The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1920-12-21
Chapter sc
HEARTBREAK

H6NR 6hEAh
Thoroughly alarmed by violet's cry.
hurried down the pathetic. ridiculous
passage James had cut through the
hay to his retreat. l went through the |
Goor, and into the dark room.
Jim said he had smashed it,
what he meant l could not tell then.
But saw now, even in the faint light, |
that the engine had been torn or
thrown down, and that tools and
wheels and straps and other pieces Of
all the things James worked with,
were lying all over the place.
Evidently Jim, perhaps searching for
some tool, perhaps even hunting the
barn for the hen that concealed her
nest. stumbled on this passage. He
would wonder. first, why the hay had
not been piled up close to the stone
wall-I knew him so well | could tell
his various reactions. He would be
angry at the waste of space. He
would crowd in, wondering how much
space was wasted Then seeing the
boards overhead that held away the
Nay and formed the passage, he would
suspect something and keep up his
Investigations.
Then. of course. there was the door
well enough concealed to any but
sharp-eyed person like vi, or to a man
with his suspicious aroused. And Of
course, he would be hot. choked with
dust, and angry when he reached the
workroom. To man with his temper,
this was like pouring oil on shoulder
ing fire. He would find his tools there.
suspect James had stolen them-we
never convinced him that he boy did
cio he
he would demolish the place. And this
was exactly what had happened.
went through trembling. In the
dim light I saw Violet bending over a
dark figure-and the sound of sobbing
The whole thing was SO confused, and
I was SO upset and nervous from the
quarrel. that 7 was sure James had
killed himself and Violet was bending
over him, crying
But it was James who was crying,
and Violet was sitting with her arms
around him. -eoning those odd mean
irgless sylIatles that women use when
they want 10 comfort.
James sat up in moment. suddenly
ashamed Of having shown his feelings
so.
I'm sorry. I'm a fool" he apollo
giznd.
mo dear. You're not" vi protested.
Now, tell us all about il. Aunt Enid
and 7 found this nlace hut we did not
breathe word 70 anyone"
There's nothing to tell" James
said. gulping little to choke down
he tears that still wanted TO come
Some of these things I bought, some
we're given to me. | learned A lot
working over at the garage. can run
{. car as we'll as anyone around here,
and can repair one too"
James spent most of his leisure at
the garage in the .neighboring village.
7 heard, too. that sometimes they Maid
him for doing odd jobs in the evenings
during the winter. In this way he
had made enough money to buy some
of the books and tools-for Jim would
"nt think of nayins him a salary for
his work on tho place.
Il had an idea for an engine" he
went on. 81 thought it was a little
eimnler than the ones they arc using
rd%--- cn~ire for an auto" he ex-
r'nired "If NV idea worked out all
r;~ht. there would be less chance for
''h'ne" h~natirE down. So I set up
No ctrff horo and worked evening"
had it fxed so no light could get
Cut. eycont thore on the side towards
'he fields" He pointed to the slits
for vantilation. through which some
dav'ieht was coming in.
'Father's been up in the air for a
week over a monkey-wreach." he went
on II suppose that got him started
hunting around the barn. because he
.noreht If was left up here when we
t;eh-onod the bolts on the hav rake
INT 7 didn't have it. I don't know
who're it is"
He stood I'D. surveying the wreck
Of his workshop.
II owe for most these things" he
said Put they'll let me work il
cut ="
"T1l give you all nv money arf
veil cat soma new things and II
r,"ie F"ther give vou real room tc
Worl in " vi said eager'v
"No. I don't want it" James an
~wered. his shoulders drooped. hi:
foce was swollen from tears and from
the emotions he had been through.
"Rut you can make another engine
Il don't want TO make another en-
rine' don't want to ever see any o
this stuff again!"
In the sudden unreasonable anger
saw his fathers temperament comins
s-s