The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-05-16
By
RUPERT HUGHES /.

ment of thanks. This was the first
payment he had made in advance for
long time.
He sealed the letter, put a special
delivery stamp on II, and took 1t to
the branch post Office so that 1t would
reach Cleveland without fail the next
morning.
When he got back to the house
there was telegram from home.
Leaving beaver due tomorrow a.
m. don't meet me but be home must
see you important mamma well love.
FATHER"
The next morning Bayard rose be-
times to meet his father at the train.
And Daphne went TO the Grand Cen
trail station with him. She ran to
her father and flung her arms about
him, and Bayard Rugged him and car
ried his suitcase for him. 1t was no
time to be tipping porter. Nor to be
making use of taxicabs with the lit
ney subway at hand. Bayard lugged
his fathers suitcase along Fifty-ninth
street. The hall boy, who had not been
tipped for some days, observed a
strict neutrality. He was feeling the
pinch, too.
When breakfast was ended Wesley
noted that Leila herself carried the
dishes away, with Daphne's help.
When the table was clear she closed
the door on the two men and said:
"We'll leave you two alone to talk
business"
The two men regarded each other
askance, as uneasily as two wrestlers
circling for a hold. Wesley was the
first TO speak. He said:
"Well, my boyT
II wrote you a long letter last night,
dad" Bayard said.
"You did? What about"
Bayard had guessed the situation !;
he saw the cruel joke Of 1t. He
thought he could duh the edge with
mockery. he snickered, rather crav-
emily:
II wrote to ask you to lend me some
money. l guess i wasted the postage"
sand guess wasted the fare over
here. I thought 1 oughn't have taken
berth In the sleeper, but your moth
er insisted-said I'd not been feelln'
any too WELL"
Bayard laughed outright--a laugh
wet with vinegar tears.
Wesley sank into chair with the
little whimper Of sick old man.
Bayard went to his father and put
his arm about him and regretted his
Wall street disaster with ferocious
remorse. He could not speak, and
there was a long dumbness before
Wesley sighed:
II guess we got to lose the home,
then"
That "then" was a history In a
word.
Bayard bent his head in shame at
his helplessness. As usual, II was
Wesley who found a shabby comfort
in the situatiOn-found 1t for his son.
"Don't you think anything more
about 1t, my boy. I'm kind Of relieved"
He giggled with pitiful senility. II
been so ashamed at traipsin' over here
to bother you instead Of rushln' over
to help you like I ought to-being
your father-that I'm kind o. glad you
can't help me. / got no right to add
to your troubles. I'm supposed to
take care of you
Bayard kept groaning:
"To lose your homei To think of
you losing your homei And me stand
ing byp
"Why. it's nothing. Bayard. After
ali. we're not In Belgium. We've got
friends. And relations. There's no
danger of anything happening to u.s."
Daphne and Leila overheard this con-
versation while listening In the hall.
Daphne chung to Leila and buried
her face In Leila's bosom to smother
her frenzied grief. Leila, hopping
Daphne's cheek with her own hand
kerchief. caught the CLINT OF a dia-
mond on her finger. It glistened like
q great, immortal tear.
II inspired her with a new hope. |
She had often consoled herself with
the thought Of her jewels MS a final
refuge, but she had put OF the evil |
day. Now she felt that the time had |
come. She threw open the door and
spoke into the gloom with a voice Of |
seraphIc beauty:
Il couldn't help hearing what yen
were saying. You needn't be down
hearted. though, for I've just thought |
OF way to help daddy out" He was
daddy" to her also.
Bayard and Wesley turned and
stared at her In amazement. She |
went on In a kind Of ecstasy.
NY ringsr' she cried. Don't you
seei My diamonds and rublesL And
I've got a necklace or two, and some
chains and brooches They're worth
q lot Of money. And you're welcome
% 'em, daddy
The men were confused with too
many emotions TO know what to feel,
much less what to sag. Leila's mis-
sion was SO diylnely meant that II vas