The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-08-02
ny MARY BI.AkE woonsON

~ As'Nt NJ AfAfttA w AlAF NtNitA ~
his fathcrin.law's house IN answer
20 a frantic telephone call from his
wife. She met him, drenehed with
tears aud trembling with terror.
"oh, Francis Xavier. it's father"
she walled, Hes gone Here's al
note -oh. Frank, so save him for
us
Mechanically O'RourlSc read the
erumpled. toarstaincd massive
rs there q hcllf I've gone 20 fluid
out" the Old Man had written.
oh he's done Il by this time. !
know Il, know it," sobhed the old
Woman, wrlnglng her eallouaed
hands,
o'Routke's mouth suddenly set In.
yarlably tho Old Man committed sui
eide when he was crossed or angry
or things went wrong. i, WIS his
witty little way OF enjoying himself
and getting his wuy ia tho end a
way he accepted lanRuidly. mourn,
fully and within touch OF condesecn.
sion. Three times had the Old Man /
committed suicide Ia the six months
o'Rourko had been In the family. /
Three times had O'Rourke seen the
family in the thrOoa OF premature
mourning They were not pleasant
throes.
What's il all about7' demanded 4
o'Rourke, crumpling tho note.
Why. mother-ahe wanted a new 4
dress and poor fathcr-he'd counted
on IA black hat. And mother ia
sisted and-t sided with her -oh, I
Frank. he ho thought we dldn't
love him any more He told US 80
-oh. father. father"
Tho Old Woman added her quiet
sobs TO the outcry.
III he's lookin' for he'll. let him
lind H." snorted o'Rourkc. suddenly.
"oh. no. Frank, Go find him.
please. quiclw implored his wife
fnnticaily, hut ORourko set his
lips harder. IL WAS an expression
Mrs. o'Rourke was acquainted with.
Il having been primarily the reason
why she married O'Rourkc..
That will not. voclferatcd
oRourke. loudly,
Why. Fpnols- Xavier 'Rourkc
-" whispered the Old Woman
"Diyvii q bit" said Francis KAY.
Ter. you let him alone. Just
wait and sec.
But there followed a scene with
which o'Rourke was also familiar
Tho pltiful Old Woman. arising ma,
iesiically. refusing 10 say words 70
her daughters husband thnt burned
her tongue. taking down her shabby
coat, her hat. while her brood
al sirls-sobbcd Rt the windows IN
he odd little whine OF children'a
frightened sorrow. her old hands
shaking. tears dipping quietly down
her chceks-all about "a new drcaz
'or her. indeed. thought oRourke.
suddenly he stalked tn certain
irawer In tho back room. Tho old {
Mans gun was truly gone. with
narrowed eyes and mouth siliil
rim. oRourko seemed TO suffer a
.hange OF heart,
Take off your hat" no said
;ruffly 20 tho Old Woman. and
cent out tho front door. leaving her
Gaming weakly against tho frame
n an hour he was hack. But the y
Did Man was not with him. o
He's coming" he said tersely. TO y
he terror about TO break out ancw $
n tho family. v
Where" whispered tho Old l
Woman. her eyes swimming again. a
"oh. didn't find him" said :.
,'Roprkc. But hS'll come"
But long half hour followed
ull Of reproachlnEs. fun OF walk.
ngs up and down. full Of awful
onssness. Then suddenly. triumph.
nifty. o'Rourko exclaimed. "um.
UNI" For he'd heard step. The
COR finally opened slowly. And tho
i'd Man came in rather sheepishly.
ut no WAS not defeated. His roll
TX eyes glared rcproach at the
,miiy. For two whole hours had q
ley left him sitting trugiealiy \
umped over on q soap.boS in an ~
rea way Just remote enough TO y
,tch tho gratifying sounds Of
REF For two whole hours had he \
Il with his face buried in his 81
rms. his shoulders ready 20 shake %
18th pentup soba at tho advent OF m
ny Of them, his revolver artis. Of
cally within reach. And It was hi
lilly outside and not ono had come 70
} beg him TO delay tho fatal deed. u
} snatch him from the brink Of
10 grave or bring comforting prof. Ct
.ra OF a new black hat. He ran hi
d fingers thru his hair. agonizcd.
I'd stallted through the family lo
INKS. And as they fell back be cl
re his baleful mein, his eyes di
oked baiky, mean. furtive. like an IF
natured horse about 10 lay bnck M
IS cars and bite at nothing. m
1--WE just been thinking It all dc
H." he announced hollowly. Il 81
anted to be sure. I know now It's
ght that pass out OF your way. co
came for my gun" o'Rourlic pf
nilcd grimly. lie knew Il still re. We
lscd safely in tho area why. THE la
Their OF family OF ingrates." We
led the Old Man, waving his 10
ms. "Ingrates Where is my pii
ln?" n
with shrill bescechlngs. tho in. err
ates fell on him. OF course. but lei
Rourke brushed them aside, tr,
Here's n gun" he said brlskly. do
uat help yourself" at
The Old Man was palpably some. -
rat taken aback. Ho eyed o..
,urke crafty. furtive suspicion at
. back OF his eyes. He'd never
proved Of oRourlte. o'Rourke
lied, blandy.
Here's gum" no said again,
sky.
A bit uncertainty the Old Man 4
ally took the gun. He looked at Z
dazedly. Quito without knowing Z,
he squInted nm eye and looked !