Evening star., 1922-01-22
by Clarence Burlington Kelland

Then what?"
II let on needed money, and told
him IL he'd gimme two hundred dol
lars I'd destroy the evidence and let
the old man go. He says he didn't
have the money. and / says he had
the organ money. He didn't say
! nothin' for q spell, and then he says.
kind Of low and wonderin', Which
'u'd be the worst-which 'u'd be the
worst?' Then I says, Worst what?
And he says for his father to be
ketched for . bootlegger or for him
to be thief. I Jest let him think
about 1t. and didn't say nothin'. be-
cause knowed how he looked up TO
his old man.
GsDRETTY soon, he says. I'd be a
thief. cause I couldn't explain.
I'd have to run off and leave Matte.
that I'm a-Roin' to marry tomorrer.
could pay 1t back. but that wouldn't
do no good. But for father to be ar
rested. him an elder and all. would
kill him. couldn't bear for father 10
be shamed fore all the world or to
be thought guilty of sich thing.
He's wuth q heap more'n be. and he
won't never do 1t ag'in.' Then he
| asks II I'll give q letter to his old
man, and I says yes. He walked up
and down for maybe a quarter OF an
hour, talkin' to himself and kini o:
fghtin' it out. but I knowed VIVA.
he'd do right along. At the end he
, come over and says: This here means
ruinin' my life and breakin' Mastie's
, heart. but ! calclate that's better'n
holdin' father UP to scorn and seei.'
him in Jail II they was only some
other way. His voice was stidd:-
like. but he was right pale. and his
eyes was a-shinin'. remember how
! they was a-shinin'. I calc'late,' he
says. that l kin bear II fer fathers
sake Then he says to me. kind of
/ fierce, II ever you let on TO anybody
why done this, il it's in a hundred
years. Til come back and kill YOU
=; For while he kept still again. and
| then he went in the house and got
| the money and wrote letter to nis
old man. and / promised to give 1t 10
/ him-but tore it up
| What did the letter say?'
! 1T just said sonethin' to the effect
| that he was willin' to do what he
done IL his old man would give over
| breakin' the law and go to livin' up
right, like he always done, and that
he hoped maybe God seen a differer e
| in stealin' on account OF the reasons
folks had for doin' it. But 4 God
didn't make no difference. why. he'A
! rather bear it than have it fall on his
| old man."
And then?'
! "I took the money and come 'wa;.
And he run away. And that's all.
| The town hall was very still. Tie
stiffness Of it seemed to pierce ami
hurt. Then it was broken by cry
a hoarse cry, wrenched from the soul
Of a man. MY boy-my boy" Old
Elder Newton was on his feet, to-
tering toward his son. and before his
son he sank upon his knees and
buried his hard, weathered old face
upon Mavin's knees.
| Justice Of the Peace Bender cleared
his throat.
This here" he said. '1ooks to me
to be suthin' the folks Of this town.
the friends and neighbors of this mere
father and son. ought to settle. instid
Of the law. Maybe it hain't legal. out
dunno who's to interfere. Folks,
what ought to be done to this here
boy that done a crime and SUFFERED
the consequences Of it jest to-<ave his
father from another crime the Old
man never done a-tall
] Neither Mavin nor his father heard.
The old elder was muttering over and
over, my boy-that was dead and is
alive again"
| Scattergood arose silently and
pointed to the door. and the crow1
withdrew silently-withdrewt to group
| about the entrance outside and to
wait. They were patient. 1t was an
hour before Elder Newton descended.
his son on one side and Matte Strong
on the other. The band, with a vol
unter drummer. lifted its joyous
voice. And. looking UP. the trio faced
banner upon which Scattergood had
caused to be painted, welcome home.
Mavin Newton"
| Coldriver had taken judicial action
and thus voiced its decision.
copyright. 1922. BY Harper 3 Bros. All
rghts reserved.)