Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-02-01
The Black
Sheep
49,;
By GEORGE ELMER COBB

By GEORGE Elmer COBB
Copyright, 1917. Western Newspaper Union. }
Religiously Jason Hall reprobated
Pierce Duntley when he gave up his
position as store clerk and Joined q
show. Duntley did not become an &C.
tor or performer, but to the grave,
strict deacon the circus was an abom-
lnation and the theater a deep pit. He
bluntly informed Duntley that he was
on the downward path, and intimated
that he should see to it that he did
not also drag his wife and child to de-
struction.
"Better not interfere" advised Dunt-
ley in his offhanded way. II see a
chance to make money, and I'm going
to take it."
Edith, the wife and daughter, was
grieved, but she accepted the situa-
ton unmurmuringly. She knew the
FESTIVE spirit Of this impulslve hus-
band Of hers, and hoped a brief expert
ence would cure him Of the rowing
faint. Each month Duntley came home
for couple Of days. He dressed bet
ter and had great dreams of sometime
owning show of his own.
The dismal deacon continued to pro.
test. He called the behavior Of his
son-in-law simply disgraceful. The
censorious and narrow-minded father
worked on poor Edith until, when
Duntley came back from a long trip,
he found the household effects in stor-
age and Edith and the baby under the
parental roof.
"Give up your nefarious calling, get
back to honest work, and your wife
will come back to you," said Jason
Hall. "Otherwise, I shall see to it
that there Is a legal separation"
A GOODNESS grew up between man and
wife. Duntley flung away, angry, def.
ant, stubborn. A year went by and he
did not reappear. Stories were re-
tailed to the effect that Duntley had
been seen at a picnic in the midst Of
ro1licking, wine-bibbing set Of men
and women. Another story was that
Duntley had been manager for Mile.
Esturia, 'the brilliant, meteoric trap
csc artist" In quiet way divorce
was secured. The deacon died, and
Edith, taking her child, little Paul,
with her, removed to a quiet country
town. .i::
One day Edith left little Paul in
charge Of the nurse for the day. Her
plan was to visit friend in a neigh
boring village.
I'll take the baby down to my SIS
ter's, and spend the day there, If you
don't object" said Mary. -.
: Mrs. Duntley reached the next town,
to find her friend away. She returned
home, and went to the home of the sis
ter of the nurse, to find them both
chatting on the porch. Mary turned
pale as she viewed her mistress.
II found my friend absent" ex-
planned Mrs. Duntley, land I thought
I would come and take Paul home."
The nurse exhibited embarrassment
and was trembling all over. Abruptly
she burst into tears.
: "Oh, ma'am!" she sobbed, "the baby
is not here"
'Not hereT' cried Edith in quick
alarm. HAS anything happened to
PaulY'
mo, ma'am," dissented May woeful-
ly; "but, oh! you'll never forgive me,
but gentleman has taken a great
fancy to Paul, and he asked me to let
him have Paul with him for today
"Where? Where?" gasped the ,agi-
tated mother.
AT the hotel"
"And you left my darling with
stranger!" cried Edith. "Wretched
woman! Take me at once to my child.
Who is this MANI"
"He is-oh, ma'am, forgive me! for
give me! He is your husband-that
was" =:
They made due haste to the hotel.
Mary knew the room Duntley occupied.
It's door was open. Pleased, prattling
tones mingled with tender masculine
ones. On the floor was Paul, and near
to him his father. The place was lit
tered with toys.
Into the room Edith rushed and
clasped the boy in her arms, as though
from the jaws Of peril. Pierce Duntley
regarded her gravely. His face and
bearing suggested a sedateness that
had not formerly existed.
"You-you have changed" spoke
Edith, rather abashed at the reproach-
full look her husband bestowed upon
her.
"Semewhat," nodded Duntley. "Not
that I was ever as bad as Father Hall
fancied me. That wild orgie in the
woods was simply movie scene in
which I figured. Mile. Esturia, the
dashing trapezist whom I managed,
was grandmother to eight children.
But Father Hall was right-it was a
trifling life and now I am part Of a
great humanitarian society, spreading
education in the dark places of the
earth. On that mission I leave for