The Washington herald., 1921-04-17
1Solid as a Rock" !" They.
Said, but Tom Found the
Hill Road a Better Way.

ornament, and they were made to look
out-not into. The glean behind them
was shrewd. It could gauge men and
iron 10 . nicety. IL dwelt on. the
young man with stern appraising pride.
Tom Baldwin's glance met the horn
trimmed gaze and smiled back easily.
Ready to stop7" he asked.
NO. ! have the reports to 60 over
yet" He laid capable hand on the neat
pile Of papers beside him. 'Don't wait
for me. I'll come out later-when I'm
through"
You don't want me to leave the car
for you?"
mo. The divers In the shed. ! may
walk"
DO you good The young man eyes
fingered . minute on the sturdy form.
well I'll 70 on. The game opens at &
and I'm In on the nrst round
Isn't Sue going with your
She's bringing mother later" '..
I thought she played with you" The
keen eyes regarded him. The younger
face flushed little. -
They put Miss Wilson on in her place
at the last minute"
"Ah" The mans voice held 1t with Q
satisfied nod. she plays q good gamer
Best there is! We're sure to win!"
The older mans saze turned away.
Through the bars and the wire screening
of the bank window the trees in the park
showed green moisture was in the
air. clear. liquid shining after three
days Of rain, and the stirring leaves
glittered in it freshly. The horn trimmed
spectacles dwelt on the glimmering
leaves a minute. Then they turned to the
young man.
Il must manage to get there in time
That's right! Those can wait" He
moved an impatient hand to the papers.
The older man lifted one and opened It.
"Burnham's in town." he said casually.
The other turned quickly.
The examiner" he demanded. His
father laughed
There isn't any other Burnham for US
is there-exeept Burnham, the examiner"
Hes not due till the tenthr, swiftly.
wants TO catch US probably" The
bank president chuckled quietly at his
joke. His eye was absorbed In the paper
in his hand
The young man hesitated a minute and
turned away. He passed into the outer
room and paused At his desk, fussing at
trifes with absent gaze. After . minute
he crossed to the open door of the big
safe and disappeared inside. The assist
ant teller cashed . check for a customer
and returned to his column of hgures
The door of the presidents room opened
and Carter Baldwin came out. He
glanced at the empty room and at the
preoccupied teller. -.
Tom gone?"
The teller looked up, his nnger On .
humber, and nodded
Carter Baldwin passed on to the safe.
But at the open door something stayed
MIN. He stood . moment staring in.
rhe horn trimmed spectacles held their
steady gaze. Then he turned and went
slowly toward his room. He glanced At
the teller in passing. The bowed head
was lost in its figures
IF my son comes in tell him I want To
see him q minute, please"
The bowed head mumbled respectfully
ana Carter Baldwin passed on to his
room and closed the door.
He stood staring before him. Through
the windows the wet leaves glimmered at
him. The gaze of the horn trimmed
glasses seemed to pierce the greenness,
staring through it to something unseen,
unbelievable, behind the svaying leaves
A sound in the outer room caught his
ear and he moved swiftly to his desk
and sat down.
The door opened quietly. Toms face
looked in, smiling.
Did you want me, dadr'
Carter Baldwin's hand, resting on the
ledge of the desk. trembled like the
leaves through the barred window. He
moved it to his knee out Of sight below
the desk
You haven't goney'
II stopped to see that everythins's In
order for Burnham." The Iimpid gase
met his fathers clearly.
al1
need Of that. was therer'
'Of course not. Only his coming out
Of time so made me wonder II everything
was all right"
You didn't discover anything much out
of the way, I suppose?" The words were
dry and the sons laugh echoed 1t hap
PLY.
Not much! Every papers In place.
Every security solid. II was absurd, but
1 really felt nervous-a kind of panic"
He smiled at him
The mani returned the smile.
II understand. Tom I've been young
myself. Better 30 along now. hadn't
your
Yes I'm or"
But his father detained him. He was
looking at the dancing wet leaves out.
side.
I'D go by the hill road II I were you"
'Why" He stopped. Its twice as
far"
Yes hesitating. But ! don't like
the bridge-after these heavy rains-and
for the touring car. Better go by the
hill"
The son stared. The bridge is safe
solid as rock. isn't Il? That concrete has
weathered worse floods than this How
long has II been there anyway-old as
Ha Ia
Carter Baldwin's eyes pierced the glim-
mering outside.
trwenty-four years-this fall" he said
slowly.