Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-15
CHAPTER III
Bob Parker Comes Home

ing. turbulent lifetime spent in admins
tering the law in a laWless region had stamp
ed him with the characteristics of a frontier
officer
Among the late corners to Wichita Falls,
where he lived, Tom known as quiet
spoken, emotionless old fellow with an hon
orable past. 1t was not generally known that
he was a kind and indulgent father and had
daughter whom he worshiped with blind
adulatiOn. This ignorance was not strange
for Miss Barbara Parker had been away at
college for four years now, and during that
time she had not once returned home.
. There was perfectly good reason for this
protracted separation of father and daugh-
ter since. Old Tom was no longer on pay it
took all he could rake and scrape to meet
her bills, and railroad fares are high.
Tom carried a nominal fire-insurance
business, but a matter of fact the tiny
tWo-roomed frame structure that bore his
painted sign nothing more or less than
loafing place for him and his rheumatic
friends.
The time came, however, when he was
forced to shed his habit of slothfulness as
completely as a snake sheds it's skin and that
was during the week before "Bob's'' arrival
Then, indeed, he swept and he busted he
mopped and he polished, he rubbed and he
scrubbed, trying his best to put the house
in order.
On the day set for Bob's arrival, Tom
had his dishes washed and his things in
oreder long ere the town was awake Then
he went down to the office and waited
with the jumps Repeatedly he consulted
his heavy gold watch, engraved: with the
admiration and gratitude of the citizens of
Burlingame. November fifth, 1892" It was
still two hours of train time when he locked
up and limped off toward the station but
1t was we'll to be there early.
or course he met Judge Halloran on the
street.-the always did-and of course the
Judge asked when Bob was coming home
The judge always did that, too. Old Tom
mad lied diligently to the judge every day
Tor month now, for he had no intention
OF sharing this day of days with a tiresome
ola pest, and now he again made an evasive
answer.
1t was only upon occasions like this meet
ing 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 time,"
Those were the first words either of them
had spoken.
Barbara was anything but boyish to look
at; quite the opposite, in fact. She was de-
hghttully feminine from the crown of her
smart little travelling hat to her dainty
french heels, and although her suit was M,
expensive, it was worn with an air and was
perhaps as fetching as any that had ever
come to Wichita Falls
well, son, there's a boom on and the
town has grown some; but L guess things
y III.
Iom spoke with pride and satisfaction as he
paid the driver, took Barbara's suitcase. and
opened the gate for her
The girl turned from her first long, ap-
pfalslng gaze at the modest home No
change, indeed! The paint on the hourA
was peeling, cutters had rusted out some
OF the porch flooring had rotted throueh
the yard was an unkempt tangle of matted
grass and weeds and neglected shrubbery.
It hasn't change a mite" she said,
braveIy
A moment later she paused upon the
threshold, tense, thrilled, apparently speech
less. This time it was more difficult to
counterfeit an exclamation of joy
why everything is right where it be-
longs! How wonderfully you've kept house!
dad" " eiii'
Il let Aunt Lizzie go bout three years
back Tom explained. "she got-shiftless
and been sort of patching it since Clean,
though, amt it?''
Barbara turned; blindIy she walked to the
center table and buried her face in bou-
quet of wild flowers garnered from the
YARD. She held it there for moment he
lore she spoke. ''You-didn't even forget
that L love blue-bonnets, did YOU dad?"
"Bob's" room was saved for the last. and
Old Tom stood back glowing at her delight
He could not refrain from showing her his
0Iackened thumbnail-the price of his car
pen{y-for he hoped she'd kiss it. And she
did.
Not until she had "shoooed" 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 "Oh, daddy daddy" she whispered
What have done to you?"
Tom Parker had raised his girl like a son
and like son she took hold of things but
with daughters tact. Her intuition told
her much, but she did not arrive at a full
appreciation 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 royal
ties were pledged; a crow could not pick a
living out of his insurance business
Something had to be done, and quickly;
new hand was needed to mend the family
fortunes. Barbara determined to lend that
hand:
After a fortnight of careful consideration
she decided to enter the oil business and
deal in leases
Wen be partners, dad You run the
insurance and I'll be the lease hound"
Say Toms eye frightened. "Ill put
a desk right alongside of mne-a little fell
the back room where you can lay down
when you're tired You been away so long
it seems like I can't have you close
enough" Another thought presented itself.
and he manifested sudden excitement Il
tell you! I'll get a new sign painted too!
Tom and Bob Parker. Real Estate and In
surance. Oil Prop ties and Leases Gosh!
It's great idea, SOM"
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