The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-14

with a trcsome old pest, and now
he again made al evasive answer.
1t was only upon occasions like.
this meeting that Bob" kissed her
father for she had been reared as a
boy and taught to shun emotional
display.
"Oh, daddy. it has been a long
t,me!". Those were the first word
either of them had spoken. !.
Barbara was anything bat boyisf
to look at; quite the opposite, in
fact. She was delightfully."- feminine
from the crown of her smart little
travelling hat to ser dainty French
heels, and although her suit was not
expensive, it was worn with an air
and was perhaps as fetching as any
that hid ever come to Wichtl Fails.
"Well, son, there's boom on and
the town has grown some; but |
guess things are about tne same as
when you left EN-" Tom spoke
with pride and satisfaction as he
paid the driver, took Barbara's suit
case, and opened the gate for ner."
The girl turned from her first
long, appraising gaze at the modest
home. No change, indeed! The paint
on the house was peeling cutters
had rusted out, some of the porch
flooring had rotted through, the yard
was an unkept tangle of matted
grass and weeds anG neglected
shrubbery
at hasn't changed a mite" she
said, bravely.
A moment later she paused upon
the threshold tense, thrilled, ap-
parently speechless. This time it
was more difficult 10 counterfeit an
exclamation of joy.
"Why, everything is right where
it belongs. How wonderfully you've
kept house. You must have a perfect
jewel of girl, dad!"
II let Aunt Lizzie go bout three
year. back" Tom explained. "She
got-shiftless and | been sort of
batching it since. Clean, though,
amt it?'
Barbara turned; blindly sly
walked to the center table and buried
her face in a bouquet of wild flow
ers garnered from the yard. She
held it there for a moment before
she spoke. "You-didn't even forget
that | love -bonnets, did you
dad ~
'Bob's" room was saved for the
last, and Old Tom stood back, glow
ing at her delight. He could not re-
frain from showing her his black
ened thumb-nai!-thc price of his
carpentry-for he hoped she'd kiss
it, And she did
Not until she had "shoocd" him
out and sent him downstairs. did she
give way to those emotions she had
been fighting this long time; then
her face grew white and tragic. ooh
daddy, daddy" she whispered.
What have | done 20 you?"
Tom Parker had raised his girl
hike son, and like a son she took
hold of things, but with daughters
tact. Her intuition told her much,
but she did not arrive at full ap-
probation of the family affairs until
she had the house running and went
down to put his Office in order. Then
indeed, she learned at what cost had
come those four expensive years in
the East and the truth left her
limp.
Tom was mortgaged to the hilt,
his royalties were pledged; crow
could not pick living out of his III .
surance business. J
Something had to be done. aid
quickly; new hanc was needed to
mend the family fortunes. Barbara
determined to lend that hand.
After fortnight of careful con
sideration she decided to enter the
oil business and deal in leases. L.
We'll be partners, dad You run
the insurance and I'll be the lease
hound''
"Sa3-' Toms eye frightened
iii put desk right alongside of
mlne-a little Teller, Just your size
and nice lounge IN the back room,
where you can lay down when you're
tired. You been away so long it
seems like l can't have you close
enough" Anothe, Eought present
ed itself, and he manifested sudden
excitement. 81 tell you! I'll get a
new sign painted, too! Tom and
Bob Parker. Real Estate and In
surance. Oil Propties and Leases
Gosh! It's great idea son!"
CHAPTER w
In Ranger Town
A year before this story opens
the town of Ranger, Texas, consist
ed OF weatherbeaten, rundown
railroad station, blacksmith shop,
ana h'tching rail, town enough,
incidentally, for the limited number
OF people and the scanty amount of
merchandise that passed through.
The few farms and ranches round
about were scattered widely, and life
thereon was grim struggle against
heartbreak, by reason of the raunt.,
gray, ever-present specter of thu
drought.
Biologists had claimed for some
time that there must be coal in these
north Texas counties, a contention
perhaps based upon comfortable.
belief in the law of compensation. 4
CONTINUED in Our Next Issue)