The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-01-10
THE DEAD PAST
BY cEclLLE LANGDoN.

dl your new place OF WOEks IeOtduus
said Mrs. Vincent.
Hes a good friend, too" replied
Roland Vincent. 1T was awful strange
and awkward the first dag or two, for,
you see, knew nobody among my fell
low workers, and it isn't much like
school. / thought they would say
wouldn't do when I Numbered and
made mistakes half q 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 mes
1t got to be so finally that Roland
visited Mr.. Leigh regularly once
week. When he did so he remained
till after ten o'clock at night.
'Tt's just jollyl'' Roland told his
mother repeatedly. 'Mr. Leigh has
gas stove and regular housekeep-
ing outfit. He gets up a meal about
as fine as yours, mother, and that's
saying lot Then he clears the table
and gets out the books, and goes over
what have read for the week. am
learning so much, mother.
tsDoes he never smoke, or drink, or
play cards, or that like?" questioned
Mrs. Vincent anxiousiy..
ooh, never that" replied Roland,
quickly. "He has 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 knife with
which foreign prince was assassin
ated. He showed me last night a trick
gambling outfit, and proved to me the
| frauds employed to defraud gambling
victims. 1t was SO interesting"
Mrs. ViRcent's eyes dilated. She
seized Ronald's arm with a trembling
hand
sob, my son my son r. She spoke
in so intense a tone that Ronald view
ed her in wonder, promise me never,
never to touch a cardp y
seDon't worry about that" returned
Roland at once, ANYBODY hearing Mr..
Leigh tell what gambling leads to
would never do So"
81 wish you would ask Mr.. Leigh to
tea some evening, Roland" said Mrs.
Vincent. 'sWe must return his cour-
tesies in some way"
81 did once" explained Roland, ''but
he said he never went anywhere. l 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
~ at his mother, and then at framed
photograph on the wall.
Always he had believed that c0un-
terfeit presentment 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-
Their as dead to u.s."
tBut not really dead, mother" per-
sisted Roland.
"At all events lost to the world and
to US" continued Mrs Vincent. 81 for
bid you ever to mention his name
again" Mrs. Vincent broke down in
tears and hurried from the room.
One evening Roland came home in
great state OF excitement. He was
earlier than usual, and his ami
mated face told that he was stirred up.
ooh, mother, guess our good luck
has come p he cried buoyant1y. s'What
do you think? The house is going to
open branch in Rio de Janeiro, and
Mr.. Leigh is to take change of it at
big salary. He says he has been work
ing for the promotion for years, and
he has the privilege of appointing his
d own assistants, and he says If we will
remove to Brazil he viii start me in
as his chief clerk at four times the
salary am now getting"
Mrs. Vincent had been busting the
| furniture and wall hangings when Roll
and came in, and now she listened to
him, buster suspended.
/
with me?" urged Roland. maybe you
would consent to move to Brazil after
hearing Mr.. Leigh tell OF the great
business prospect it would be for me"
Eyes" assented Mrs Vincent, after a
moment of thought. 81 think we had
better have a talk with him together.
There is the door bell" and she left
the room. As she passed into the hall
she struck the cord suspending the
time-honored photograph. Frame and
all came to the floor with crash. Two
photographs fell out upon the carpet.
AS the under one caught the eye of Ro-
land. he uttered quick ejaculation. 1t
was Mr.. Leigh!
Father he said simply, extending
his hand and looked appealingly into
the eyes of the other.
'You know, then" began Mr..
Leigh.
'tOnly that Won must be the father I