Chicago eagle., 1918-01-12
The DEAD PAST
BY cEcILlE lANoDoN.

81 am glad you have found friend
Mt your new place of work, Roland"
said Mrs. Vincent.
"Hes good friend, too" replied
Roland Vincent. "ft 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
school. thought they would say l
wouldn't do when l blundered and
made mistakes half u dozen times.
Then my new friend, who has charge
of the stock room, spoke to me and
told me to see him at the lunch hour"
"What Is his name, ROland?" in
quired Mrs. Vincent.
"Robert Leigh. He is queer act
ing man, hardly ever speaks to any
body, but has been so kind and helpful
to me-"
II got to be so finally that Roland
visited Mr.. Leigh regularly once a
week. When he did so. he remained
till after ten o'clock mt night.
'It's Just jolly" Roland told his
mother repeatedly. "Mr. Leigh has
a gas stove and n regular housekeep-
ing outfit. He gets up meal about
as fine as yours, mother, and that's
saying n lot. Then he clears the table
and gets out the books, and goes over
what have read for the week. I am
learning so much. mother"
"Does he never smoke. or drink, or
play cards. or that likeF" questioned
Mrs. Vincent nnxiously.
"Oh. never that" replied Roland,
quickly. "Ie has n cabinet Of curl
osities. Once, 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 no.
toriOus murderer and n knife with
which a foreign prince was assassin
ated. He showed me last night trick
gambling outfit. and proved to me the
frauds employed to defraud gambling
victims. It was so interesting"
Mrs. vincent's eyes dilated. She
seized Ronald's arm with u trembling
hand.
"Oh, my son! my son!" She spoke
In so intense tone that Ronald view
ed her in wonder, "prOmise me never,
never to touch n card !!
"Don't worry about that" returned
Roland mt once. Anybody hearing Mr..
Leigh tell what gambling leads to
would never do sO."
II wish you would ask Mr.. Leigh to
tea some evening. Roland" said Mrs.
Vincent. 1--WE must return his cOur-
tesies In some way."
~ did once" explained Roland, "but
he said he never went anywhere. do
wish you could meet him, though. He
seems Interested In anything that con-
Germs me. You know, I could not tell
him much" and Roland glanced close
ly mt his mother. and then at framed
photograph on the wall.
Always he had believed that cOun.
terfeit presentment Of an austere, dig
nified looking man to be that Of the
father he could not remember. She
became strangely ngitated.
'ROland," she said, ~ have taught
you from childhood to regard your fa
ther as dead to u.s."
"But not really dead, mother" per
sisted Roland.
at all events lost to the world and
to u.s." continued Mrs. Vincent. II for
bid you ever to mention his name
again." Mrs. Vincent broke down ir
tears and hurried from the room.
One evening Roland came home In
a great state Of excitement. He was
earlier than usual, and his AMI
mated face told that he was stirred up
"Oh, mother, I guess our good luci
has come !" he cried buoyantly. "Wha
do you think? The house Is going tt
open n branch In Rio de JaneirO, ant
Mr.. Leigh Is to take charge Of 1t mt
big salary. He says he has been work
Ing for the promotion for years. ant
he has the privilege of appointing hi
own assistants, and he says II we vii
remove to Brazil he will start me II
as his chief clerk ut four times th'
salary ! am now getting"
Mrs. Vincent had been busting tn,
furniture and wall hangngs when Rol
and came in, and now she listened t
him, duster suspended.
"WOn't you come and call upon hin
J with me?" urged Roland. "Maybe yOV
! would consent to move to Brazil afte
hearing Mr.. Leigh tell Of the grea
business prospect II would be for me.
"Yes," assented Mrs. Vincent, after
moment of thought. ~ think we hat
better have "A talk with him together
There Is the door bell" and she lef
the room. As she passed into the ha
she struck the cord suspending tn
time-honored photograph. Frame an
all came to the floor with Il crash. Tw
photographs fell out upon the carpe
As the under one caught the eye of RI
, land he uttered quick ejaculation.
was Mr.. Leigh!
"Father" he said simply, eXtendin
his hand and looked appealingly int
a the eyes of the other.
"You know, then" began MI
Leigh.
"Only that you must be the father
have longed to know. Oh, tell IN
allw
And then the veil of mystery tina
had so long hung over the past G
the devoted family was drawn aside
Born with the instincts of a gamble
. Alan Vincent had risked his own fol
;, tune and that of his wife in vel
I tureSome speculation, and had los
Beggnred, the wife had resentfull