The Pulaskian., 1921-08-25

feet, and you can go to sleep at the table. Don't fail us. Pat wants to thank you for casting her aside at the altar"
 Dale laughed boyishly, McLaurin went on:
 There's more news. Your father has been trying hard to find you. He sent man to Atlanta to look for you. He told me he'd give me house and lot if I'd find you-and if there was little more of the highway robber in me- I'd call his hand!'
 And motherLhaye you seen her7" Dale muttered.
 I've seen her twice since the near wedding
 Ibid she have anything to say about me? Tell me the whole truth, Bobby. 1 can take it, old man. I'm big enough"
 McLaurin drowned. Since 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."
 "I sec" said Dale. He frightened and went on, AS soon as l can get my 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 neves 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 a palace of granite and stone and cream-colored briclI-the home Of tha old coal king, John K. Dale.
 At the wide front gateway young Dale drew back.
 Bring father out here," he said in q low voice. From what you told me. 1 guess mother wouldn't want me to come in. But you can find out about that-n
 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. moment later he was shown in. Yet another moment, and John K. Dale, his fiorid face beaming with gadness, hastened 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 we'll never mention it again. You'n stay, won't you, Carlyle, my boy?'
 "No," answered the son, a trifie cold Iy in spite of himself. Eve spent all the idle, useless years I'll ever spend. I'm getting ready to develop the coal in David Moreland's mountain"
 "David-Morelands v
 The retired coal magnate breathed put forth a hand and rested it against one of the huge stonei gateposts, as though to steady himself, and some of the color went from his face.
 You say David Merchants noun tain, Carlyle?" jerkily.
 Yes"
 And you--you learned about David Moreland?'
 "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.
 "I do, and it was shame-a black shame"
 Yes, 1t 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 I have said and thought about myseIf-because or 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 it all in his friends downcast countenance, and it was somehow great disappointment.
 You'll need money if you're going to develop that coal property Dale the elder was saying. You haven't any money, and those mountain folk haven't any. I'll give you all that's neednd I,U send you mining machin-