Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-24
THE DEAD PAST


II am glad ynu have found friend
az your new r'lc oc work, Rolund."
said Mrs. Vincent
Hes good q lend. too" replied
Roland Vincent. 1t was awful strange
and awkward the FIRST day or two. for.
you see ! knew nobody among my fell
low workers. and II Isn't much like
scNool. thought they would say
b., didn't do when I Numbered and
made mistakes half dozen times.
Then my new friend. who has charge
~ the stock room, spoke 90 me and
told me to see him go the lunch hour"
"What Is his name, RolandY" in
CURED Mrs. Vincent.
"Robert Leigh. lie Is n queer act
ing man, hardly ever speaks 20 any
body. but has been SO kind and helpful
to me-"
Il got to be so finally that Roland
visited Mr.. Leigh regularly once n
week. When h. did so. he remained
tlll after ten o'clock at night.
"It's Just joilyw Roland told his
mother repeatedly. "Mr leigh has
n gas stove and regular housctccp-
ing outfit lie gets up meal about
~ fne rs yours. mother. and THAT'S
saying q lot. Then be clears the table
and gets out the books. and goes over
what I have read for the week. ana
learning 50 much. mother
"Doos Dc mover smoke. or drink. cr
play cards. or that llkeT questioned
Mrs. Vincent nnNiously.
ooh. never THAR replied Roland,
quickly ole has a cabinet Of curl
ositics. Once. a long time ago he says |
he knew all sorts Of men. for he was |
doing some detective work. In his cab
met he has the rope that hanged n mo-
torious murderer and knife with
which foreign prince was assassin
ated. He showed me last night trick
gambling outfit. and proved to me the
frauds employed to defraud gambling
victims. II was so interesting"
Mrs. Vlncent's eyes dilated. She
seized Ronald's arm with a trembling
hand.
"Oh, my son my son." She spoke
In 50 intense n tone that Ronald view
ed her In wonder promise me never,
never 10 touch card -
"Don't worry about that" returned
Roland at once. Anybody hearing Mr.
Leigh tell what gambling leads to
would never do So"
IL wish you would ask Mr.. Leigh o.
ca some evening. Roland" said Mrs.
Vincent. Eve must return his cour-
.csies In some way"
81 did once" explained Roland. "but
he said ne never went anywhere. do
wish you could meet him, though. He
seems interested On anything that con
rcrns me. You know, | could not tell
him much" and Roland glanced close
.y ut his mother. and then ut framed
on the wall.
Always he had believed that coun-
terfeit prescntment OF an austere. dig
nified looking man to be that Of the
father he could not remember. She
became strangely agitated
Roland" she said. 81 have taught
YOU from childhood TO regard your fa-
her as dead to u.s."
"But not really dead, mother" per-
sisted Roland.
at all events lost Ia the world and
% u.s. continued Mrs. Vincent. II for
l You ever Ia mention his name
-9iu.' Mrs. Vincent broke down In
cars and hurried from the room.
one evening Roland came home In
great state of excitement He was
urlicr than usual, and his ami =,
lGtcl face told that he was stirred up. !,
cob mother. | guess our good luck ;,
rs GOMEZ" ne cried buoyantly. "Nhat ),
p YOU think? Tho house Is going Ia :,
pen a branch in Rio De Janelro, and =
lr. Leigh Is ~ take charge Of II at !.
* salary. lie says he has been work =
* FOR the promotion for years, aud ;,
Q mas the privilege OF appointing his =
vn assistants, and he says II we will =
'move to Brazil he will start me In .
s his chief clerk at four times the
Mary am now getting
Mrs. Vincent had been busting the =
lrniture aud wall hangings when Roll !,
nd came In, and now she listened 10 ,
IA, duster suspended. -
Wont you come and call upon him
ith mer urged Roland. Maybe you A
Ould consent to move to Brazil after
caring Mr.. Leigh tell 81 the great r
prospect IL would be for me-"
yes" sssented Mrs. Vincent, after a
loment OF thought. 81 think we had
ctter have a talk with him together.
here Is the door bell" and she left z
he room. As she passed into the hall e
he struck the cord suspendlng the :
Ime-honored photograph. Frame and =
n came 10 the floor with crash. Two h
fell out upon the carpet. d
IS the under one caught the eye OF Ro- b
md, ne uttered a quick ejaculation. II a
'as Mr.. Leigh 4
"Fnther" he said simply. extending 4
Is hand and looked appealingly into n
he eyes OF the other
"You know, then" began Mr.. h
.eigh. 4
"only that you must be the father I v
ave longed 10 know. oh, tell me