The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-09-09

/ fees and you can go to sleep at tns
table. Don't fall 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 a man to Atlanta to look for you
He told me he'd give me q house and
lot If I'd find you-and IL there was
little more OF the highway rcbber 10
me, I'D call his hand !"
"And mother--have you seen herr
Dale muttered.
"I'ye seen her twice since the near
wedding"
Ibid she have anything to say about
met Tell me the whole truth, Bobby.
/ can take 1t, old man. I'm big enough"
McLaurin frowned. "Since you've
asked me, Bill, your mother--l over
heard her telling your father that she
would never forgive you for the 'ut-
terly shameless, dlsgraceful scene You
made in church."
| II 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, risins. YOU'D be
foolish II you didn't. You should be
willing to do anything, almost, for Pas.
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 brick-the home Of thu
old coal king, John K. Dale.
At the wide front gateway young
Dale drew back. --
Bring father out here" he said ID
a low voice. From what you told me
| guess mother wouldn't want me 70
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 beea
quite so dear to him as she might have
been
And If she vents to see me, Resoy,
let me know"
McLaurin smiled somewhat war.
ried smile, and went up to the frSEa
door. A moment later he was shown
in. Yet another moment, and John X.
Dale, his fiorid face beaming WITH
gladness, fastened out to the gateway
Young Dale was instantly touched BIZ
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 pace.
you've come home to stay, haven't
you, Garlyle?" said the older man, and
his voice was filled with pleading.
What you did is all right; We'll nevef
mention 1t again. You'll stay, won't
you, Carlyle, my boy?"
| NO" answered the son, trifie cold
ly in spite of himself. 1--WE spent all
the idle, useless years I'll ever spend
I'm getting ready to develop the coal
In David Moreland's mountain"
| Observation-Disclosures I"
The retired coal magnate breathed
the three words in husky tone. He
put forth hand and rested 1t 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, Carlyle?" jerkily. ~
"Yes."
And you-you learned about David
Moreland?"
"Yes." Bill Dale folded his armt
and stood there looking at his fathe,
with eyes that accused.
"Iou know who killed himT" old
Dale muttered. ..<
81 do, and 1t was a shame-s blaes
shame" ..# a......
"Yes, 1t was a shame. Nobody knows
that half so well as know II" said
John X. Dale. His mouth quiyered.
He looked downward, looked up again
"Son, you can never say or think worse
things about me than l have said AMI
thought about myseIf-because OF
that"
Dale the younger glanced toward
the house. Robert McLaurin was com.
Ing slowly down the veranda stepa
Mrs, Dale was nowhere in signt. She
didn't want to see her son; she didn't
even want him In the house. Brl Dale
read 1t all in his friends dowucasl
countensnce, and IL WAS somehow Z
great disappointment.
You'll need money n you're go'u,
to develop that coal property" Dai,
, the elder was saying. @You haven
any money, and those mountain foil
: haven't any. I'll give you aA that.
|