The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-01-31
The Black
Sheep
Bv GEORGE ELMER COBB
Copyright, 1917. Western Newspaper Un

RellglOuSly Jason Hall reprODateQ
Pierce Duntley when he gave up his
position as Il store clerk and Joined
show. Duntley did not become an ac-
tor or performer, but to the grave,
strict deacon the circus was an abon,-
ination and the theater 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. Il 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 impulsive hus-
band of hers, and hoped 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 a show of his own.
! The dismal deacon continued to pro-
! test. He called the behavior of his
son-in-law simply diSgraceful. The
I censOriOus and narroW-mindcd 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 yonr nofarious calling, get
! back to honest work. and your wife
will come hack to YOU said Jason
| Hall. "Otherwise. I shall, see to it
! that there is Il legal separation"
| A GOODNESS grew up between man and
wife. Duntloy flung away. angry. def
| ant, stubborn. \ year went by and he
! did not reanpcHr. Stories were re-
tailed to the effect that Duntley had
! been seen at a picnic in the midst Of
/ rollickinc. Wino-hibbing set Of men
! and women. Another story was that
/ Duntley had been manager for Mile.
Esturia. "thc brilliant. meteoric trap
i csc artist" In Il quiet way divorce
was secured. The deacon died, and
! Edith. taking her child, little Paul,
with her, removed to a quiet country
! town.
/ One day Edith left little Paul in
| charge of the nurse for the day. Her
! plan was to visit q friend in q 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. Duntlcy 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, "and 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 here?" cried Edith in quick
alarm. elias anything happened to
Paul?"
| "No, mo'am" dissented May woeful-
ly; "but. oh! you'll never forgive me,
| but gentleman has taken Il great
| fancy to Paul, and he asked NE to let
him have Paul with him for today
'Whera? Where?' gasped the agi-
tated mother.
"At the hotel"
'And you left my darling with a
stranger" cried Edith. "Wretched
woman! Take me 1T once to my child.
Who is this man?'
''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.
"Somewhat." nodded Duntley. mot
that I was ever as bad as Father Hall
fancied me. That wild orgie in the
woods was simply movie scene in
which figured. Mile. Esturia. the
dashing trapezist whom I managed,
was grandmother to eight children.
But Father Hall was right-it was a
trif1ing 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
Hawaii next week, and just had to
see the dear little fellow here before
I went away"
'Paul want good man come home
with him. here cried out the little fell
low. and ran hack to his father and
put his arms about his neck.
"NO, little man; but I'm going to
y \. Il.