The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-07
The Runaway S
Return
BY ETHEL HOLMES

municate with his father during al
absence Of ten years. His was a cas-,
of stepmother. The second Mrs. Bar
ringer was one of those women VIII,
when they marry man propose t,
appropriate him and everything tina
belongs to him to themselves. The only
person, except herself, for whom hel
husband had any affection was his son
and on this account she hated the
son. Ned, who was of rising gener
alton, concluded to take himself away
But there came a time when Ned
having made strike, concluded to &c
back home and see his father. Posi-.
bly, he might add to the old mans
comfort, though he doubted his ability
If the second Mrs. Barringer were liv-
ing. The homecomer 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 rhdg,
but received no answer. He tried the
front door and found it 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 1t. There was the trellis that he
had so often descended at night and
assembled In the small hours of the
morning. Yielding to temptation, he
put foot on 1t and went up almost as
spry as when boy. There was no
light in the room. SO he could see moth
ing. He tried the sash, and 1t went
up. Softly stepping inside, he was
heading for the place where the gas
fixture had been when suddenly there
came a flood of electric light. A girl
stood with finger on button beside
the door, while In the other hand she
held revolver pointed at Ned's head.
Come, lower that gun" he said. ut
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
"Your father is living"
Where is hep
"In hospital. He has just submit
ted to dangerous operation. He needs
to pull him through. l hope
your return will do it."
II viii go to him at once"
Not tonight. l have just left him
sleeping"
did you just come inr'
Eyes: by the front door,"
That's how l missed you. Is the |
at still livingY
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 child"
Eyes. When Mrs. Barringer died I'M
lie asked mother If l might not come
md live with him."
Ned approached the girl, put an arm
round her, drew her gently to him
md kissed her.
$50 you have been doing" he said,
what / should have done-taking care
f father"
"How fortunate that you have come
ackI He has been pining for you for
ears"
How about his wife?'
THAT is sad story. She was hor-
id to him."
so you think Id better not try to
ee him tonight?
Certainly not, and only tomorrow If
he doctor advises it,"
well, cousin, I've had nothing to
at since noon. l think I'll go down
0 the sideboard, where mother used {
. keep nice things to eat. She kept It
,cked to prevent my getting them, but
had a way of taking out a top draw
r and reaching down through the ,
pening."
You don't need to do that now.
ONE" a
Margaret started to lead the way v
ownstairs, but Ned stepped up be- t
de her and insisted on going down 2
and in hand. Having turned on the ?
gifts in the dining room, Margaret v
rought out some substantial refresh /
ents from the refrigerator and some u
elicacies from the sideboard. Then :
lie sat on the. table, and Ned pro-
,eded to make himself at home as
, had not done since the advent of his
epmother. When he had finished
. lighted cigar and he and his cousin
It on a sofa in the living room till
idnight Then Ned went up to the
,om he had entered earlier In the
'ening by the window and went to
ID.
One thing Ned was sorry to see in
S old home. The place had become
lapidated and the furniture worn.
Il this indicated that the owner was
straitened circumstances. But in
lother respect ii pleased him. He
Id plenty of money for repairs.
The next morning the invalid was
formed by her niece that his son had
and after this preparation
ed was admitted to his fathers pres
,ca Made ratttyn wac ouffa a,orob