pidated and the furniture worn.
this indicated that the owner was
straitened circumstances. But In
Their respect 1t pleased him He
plenty of money for repairs.