The Washington times., 1923-11-19
By Charles G. Norris.

~ HILIP hesitated to expcstu-
late with Leila; he knew
he would succeed only
IN rousing her resentment. and
ne feared it might increase
her prejudice against his son.
he was intensely sorry for Paul;
he was not altogether with
out sympathy for Leila The boy
had. many curiously : repellant
qualities; he was not cleanly; he
was unappreciative, silent. sly; he
Ned without hesitation.
A feud grew up between Phil
fps son and Philips wife. When
he was struck Paul would retail
ate by surreptitiously turning ou1
the gas in the stove where stew
was sf1nmertng: he would ring the
front door bell when Leila was
lying down. or manage slyly to
waken the baby: he would hide
various articles Leila needed.
such as her scissors, the apothe-
cary,s measuring glass, the can
opener. the Ratchet, the baby's
talcnni powder; he even cut the
buttons OFF her high walking
shoss. 1t was some time before
ehe discovered his trickery, and
she then gave Philip the alterna-
tive Of whipping the boy soundly
or sending him to an institution.
Gravely troubled, Philip took his
con into the bedroom. reasoned
with him as best he could. ex-
plaiaed why he must punish him,
and then strapped him in a man.
ner he thought mild enough. The
boy .qlaailed at each. blow; he
groveIled and writhed upon the
noor. shielding his face and head
with his thin arms, yelping I'm
terror. His father was filled with
great cortempts4or his miserable
lack of spirit.
But Ia the morning. Paul was
gone; When Leila came down
stairs at six O'Clock to get break
Fast his bed was empty. Four
dollars and a. few cents from her
purse were likewise missing.
Philip telephoned at. once to Con-
stance. supposing the. boy had
gone to her. but she had seen
nothing of him. She promised to
let Philip know II he appeared or
if she heard from him. At the
end Of two days, he notified the
police. But there was no news of
Paul.
A Letter
In the spring Leila had letter
from Philips sister, announcing
her approaching marriage to
Jasper John Fargo-well-known
as dollar" Fargo. He was the
originator OF a patent safety razor. I
the Fargo Razor Factories cover
ed five square blocks in the city Of
Cleveland,-an he was many times
q millionaire. He was well past
sixty and was a widower with, /
son older than Philip. had retired /
from active participation in the
management of his business and
now made his home in Los
Angeles.
Leila laid down the letter and
eyed her husband through mar
rowed lids, an ill-concealed, bitter
smile across her mouth.
$50 that's why she and Beckie
decided to spend the winter at
Santa Barbara and Coronado.
They. went angling for Mr.. Fargo
and Lucy landed him. Well,
she got what she went after; 1
suppose she's satisfied"
Philip frowned. The idea of his
pretty sister married to an old
man gave him no particular pleas
ure, and his wifeis sneering COM
ment annoyed him.
Hes close to seventy" Leila
went on; She'll have to play
nurse for a few years and then
she'll be in clover for the rest of
her lfe."
"well, I daresay she likes him."
'T daresay she'd like a toad with
ten million"
Philip scowled at his wife. She
was getting altogether too bitter.
he thought; Lucy wasn't that kind.
He said so with feeling.
Leila shifted and put her chin
In the air.
Your sisters a very clever