Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-26

the life of the great city before he essa yed
to match lances with the Great Adventure
Company.
Surprising he wasn't Silas Bancroft's son?
The question, coming like a bolt from the
blue, had the effect of bludgeoning his fac.
ultles. For a moment he stood dazed. What
agency had permitted such a question to
disrupt his sentimental musings? Not Silas
Bancroft's son? Surely his mind was full
of unaccountable kinks this morning.
He heard voices below and lent an car.
And nobody ever drcamt of it,"
ono moro did l."
Whats he going to do with 'it?"
I'm sure I don't know, Mrs. Linden" an.
swered the voice Of Mrs. Horne.
So Williams had spread the news as quick
~ as this? Bancroft shrugged. 1t had to
be known; so it didn't matter. All the girls
would be making eyes at him now; and
those who had prophesied his eventual hang.
ing would refer to him as that fine young
chap Bancroft" Not a horse trough!
Il suppose he'll go to New York, where
he can spend it," said Mrs. Linden, bit.
terly.
He WILL" replied Bancroft, soto voce;
and this very night! !"
"Autymobiles and moving picture act
tresses, and all that. He amt so innocent.
Or he'll go on gouging folks the way his
father did"
What he does with his money is his own
business"
Did you know that there was a young
woman here last night and that he went
with her over to the Central?"
Yes; and 1 gave the poor young thing
a pair of stockings and my best Shoes"
"O!" A pause. What did he leave
you?'
Nothing"
"What-after all your years of faithful
service? Well, 1 never heard. -"
81 was regularly paid. But how did you
find out there was millions? "
why, he told Williams last night. Seven
millions And the good Lord knows how
much blood is on that money. Millions,
and he never gave a cent to this town, where
both his wife and son were born. He didn't
even cancel the mortgage on the First Pres.
byterian church. o, I know where he is
this minute"
IL wouldn't SANDER the dead, Mrs. Lin.
den. You all ought to be satisfied with the
way YOU treated him when he was alive.
There-my %coffee's boiling over. I can smell
it. You'll have to excuse me-"
Silence followed. Bancroft peered from
behind his curtain. He saw Mrs. Linden
something of a Notwithstanding storm
lily down the path to the gate. He blew a
hooking kiss after her; for this converse
ton had suggested a fine idea,
He was hungry when he entered the din.
ing room. Chow. Aunty!" be called.
"Chow!"
She came in with l~platters in both hands,
one heaped with smoking golden brown
pancakes and the other sizzling with bacon
and fried eggs. He fell to. h%ealthily. Mrs.
Horne lowered about him. He Tested, with
her between bites, but when he had drunk
his second cup Of coffee his face became
serious.
"Aunty, am ! really silas Bancroft's
son?"" ~
What? Land o. Goshen, Jerry boy,
whatever put that into your head? What
makes you think you mightn't be? curl.
ously.
@$" o, Itdon't know. Popped into my. head.
II seems to me a real father would have left
some advice with all this money, consider
ing that until recently I nsyer nav d hundred
7 dollars In q lump sum"
: Terry, ! was present when you father
and mother were married. / was with your
mother when YOU came---and when she died,
= week laterasss
Maybe BE hated m, Tor having caused
her death3s
NO re never spoke Z harsh word to'