The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-10-17
THE DEAD PAST
BY cEcILLE LANoooN.


I low workers. and It Isn't much lik
school. / thought they would say
wouldn't do when | Numbered ant
made mistakes half dozen times
Then my new friend. who has charge
OF the stock ROOM spoke 10 me ant
told me to see him at the lunch hour
| "What Is his name, Rolandf In
Qulred 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
week. When he did so, he remained
till after ten o'clock Mt night.
ITS just jolyr 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 n iot. Then he clears the table
and gets out the books, and goes over
what have read for the week. am
learning so much, mother"
'Does he never smoke, or drink, or
play cards or that likeT questioned
Mrs. Vincent anxiously.
"Oh. 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
met he has the rope that hanged mo-
| torious murderer and knife with
which n foreign prince was assassin
ated. He showed me last night trick
gambling outft. and proved to mo the
frauds employed to defraud gambling
victims. II was so interesting"
Mrs. yincent's eyes dlated. She
hand.
"Oh, my sonl my SOM" She spoke
In so intense a tone that Ronald view
ed her In wonder, promise me never,
never to touch card
"Don't worry about that" returned
Roland AT 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. ave must return his cour-
teses In some way"
II 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, | could not tell
him much" and Roland glanced close |
ly at his mother. and then at framed |
photograph on the wall.
Always he had believed that coun-
terfelt presentment OF an austere. dig
nlfied looking man to be that of the
father he could not remember. She
became strangely agitated.
Roland" she said. II have taught
you from childhood to regard your IA
Their Ms dead to us."
"But not really dead, mother" per-
sisted Roland.
at all events lost to the world and
to us" continued Mrs. Vincent. IT 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
earlier than usual. and his ami
mated face told that he was stirred up.
"Oh mother. | guess our good luck
has come !" he cried huoyantly. "What
do you think? The house Is going to
open branch In Rio de Janeiro. and
Mr.. leigh Is 10 take charge OF II at n
big salary. He says he has been work
f..r fl... e..
he has the privilege OF appointing his
pwn assistants, and he says II we will
remove to Brazil he will start me In
as his chief clerk at four times the
salary am now getting
Mrs. Vincent had been busting the
and wall hangings when Roll
md cnme In. and now she listened to
lin, duster suspended.
"Won't you come and call upon him
With mef" urged Roland maybe you y
would consent 60 move to Brazil after
Iearing Mr.. Leigh tell OF the great =.
uslness prospect Il would be for me-" n
Eyes" assented Mrs. Vincent. after a a
loment OF thought. ~ think we mad III
etter have talk with him together OF
here Is the door bell" and she left h;
he room. As she passed into the hall al
he struck the cord suspending the 4
me-honored photograph. Frame and ~
Il came TO the floor with crash Two &c
photographs fell out upon the carpet. =,
5 the under one caught the eye OF Ro.
nj, he uttered a quick ejaculation. 1t -
as Mr.. LEIGH -
"Father" he said siisP.y. extending
: hand and looked appealingly into 81,
e eyes OF the other. ~
''you know, then" began Mr.. or,
eiuh. ella
only that you must be the father ex
i've longed to know. Oh, tell me vo
II" thu
And then the veil OF mystery that tn r
ID So long hung over the past of -. e.'
e devoted family was drawn aside ~.
'rn with the instincts of gambler. ths
nm Vincent had risked his own for
ne and that of his wife in ven
resome speculation. and had lost.