Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-08-05
PAGE THREE

we're gong to claim that house ana
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 ii you didn't. You should be
willing to do anything, almost, for Pat.
She's jewel, Bobby"
Half an hour later they caught
passing car that soon carried them to
palace of granite and stone and
cream-coIored brick-the home of the
old coal king, John K. Dale.
AT the wide front gateway young
Dale drew back.
Bring father out here" he said In
low voice. From what you told me,
l guess mother wouldn't want zoe 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 K.
Dale, his tiorid face beaming with
nI
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; we'll never
mention it again. You'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"
oreland's-mountain P'
the three words in husky tone. He
put forth a hand and rested it against
one of the huge stone gateposts, as
though to steady himself, and some Of
the color went from his face.
You say David Moreland's noun
tain, CarlyIe?" jerkiIy.
"Yes."
MorelandY
"Yes." Bill 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 1t was a shame-a black
shame"
Yes, it was shame. Nobody knows
that half so well as l know it," said
John K. Dale. His mouth quivered
he looked downward. looked up again.
'SOn, you can never say or think worse
| things about me than l have said and
thought about myself-because OF
| that"
| Dale the younger glanced toward
the house. Robert McLaurin was CON-
ing slowly down the veranda steps.
Mrs. Dale was nowhere in sight. She
didn't want to see her son; she didn't
even want him in the house. Bill Dale
| read 1t all In his friends downcast
countenance, and 1T was somehow a
great disappointment.
You'll need money If you're going
To hot noI
the elder was saying. You haven't
any money, and those mountain folk
| haven't any. I'll give you all that's
needed. I'll send you mining machtn-
cry, and expert mining men; I'll"
You needn't" broke in the embit-
tered Bill Dale. II can get the neces-
sary funds without difficulty. I'll pay
the debt myself. You've had 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 1t was you-especially as they
seem to have known you by another
name-and that's the only way you
could have helped them. Here you
have one reason why l cannot accept
assistance from you; don't you see, fa-
ther? The Morelands wouldn't have
it, and couldn't lie to them"
He motioned to McLaurin, who had
halted on the lower veranda step in
order that he might not overhear, and
turned and walked away. McLaur1n
followed, and soon overlook him.
Bill Dale stopped suddenly and
faced back to his father.
Remember that Bobby gets his
house and lotV
YES" replied John K. Dale, Bobby
gets his house and lot"
He went sadly toward the mansion
that seemed to him now a good deal
like tomb. Young Dale touched his
friend on the arm.
Tell me, what did mother sayP
know it's going to hurt, but-tell it,
"She was sitting beside an open win
dow in the library" said McLaurin.
Il told her that you were at the gate,
lLc,r,. u L. -