The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-10-09
Jim,s Return to
Old Home Town
BY FRANK FILSON

BY FRANK F1LSON
suppose it Is human nature to
be interested In the misfortunes of
our fellow-beings, and that excuses
the interest that everybody In Meri-
wake took In Jenny Walsh.
Frank Stockleigh and his bride
were coming back to Merivale.
Jenny had been" pretty once. I'll
qualify that by relating what our
mayor, Doctor Williams, said.
After thi-ty-flve. he said, woman
must have matronly charm, because
the girlish charm has grown stale.
That bore out his reputation as the
village wiseacre. And Jenny was
still slim and girlish, but she was
growing into a middle-agel woman.
Yet 1t didn't seem so long since
Frank had been madly in love with
her. She had known Frank since
they were chlldren-but she reject
ed him. Nobody exactly knew why,
some thought she was in love with
ne'er-do-well Jim Furber. Anyway.
Frank Stockleigh went West, and
now he was returning, the owner
Of the Montana copper mine and a
millionaire several times over. He
had bought Squire Gray's house,
and announced that he and his wife
were coming back to make Merlvale
their home.
He and his wife! He had mar
ried a Montana girl, and that was
one Of the things we wanted to
know how Jenny would take.
Would Jenny 60 to the train
Yes, Jenny was going to the sta
ton. The whole Of Merlvale's in
habitants had gone trooping down,
and all the offices were closed.
1t seemed endless, that waiting,
but at last the train steamed In.
Jim and his wife were in the front
carriage. He jumped down like a
boy, and swung pretty, buxom
lady to her feet. and stood staring
at the crowd. Then he gave a
whoop and stretched out his hand
to the mayor.
my, but I'm glad to see you"
he yelled. Don't tell me you're
not Pete Williams-red-headed Pete
who used to go fishing with me-?
Address of welcome? What, Mayor
Pete! Mayor? And Doctor WILL
liams! Catch me, somebody
Then he presented Doc to his
wife, and soon we were all throng-
ing round the couple and giving
them the best welcome In Merivale.
And Jenny! Jenny was blushing
like a schoolgirl. And, before any.
body knew what was happening,
Jenny, had kissed Frank, and Frank
had kissed her; and Jenny had
kissed Mrs. Frank. and Mrs. Frank
had kissed her, too.
We were all 50 excited about
this that nobody noticed the thin
tired-looking man with the closely
cropped hair who had got out of the
same coach, and now stood behind
Frank Stockleigh, his eyes roam.
lag Frestlessly about until they lit
on Jenny's. But suddenly Jenny
sprang forward, and in a moment
the thin man had her in his arms.
There was sort of universal
gasp of stupefaction. Frank Stock.
leigh cleared his throat-and then
he wasn't looking at the crowd any
more, but only at Jenny Walsh and
the thin man, who ives still hug
ging her.
The gasp was succeeded by a
breathless silence. Then Mayor
Williams peered hard into the thin
mans face; and suddenly he cried
+Jim Furber, as 1 am alive r.
he spun round, aud Jenny. too,
and she was looking at US with q
kind 0f.gentle defiance in her eyes ;
and they were holding each others
hands.
why Thought you were-l
thought you were" stammered
Doctor Williams, and that was as
Tar asthe could get. He couldn't
exactly tell him he thought he was
n prison : and yet the surprise of
Jim's temperance, and his ap-
pearancoEin Franks company, made
tn mayor forget himsolf.
Res, I was" answered Jim. ri
was In the penitentiary eight years.
But"
Hut 1t was not until the dinner
was over that the mystery was ex.
.iseained. and 1T was Frank Stock
leigh who cleared it up.
Friends" he began, and there
was something In his tone which
checked the air of jollity, II am
bringing back. TO you not only nv
Wife"-here he bowed toward her
"but also your feliow-citizen. 4 Mr..
EMrber. You probably know the
sad circumstances connected with
his disappearance. Let me saw
that after eight years imprlson.
taest his innocence has been proved
hy. the confession ola dying man.
BY his own desire. Mr.. Furber has
preferred to remain under q stigma
rather than drag the name of the
dead mans relatives Into publicity.
Ydu caanOt give him back those
Aeht years. but you can take him
INTO your hearts"
In a moment every man there.
and every woman, too, was crowd.
Ing around. Jim. shakialg Ills hand,
- s1teed ~ ,AoA tried - .epeak. !.
After several attempts he found