The Belding banner-news., 1921-09-07
THE BELDlNG" BANNER-NEWS

see him. While she had never seemed
to care for him as other mothers careu
for their boys while she hadn't been
quite so dear To him as she might nave
been
And IL she vents to see me. Bobby,
let me FlOw."
McLaurin smiled somewhat wO--
ried smile. and went up To the front
door. moment later he was shown
in. Yet another moment. and John X.
Dale. his tiOrid face beaming with
gladness, FASTENED out 10 the gateway.
Young Dale was instantly touched by
his fathers new attitude toward him;
then he remembered the hong night OF
David Moreland's people. and he stiff
fened little aud drew back a pace
you've come home To stay, haven't
YOU. Carlyle?' said the older mnn. and
his voice was tilled with pleading.
what you did is all right; well never
mention it again. iou'll stay. won't
you. Carlyle, my boy?"
NO" answered the son. tritie cold
ly in spite of himself. I've spent all
the idle. useless years I'll ever spend.
I'm getting ready TO develop the coal
in David Moreland's mountain
re'and's-mountain ?"
The retired coal magnate breathed
the three words in husky tone. He
put forth hand and rested il against
one Of the huge stone gatepoSts. as
81 o
the color went from his face
You say David Moreand's noun
tain. Carlyle" jerkily.
"les."
And yOu-you learned about David
Moreland?"
Yes" BiIl Dale folded his arms
and stood there looking at his father
with eyes that accused.
"You know who killed -him?" old
Dale muttered
II do. and it was shame-a black
shame"
Yes, il was IA shame. Nobody knows
that half so we'll as | know it," said
John X. Dale. Ills mouth quiyered.
He looked downward. looked up again.
"SOn, you can never say or think worse
things about me than have said ann
thought about myself-becauSe OF
that.
Dale the younger glanced toward
the house. Robert Mcl.aurln was com
ing slowly down the veranda steps.
Mrs. Dale was nowhere in sight. She
didn't want TO see her son; she didn
even want him in the house. Bill Dale
read il all i'm his friends downcast
countenance. and IL was somehow a
great disappointment.
You'll need money III you're gong
to develop that coal property" Da!e
the elder was saying. You haven't
any money. and those mountain folk
haven't any. III give you all that's
needed. I'll send YOU mining machn-
cry. and expert mining men Ill"
You needn't" broke in the emhit-
tered Bill Dale. IL can get the neces-
Sary funds without difficulty. III pay
the debt myself. You've had a great
many years in which to try to make
amends, and you haven't done any
thing. You might have helped the
MorelandS without their even knowing
that ii was you-eSpecially as they
seem 10 have known you by another
nane-and that's the only way you
could have helped them. Here you
have one reason why cannot accept
assistance from YOU; don't YOU see, fa-
therT The Morelands wouldn't have
IL, and | couldn't lie To them
lie motioned 10 McLaurin. who had
halted on the lower veranda step in
order that he might not overhear, ami
turned and walked away. McLaur1n
followed. and soon overlook him.
Bill Dale stopped suddenly and
faced back To his father.
"liemember that Bobby gets his
house and lot !"
Yes" replied John n. Dale. Bobby
gets his house and lot"
tGalNILNOO aa OH