The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-02-26

Of the men. TITS put ten years on
your head. We have a plan for you.
Remember you're man now. You
Will get good rest tonight and good
breakfast in the morning. Then you'll
take the trail to Bog lake. MY camp
Is there. I'll give you a note to the
guide In charge. He will show you
across country to the railroad. If you
should meet your father. he wouldn't
know you We're going to stake you
with twenty dollars. Take train go
ing west for some point beyond the
woods. You'll get a job somewhere.
/ hope you'll make your fortune. Here
is my card. Write me now and then.
and let me know how you're getting
along"
The card bore the name and address
Of the steel magnate:
"Edmund G. Converse,
II Wall Street, N. Y"
Shad put the money and card In his
trousers pocket with great care.
"I'm much obleeged," he said. "I'm
kind o. scairt to have so much money.
Hope don't git robbed"
"Don't show 1t to anybody or let
anybody know that you've got 1t.
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 whisper.
"Bat Morryson is over to the cook
house. Just come in. with 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 word whatever
happens. You needn't be scared. I'm
going to take. care Of you" 81
Turning to the guide he added II
want to hire your camp for twenty
four hours. I'll give you dollar an
hour for that period. I want to be the
boss here for just twenty-four hours.
What has, Morryson got to say?"
"He wants to spend the night here"
''Tell him you've rented the camp
an he'll have to see me-"
"Shall bring him here?"
Bring him here but say nothing
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.
tTm 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
"I tried to-"
mo, you didn't. know all about
you. You abused his mother. When
she died you married strumpet who
abuses your children. You go 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
furrowed. 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 bite to eat an I'll 60 to
bed"
"Not here" said Converse. "Not on
your life. This is my camp. don't
want you anywhere near me. You
pike off 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 1t was twenty and
that 1t would rain hard enough to
wash your dirty soul. For once in
your life you're going to do some
work."
(ro BE coNTINUEDl