Evening star., 1923-09-04
fifty thousand dollars, looks bad, ad-
wise action at once.
GEO. STONE, Gen. Mgr,
Pacific Central Ry. Co"

fifty thousand dollars, looks bad, ad-
wise action at once.
GEO STONE. Gen. Mgr,
Pacific Central Ry. Co"
Alden pulled up in front of the
Judge and waited.
"Weli?" he thundered as the former
laid the message down and calmly
placed his glasses in his pocket.
well, welp you see that? My God.
man. They've called my son thief!
A thief. An Alden a thief! Missing;
you; he can't be missing. thief!
with the rage of a strong man gone
Wild Alden circled about, pounding
and stamping alternately.
The judge grasped his first oppor-
tunity.
Nov. now. Peter" he urged, u
know your boy. Why. I've raised
him as much as you have. He's no
thief. certainly not There's some
Mistake nothing" thundered AL
den. ITS a lie. It's trick. They're
making a goat out of an Alden. I'll
have none of it, John. you produce
that boy. Call the detectives. Spend
money: you know how to do 1t. But
get that boy"
your head; if there's crooked work
here. all the more reason to be calm:
There's lots of time. Come, sit down.
Reluctantly. Alden gave way to
utter exhaustion and sank into his
can we do? I'm all broken up.
Couldn't sleep last night. Felt some
thing was wrong with Peter. Some
thing awfully wrong. John.
A secretary knocked timidly at the
door. The judge bade her enter, and
took special delivery letter from
her hand. Both men recognized the
handwriting at the same instant.
Alden reached for it with savage
eagerhess. tore it open, and read:
Dear Dad:
By this time you've had the truth
! God knows I've done enough in the
past to kill your trust Now I've
| broken my word. l don't care about
| the money. ! knew you paid the
| bills, YOU always do. Where I'm
/ going won't cost you anything. m
! just worthless. Dad, just worthless
! promising any more. But If | ever
! am. I'll come back. Until then.
only hope you won't be hurt too
| much. Think the best you can OF
me under the circumstances. Never
| mind where I'm going. l don't know
Your loving son.
PETER"
Without a word Alden passed the
| letter to his friend For fully a
minute neither spoke.
| Alden was first to break the silence
/ His face was blanched. his voice weak
| with evident pain and poorly con-
| cealed emotion. He placed a trem
bling hand on the shoulder of his
| friend.
John" his voice shook as he spoke
"fix the papers. He isn't my son any
more. Stop the news If you can
! Don't mention his name any more
/ You understand? Fm-Tm going
| ht- Tnh e
| the house tonight. I'll be alone there
! now"
peter. do you value the word Of
an old friend? Listen. your boy die
not-could not--wait Peter. Listen
l can prove 1t. / can"
| John, you have his letter. That
settles it. Don't mention il again
Please. John. don't mention IT again
] Good bye"
CHAPTER IL.
Come on, you. Whadda think thi.
is, free lodgin joint? Come on, out
side. bum, Outside
Pete stared blankly. Bum? Outside
He blinked reiectively. Some one wa
rudely kicking the soles of his feet
He drew them under him and sat up
burly rouStabout hung over him.
We'll, keep movin', keep movin
Can't live here. Been sleepin' all nigh
now; come on. outside"
Slowly Pete reused himself TIL,
room seemed strange. nothing familia
greeted him, and it was horribl.
dirty. He staggered unsteadily t
his feet. His stomach felt sick an,
his head ached. Many lights will
strange colors danced before his eyes
He apologized to the roustabout ant
started uncertainty for the bar.
Got any money! the barkeepeI
growled as he approached
Pete fumbled foolishly at pocket
Nothing came out. He tried another
nothing there.
Guess not. Where am l?'
Bout three jumps this side of th
hoosgow. Here. drink this" The bar
tender showed a hot whiskey towart
him.
Pete gulped it down and startet
for the door. The sun cast sickl,