Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-08-12
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Edmund c. Converse,
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trousers pocket with great care.
-Tm much obleeged." he said. "rm
kind O. scairt to have so much money.
Hope ! don't git robbed"
Don't show It to anybody or LET
anybody know that you've got II.
Keep your small money in one pocket
an your big money in the other. and
don't have much to say to strangers
The boys heart was full and these
friendly interested men encouraged
him to open It.
They were interrupted BY Phide
Scott, who entered. closing the door
behind him. he spoke in a whisper.
"Bat Morryson is over TO the COOK
house. Just come In with q lantern
from Dead Creek foe"
Mr.. Converse turned to the boy and
said:
"You sit right over there out Of the
light and don't say a word whatever
happens. You needn't be scared. I'm
going to take care Of you"
Turning to the guide he added: J
want to hire your camp for twenty
four hours. I'll give you a dollar an
hour for that period. want to be the
boss here for just twenty-four hours
What has Morryson got to say?"
"He wants to spend the night here"
'sTell him you've rented the camp
an he'll have to see me-"
"Shall bring him here?"
hrrA nnthtnR
about the boy"
The guide vanished, returning pres
emily with Bat Morryson-a hairy,
powerful Cyclops Of the foothills. HIS
one eye was red. his face flushed. he
had been drinking but was not drunk.
~What do you want?' Converse
asked bluntly.
"rm lookin' for my boy Shad who
run away an is somewhere In this
part o. the woods"
Converse stopped him.
"Why did he run away Couldn't
you make him happy at homer
81 tried to-"
"No, you didn't. 1 know all about
you. You abused his mother. When
she died you married a strumpet who
abuses your children. You 60 of and
get drunk and spend about all you can
earn while Shad plants and hoes the
potatoes and corn. You come home
and get mad and beat him until his
back bleeds. l saw the lad. He was
a mile or so below High falls on the
river bank. saw his wounds, too.
DIN you. Bat Morryson, you care for
nothing but that greedy, dirty, hogs
belly Of yours!"
Bat Morryson sat leaning forward
on his elbows, looking at the man who
thus addressed him, his brow deeply
fsrrowed. His attitude was that of a
great cat ready to spring. He knew
that he was in the presence Of his
master. No one had ever talked to
him like that. No one had ever
dared to.
He rose from his chair with a seri-
Gus look on his face. He turned to
the old guide, saying:
"Give me a bite to eat an I'll go to
bed"
mot here" said Converse. "Not on
your life. This is my camp. don't
want you anywhere near me. You
pike of and take your chances just as
the boy has done. There's a camp at
High falls"
THAT'S fifteen mile from here, an It
looks like rain" the,ruffian muttered.
Good! wish It was twenty and
that it would rain hard enough to
wash your dirty soul For once In
your life you're going to do some
work"
Without a word Bat strobe of into
the darkness. He went not in the d.
rection of High falls but back on the
trail toward Dead Creek foe. He was
like a wounded panther growing with
rage-a veritable child Of the dark
ness in which he walked.
"He won't be comm back here, y
Scott declared. There's a lumber
camp down by Grass pond. He'll head
fer that. He amt goln' to give up
lookin' fer the boy. Bat needs him.
The boy could earn many a bottle o.
| whisky for him this summer"
Bat had not recognized his son.
Shad went to bed that night with a
deep pity in his heart for the man who
was his father. remembering as he
did the good days past-of which there
were some like starlight in his dark
memories. Soon he slept. as only a
weary boy can sleep. He awoke re-
/ freshed in the morning.
"Pm glad 1t amt yesterday no more. /"
he said to Mr.. Converse as he was
dressing. II feel better-more like a
man"
'You look like q gentleman, and l
want you to learn to eat as gentlemen
do. Eat slowly and keep your knife
away from your face. Use it only to
cut your food, and eat with your
/ fork"
Il won't forget your advice" said
the boy. "Td like to be a gentleman"
They went to breakfast.
After the meal Mr.. Converse turned
to the lad saying: I'll send Uncle
Phide down the trail with you to my
camp. He'll keep you happy till you're
/ harAnd Tho ,lo puou TTuaI. nksl.