Shoshone journal., 1921-08-19

|
the altar
Dale laughed boyishly. McLauri
went on:
There's more news. Your fathe
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 an'
lot if I'd find you-and if there was /
little more of the highway robber il
me, I'd call his handl"
And mother-have you seen herr
| Dale muttered.
1--WE seen her twice since the near
wedding"
did she have anything to say about
me? Tell me the whole truth, Bobby.
l can take it, old man. I'm big enough.
McLaurin frowned. ''Since you've
asked me, BILL your MOTHER 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, LAS 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
passing car that soon carried them to
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
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 careu J
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 somewhat wor-
-ied smile, and went up to the front
1oOr. A moment later he was shown
n. Yet another moment, and John X.
Dale, his forid face beaming with
badness, hastened out to the gateway.
ioung Dale was instantly touched by
lis fathers new attitude toward him;
hen he remembered the long night Of
David Moreland's people, and he stiff
ened little and drew back a pace.
you've come home to stay, haven't
ou, Carlyle?" said the older man, and
lis voice was filled with pleading.
What you did is all right; Wen never
lention it again. Youth stay, won't
ou, Carlyle, my boy?'
NO" answered the son, a trifie cold
7 in spite of himself. 1--WE spent all
he idle, useless years I'll ever spend.
m getting ready to develop the coal
/ David Moreland's mountain"
eland's-mountaini
The retired coal magnate breathed
lie three words in a husky tone. He
ut forth a hand and rested it against
le of the huge stone gateposts, as
ough to steady himself, and some OF
lie color went from his face.
You say David Moreland's noun
in, Carlyle?" jerkily.
"Yes."
And you-you learned about David
orelandw
yes" Bill Dale folded his arms !.
Id stood there looking at his father Z
tn eyes that accused.
You know who killed him?r old !
lle muttered \
81 do, and it was shame-a black 4
anne" 81
''Yes, it was shame. Nobody knows
at half so we'll as | know it, said
hD X. Dale. His mouth dutversd. J
: looked downward, looked up again
on, you can never say or think worse
ngs about me than | have said and :"
'uent ABOUT mySelf-becauSe OF
IT."
Dale the younger glanced towarn
house. Robert McLaurin was com
slowly down the veranda steps
S. Dale was nowhere in signt. She
mt want to see her son she didn't
m want him in the house Bl;l Dale NJ
ID 1t all In his friends downc ~
lntenance, and 1t was somehow a -
at disappointment. z;
You'll need money if you're goiug
develop that coal property" Daie ac
elder was saying. "You haven' d.
money, and those mountain folk Sir
-ent any. I'll give you all that's ~
ded. I'll send you mining machln- I'd I'd
, and expert mining men; III" on on