Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-19

scared to death. After this he would
be free to 60 where and act how he
pleased. Under an assumed name he
would find lodgings in some modest
rooming house-preferably one Of his
Own--and then he would fare forth In
quest of knowledge, for he wanted tc
learn something about the life Of thu
great city before he essayed to match
lances with the Great Adventure Com
pany.
Surprising he wasn't Silas Bancroft I
son! The question, coming like Bolt
from the blue, had the effect of blud
geoning his faculties. For a moment ht
stood dazed. What agency had permitted
such question to disrupt his sentimen .
| tai musings! Not Silas Bancroft's son
| Surely his mind was full Of unaccount.
| able kinks this morning.
lie heard voices below and lent an
| eur.
And nobody ever dreamt Of n"'
No more did l."
WHATS he going to do with it?"
I'm sure ! don't know, Mrs. Lin
dcl' answered the voice of Mrs
Horne.
So Williams had spread the news n.
quickly as this! Bancroft shrugged. II
had TO be known; 80 1t didn't matter.
AZ the girls would be making eyes at
MIN now; and those who had prophe
sled his eventual hanging would refer
to him as that fine young chan Ban
croft Not horse trough!
II suppose he'll 20 to New York.
where he can spend it," said Mrs. Lin
::'He WHIT replied Bancroft, soto
voice: "and this very night.'
'Autymobiles and moving picture
actresses and all that. He amt so in.
nocent: Or he'll 60 gouging folks the
way his father did.
What he does with his money is
his own business"
Did you know that there was n
young woman here last night and that
lie went with her over to the Central?'
-, Yes; and ! gave the poor young
thlng pair of stockings and my best
on A pause. "what did he leave
you?" " ''
Nothing"
"What-after all your years of faitb.
full service? Well, l never heard - -,
II was regularly paid. But how did
you hnd 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 q
cent to this town, where both his wife
ana son were born. He didn't even can.
eel the mortgage on the First Presby.
terian Church. Oh, l know where he is
this minute"
-! wouldn't slander the dend, Mrs.
Linden. You all ought to be satisfied
with the way you treated him when lie
was alive. There--my coffec's boiling
over. can smell 1t. You'll have to
excuse me-"
The Neighbors Are Curious
Silence followed. Bancroft peered
from behind his curtain, He saw Mrs.
Linden-something of grenadier-
marching stormily down the path TO the
gate. He blew mocking kiss after her
Tor this conversation had suggested a
:. He was hungry when he entered the
dining room. Chow, Aunty!" he
She came in with platters in both
hands, one heaped with smoking golden
brown pancakes and the other sizzling
with bacon and fried eggs. He fell to
him. He jestcd with her between bites
nut when he had drunk his second Gun
of coffee his face became serious
"Aunty, am / really Sjlas Bancroft's
SON. '' ""''o''
'What: Land O Goshen, Jerry how.
whatever put that into your besdp
What makes you think you mightn't
be!' curiously.
"Oh. ! don't know. Popped into nv
head. 1t seems to me q real father
would have left some advice with all this
money, considering that until recently
l never saw hundred dollars in a lump
sum-
Jerry, | was present when your
father and mother were married. was
with your mother when you came-and
when she died, week later"
Maybe he hated me for having
caused her death?"
mo. lie never spoke harsh word to
you, my boy, or ever laid a heavy hand
on you. You wasn't ever whipped. But
that wan because you was a good how.
They went to NeS York, but came back
when she was t,bk Ill. This was her
house. He went}back to New York and
left you with ME. He got Dneumony
and was in a hospital for weeks. When
he finally came back he told me he was
going to live here. But, Oh. how
changed he was"
Then he was different once ?" eagerly
"fle was something like you, Jerry,
energetic. But after he came back he
lidn't seem to take any interest In any
hing but money-money. He moved |
lbout, like he wasn't sure, and smoke
title. But now know it was his heart.
It l was you. Jerry boy, Id 70 away
rom this mean town and never come |
'ack. Oh. know! They'll be after
'ou, trying to kiss your boots---thcm as
'anked their daughters inside the gates
when they saw you and wouldn't let
heir boys play with you. Yes, sir;
hats what I'd do If | was you"
The identical advice offered by the ad-
'enturer, but that was all. The two
impulses We're totally different.
II am going to New York, Aunty,
his very night. I'll be gone several
months. ] want you to keep the house
'or me. I'll write you from time to
imc, but nobody must know where I
I'M. You see, that chap last night was
he beginning The door is going to be
hammered loose by men and women
who'll have schemes---a thousand OF
hem--by which they hope to transfer
some of my shekels to other pockets.
Toll them I've gone away and will not
'eturn under six months
Take care O. yourself. New York
s a dreadful city---and you like Red
That's pretty good, Aunty. But
III fight shy of wolves who pretend to
ie my grandmothers. l shan't go to
New York with any illusions about It.
m not going in search of fortune; !
have one. But I've got to leave this
town for while. So why not to the big
,ity, and get my education over with!
have brains; I want to find out how