Taiban Valley news., 1921-11-11

| feet, and you can 60 to sleep at tn
table. Don't fail us. Pat wants tt
thank you for casting her aside a
the altar"
Dale laughed boyishly. McLaurlI
went on:
There's more news. Your fathel
has been trying hard to find you. Ii,
sent man to Atlanta to look for you
He told me he'd give me a house anC
lot If I'd find you-and If there was 8
little more of the highway robber 10
me, I'd call his handv'
"And mother-have you seen herr
Dale muttered.
'I've seen her twice since the near.
wedding"
did she have anything to say about
me? Tell me the whole truth, Bobby.
can take it, old man. Pm big enough
McLaurin frowned. "Slnce you've
asked me, Bill, your mother--I over
heard her telling your father that she
would never forgive you for the ut
terly shameless, disgraceful scene you
made in church."
Il see," said Dale. He frightened
and went on, "As soon as can get my
two friends down to the dining room,
Bobby, you're going with me to father.
We're going to claim that house and
lot for you"
''For Patricia's sake, I've thunder
ing big notion to take you up" laughed
McLaurin. Your dad would never
miss it,"
THAT'S it-take me up for Pats
sake" said Dale, rising. You'd be
foolish if you didn't. You should be
willing to do anything, almost, for Pat.
She's jewel, Bobby"
Half an hour later they caught q
passing car that soon carried them to
a palace of granite and stone and
cream-colored brick-the home of the
old coal king, John X. Dale.
At the wide front gateway young
Dale drew back.
Bring father out here" he said In
a low voice. From what you told me.
l guess mother wouldn't want me to
come in. But you can find out about
that"
He hoped his mother would want to
see him. While she had never seemed
to care for him as other mothers cared
for their boys; while she hadn't been
quite so dear to him as she might have
been
"And if she vents to See me, Bobby,
let me know"
McLaurin smiled a somewhat wor-
ried smile, and went up to the front
door. A moment later he was shown
in. Yet another moment, and John X.
Dale, his tiorid face beaming with
gIadness, fastened out to the gateway.
Young Dale was instantly touched by
his fathers new attitude toward him;
then he remembered the long night Of
David Moreland's people, and he stiff
fened little and drew back a pace.
you've come home to stay haven't
you, Carlyle?" said the older man, and
his voice was filled with pleading.
what you did is all right; Wen never
1t again. You'll stay, won't
you, Carlyle, my boy?"
NO" answered the son, trifle 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
n David MOreland's mountain"
"David-Moreland's
The retired coal magnate breathe0
he three words in a husky tone. He
put forth a hand and rested 1t against |
,ne of the huge stone gateposts, as
hough to steady himself, and some OF
he color went from his face.
"You say David Moreland's noun
ain, Carlyle?" jerkily.
"Yes."
"And you-you learned aoout David
"Yes." Bill Dale folded his arms
md stood there looking at his father
With eyes that accused.
"You know who killed him?" old
Dale muttered.
II do, and it was a shame-a black
hame."
"Yes, it was shame. Nobody knows
hat half so well as l know it," said
ohm X. Dale. His mouth quivered.
lie looked downward, looked up again.
Son, you can never say or think worse
hings about me than l have said and
hought about myself-because OF
hat"
Dale the younger glanced toward
he house. Robert McLaurin was COM
lg slowly down the veranda steps.
Irs. Dale was nowhere in sight She
idn't want to see her son; she didn't
ven want him in the house. BIZ Dale
cad 1t all In his friends downcast
and it was somehow a
reat disappointment.
you'll need money If you're going
} develop that coal property" Dale
ne elder was saying. "You haven't
ny money, and those mountain folk
aven't any. I'll give you all that's
eeded. Ill send you mining machin-
ry, and expert mining men; III"