Evening star., 1925-11-22

with attempts TO justify himself. He
did not even wonder where his wife
was now or whether she were still liN-
ing. He merely marveled over the
vision wnich had met his eyes in front
Of the express CompanN'S office.
From the wi,.e doorwayS of the Sa
looms and gambling houses the roar of
voices gushed upon the sidewalk to
mingle with the noises of the passing
thronG Tombstone was waking up
for another hectic night. Old Whisky
Bill shufffed on. needless OF the things
about him. vaguely conscious of the
men who iostled him, enthralled il
wonder "A the son whom the t'ates had
brought to him from his forgotten
past.
OCCASIONALLY athe night breeze
~ carried some shreds of the uproar
from TombStone's glaring main thor
uughfare to the side street where Lem
,ioodrch'S adobe house stood. a wall
of sun-dried bricks surrounded the
place, and in the buildings rear, in
closed on one side by this wall, on two
others by the wide L-shaped veranda,
there was Il little patch of green
grass. kept fresh by rivulet of
water whose murmur made a plea SAINT
undernote at all times. 1t was a pleas
ant spot TO sit of evenings when the
mockingbirds were singing in the mes
quite thicketS nearby.
Lem Goodrich had looked toward
comfort when he built the house. for
he had been driving cattle over the
trails lonS enough to grow little
weary "f bad fords and sleepless
weeks and fighting Indians. 1t was
his intention to take life easy here
and when he was in town from the
ranch down on the san Pedro there
was nothing he liked better than to
spend quiet TWO hours before bed
time on the Neranda with his wife be
side him, planning toward the days
when the cares of the business would
pass to Younger hands. He was in
town. but there are certain Considera-
tions which are expected from the
older generation. In Difference 10
these. his wife had retired and he was
putting in his evening with four or
five other old-timers al quiet poker
game. The porch was in possession
of his daughter. Beth. and the pro-
Spactive successor whose capable
young hands were in the near future
To relieve him of those responsibilities
down on the San Pedro.
Dad told me just before you came
that. he's having the ranch house
made over for us the girl was say
ing.
Your father is mighty good to us
He's been the highest | ever had TO a
lad of my own
DO YOU know she told him hesi
family. you've never said a word to
me of your father"
Nor never want to speak of him. :"
His voice had hardened and he rose
abruptly.
She rose. His arm went around her
and he tried 10 smile.
Il didn't mean to speak so rough,
sweet theart OF course. you've got the
right to know about him.
is he dead" she asked softly.
Il don't know. Once l heard that
they'd 1ynched him for boss stealin' in
+ Colorado. Sometimes | have caught
myself wishin il WAS true. | WAS a
baby when he left my mother. | don't
know even what he looks like. But
there are things that | can remember
mighty we'll. I've thought of them
many timeS-how my mother worked
her fingers to the bone to get enough
for us to live on. Why, there were
days when there wasn't enough corn
bread in the house for both of US, and
she would give me the little wedge
there was When things like that
. l
run across my father. just to get my
hands on him" He paused. There.
honey. | mustn't talk like that. Sit
|. iown beside me here and I'll tell YOU
something nicer
He was fumblins in his vest pocket.
When they were seated he brought
forth Il little plush box and opened 1t.
"Mebbe You ain't going to like 1t.
he was saying softly as he took her
hand in his. He slipped the ring on
her finger Il reckon it fits, dear"
There was diffidence in the way he
said it which made her eyes grow
softer. She thrust the hand into the
light and sat there looking at the
stone in silence.
Il could get it changed if ii wasn't
what YOU wanted" he went on hest
tatingly. BY way of answer she
turned her face to his and her arms
went around his neck.
It's all right them" he asked her
some moments later.
It's beautiful she whispered.
X X
TT was the slack hour of the after
noon in Tombstone. Old Whisky
Bill was sitting on beerkeg in front