The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-01-01
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER Living with hi. father or
z small, badly managed ranch David
Eden has reached the age OF eighteen
Gn I'S tf the SSS 'G wses bf arsS
eminent eastern physician, and his daugh.
ter Irene, are touring the country, brings
q new element into his life. DIR. fardy'f
leg Is broken, and he is necessarily con.
fined 20 his bed. Friendship. and some.
thing more. develops between Irene and
David
CHAPTER 1f.-Irene greatly enjoys the
unconventional freedom OF ranch life, and
her acgr tintanceship with David rlpcns
into affection. on DR. Hardy's recovery
the young people part. with the under.
standing that David will seek to Improve
bis position In life and they will meet
again
CHAPTER I1I-The sudden death OF his
father leaves David with practically
ranch. the elder man having through
years OF dissipation wasted the Income
HIS debis paid David goes 10 the nearest
town, determined to keep his promise 90
Irene by acquiring an education and max :
ing himself worthy OF her lie secures the
hrst work offered. driving a team for a
coal dealer, and meets a man named Con-
ward. about his own age, by whom he is
led into dissipation.
CHAPTER Iv.-Naturallv OF clean mind
David determines 20 get away from his
uncongcnlnl surroundings and Fate
brings him into contact with Mr. Melvin
Duncan, who sees The Inherent good IN the
BOY and welcome him 70 his home. where
he meets Edlth. his hosts pretty daughter,
and begins the coveted education.
During. the following days Dave had
a keener eye than usual for evidences
OF industrial development" lie found
them on every hand. Old properties,
long considered unstable. were chang
Ing owners. Money moved easily I;
wages were stiffening; tradesmen
were In demand. There was material
for many good stories In his investlga-
lions. lie began writing features on
the cIty's prosperity and prospects.
The rival paper did the same and there
was soon started between them com
petitionio OF optimism. The great word
became boost" The virus was now
In the veins of the community. pulslng
through every street and byway Of the
little city. Dave marveled. and won
dered how he had failed to read these
signs until Coward had laid their por-
tent bare before him. But as yet Il
was only his news sense that respond
ed his delight In the strange and the
sensational lie was not yet lnoculated
with the poison of easy wealth.
His nights were busy with his Inves-
tlgations but on Sunday. as usual. he
went out 10 the Duncans'. Mrs. Dun
can explained that Edith had gone to
visit a girl friend In the country;
would be gone away for Nme time.
Dave felt a foolish annoyance that she
should have left town. she might at
lenst have called him up. Why should
she call him upi or course notl sim,
the town was very empty. lie drove
with Mrs Duncan In the afternoon.
and Mt night took n long walk by the
river. He had vague but oppressive
sense OF loneliness. lie had not real
ized what part Of his life these Sunday
afternoons with Edith had come TO be.
A few days later Coward stroiled
In. with the Inevitable cigarette. lie
smoked In silence until Dave complet-
ed story.
Good stun you're giving u.s." he
commented. when the article was fin
ished. Remember what told you the
other dayl It's Just like putting
match to finder. Now we're or"
Coward smoked a, few minutes In
silence, hut Dave could not fail 10 see
the excitement under his calm exterior.
lie had. as he said. decided TO sit In
In the biggest game ever played. The
intoXicntion Of sudden wealth had al
ready fired his blood.
lie slipped bill to Dave. "For your
services In that little transaction" he
explained.
Eden held the bill in his fingers
glngerly. rs though II might carry in
fection, rs in very truth Il did. lie
realized that he stood al turning
point-that everything the future held
for him might rest ON his present deci-
sion. There remained in him not lit
tie Of tho fine, stern honor Of the
ranchman 81 the open range; an honor
curious. sometimes terrible, in its In
depreciation of right and wrong, but
fine. stern homer nevertheless. And he
instInctively felt that TO accepa this
money would compromise him for
evermore. As he turned the bill In his
fingers he noticed thatit was for one
hundred dollars. lie thought 1t was
ten.
81 can't take that much" he ex.
claimed. ut isn't fair"
Fair enough" said Coward. well