The Raymer enterprise., 1920-12-09
CHAPTER i-continued.

four years Of age, John worked In
many strange places. They lived near
Dory street. John was a marked
man. He did not drink often. but he
chose the most fatal occasions for II.
The gray shadows beneath his eyes
deepened. Con learned to cut bread
and light the Hres--a rather solemn
young person. who was well aware
that his father was not always the
same. His eyes were blue. large.
ready to trust. In his consciousness
The matter II home remained world
wide.
lie ventured down 10 the steam
ferries and pondered the mystery Of
their endless coming and going. He
loved the strength Of horses as they
hauled henping loads over the cobbles.
lie wondered what made the loads so
heavy. And where had everything
come ftom? The tlre.eIigines were de-
lightful At night. when they passed
below the window and he could not
get up he lay beside his father and
wondered what might he burning, and
Imagined how the smoke would come
out and blacken the stars. and the fire
crackle and curl up high, rs the fire.
men worked from the street. Was It
big building burning? Who was get
ting burned up? What would they
have done II they hadn't been burned
up tonight?
On some occasions his father would
talk. but he was asleep NIL the while
and how could he know what he was
saying? Con listened and II was like
Bill the ChInk. He could not under
stand the words Of either Of them. but
II was wonderful to hear. There was
a rhythmic pulse to these night words
OF John Lexington. and upon It Con
was frequently carried into magic
dreams.
arm going"
The father usually said this to the
boy In the morning; and 1t did not
mean he was going to work. Con
understood SO much, but no more.
John Lexington said 1t more and more
often.
Con himself became marked for
different" At the age OF six he felt
It. lie did nearly everything the boys
In the Dory street neIghborhood, even
the soiled little yellow boys whose
play was weird with forty centuries of
Asiatic wickedness; but Con was Lot
always admitted. He could fight and
climb, was generous and bold. Hut
the clear light In his eyes betrayed
him; he was different.
At length he realized that things were
said concerning his father which he
could not quite fathom. John seemed
tired and always very gentle, drowsy
but never ready for bed. Their little
kitchen was clean. The bedroom
smelled like Father himself, a friendly
personal scent. rather like cinnamon
and whisky. This went with the
grny-shadowed eyes. and grew more
perceptible when John began to stay
At home every day, being out of work.
Often. now. John Lexington would
take the child between his knees and
look for long time steadily into the
blue eyes. Con found that this was
better than talking. He received his
father into an open heart, giving him
utter devotion. John slept great
deal when out Of work. His eyes were
shadowed and sunken.
They returned to Dowaglac. The
house was rented by strangers, but the
slovenly woman next door was there
AZ always, her sparse black hair stand
ing out at angles from her head. It
seemed ska wore the same snagged
apron. stiff with grease. She moved
out to the sidewalk to shake hands.
"You ain't looking well-and is this
the babyr
She nonchalantiy plnched Cons
cheek. and be coldly suffered her
touch.
John Lexington did not reach the
esustery. AZ he was leading his son
= tha< hlll the blaze Of an August
- mo1>e4o1 him. His vitality was
go - nj him long since. Con
cEouoD0 ~ elyoet to ask at . house
~ 01ocR. tocnuse his father was
lpspa ~ 6tul6 uot get up Dowa-
l1ocb - eGn1uonncs thus found it,