Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-20
The Gift
Supreme
BY
George Allan England
Author Of
Darkness and Dawn"
1.-THE Alibi," etc.

All clRnt, governor, I'm going,
assented Bradford. I'm going. But
I'll tell you one thing-Fm going far
ther than that. You and l are just
about at the parting of the ways!"
He drew dollar bill from his
pocket, held 1t up in front of his
fathers face, and laughed bitterly.
See that?" he demanded. WELL
every dollar I've had from you, just
like this one, has contained some
pennies sweated out OF her! A part
of every idle dollar I've been spend
ing the past three years--no matter
how small a part--has come from
that girls internal slavery to you!
If / needed anything more to open
my eyes. I've got 1t now"
* ~epudiate YOU" said the old man
icily and without a CULVER in his
voice. 81 disown you. You are not
a Vinton!"
"Oh. all right. If can't be Vim
ton. as you understand 1t, l can at
least try to be man. II l don't
infamous debt to you-a debt which
any man with a real heart would
have forgiven her long ago-may l
forfeit that title!"
Eliot vinton stood up and faced
his son. He had become hard. in
flexible and arrogant. His face, pal
er than ever, was set in harsh lines.
Are you. determined to do this
thing?" he asked.
Absolutely"
'You understand. OF course. that II
You leave my house with this inten-
ton shall disinherit your"
II understand"
And that all our relations cease
from that moment?"
Yes"
Very well. sir. there is no more
to say. From now on you must de-
pend absolutely on yourself. shall
be responsible for nothing, either So
kcially or financially: nor will your
mother. She bears my name and
shares my sentiments"
Bradford bit his lip till It purpled,
Then, nodding. he. replied:
u think we've said quite enough.
Good-bye!"
Trembling and weak -kneed, but
with an absolutely unsuitable deter
| mination, he returned to his study.
There he packed suit case with
linen, pajamas and few other nee
essary articles. He also put in the
manuscript on which he was work.
ing, and clamped his typewriter into
it's carrying case.
| On the table he piled all his ready
money and loose change, matter or
between forty and fifty dollars. Not
cent OF this. patty drawn from
Sylvia's labors. would he take with
him. He shuddered at sight OF what
seemed to him blood money.
From his desk drawer he took an
envelope and pocketed 1t. It con.
tanned check for $12-the money
he had received for his Transcript
article-the only money he had ever
| earned. He had not cashed the
check, but had kept 1t with the idea
OF having it framed. Now, however,
he would have to sacrifice his first
born to the god of necessity. He
| thanked his stars for that check The
money was all his anyhow, and 1t
was all clean.
| He scrubbed little note, directing
! that his books and clothing should
he packed and held ready for him
| until he sent for them. Then, all his
| preparations made, he cast final,
lingering, farewell glance about the
familiar room.
"CSood .hyei,' satd he sf've hon,, a
parasite and bloodsucker long
enough. I've been a weakling long
enough. It's time tried to be a
mani
A few minutes later, with his suit
| case In one hand and his typewriter
in the other, he let himself out at
the font door and, painless and an
onteast, departed silently into the
night.