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A w- w CO eat HIS FATHERS FATHER'S FRIEND By Perley Sheehan Then S a IL man h has hAA bern been pining for tor the th romantic nil U hl hla hi- Ilfe-a Ilfe man who la Ia goy RO- Ing In on 40 cO and ami ha 14 an economical wife and a I steady Job a man who stays home horn And rolls roll hl his hi own cigar cigar- whets When when a man like thia ha has huI b been in n for tor Juat Just on one scarlet a adventure ad- ad l- l vi venture he hf In Is rOff r too oW old and ho hf I la III suddenly confronts confronted with Itil It It I what hut happen I r Does Dor h he tall nil for tor It I 1 and again again- Th There r rn was waa Urn the cue case ca of at William Q John Johnson on Of Ot course coune you may nr argue e that hi hla hili I c caa au ae s waa wa exceptional In that William wan Wu none non other r than th the tho on lion of ot Dill DUt I Johnson Hill had brought ht hi his hi picturesque or career f to a close clono b by jn hung In InI I Melbourne nn Melbourne nn man and In hi bin hili dA day throughout the tho South f seas ea l i But Dut William ha had never r been heen permitted per per- milted to know anything about M hta father fathers And as a for and anet hi hla hh Minted mother had brought him up to shun hun them a M as In Int InI Invention In- In t I of ot th the devil derfl On the evening of ot hi hla hili adventure Johnson came home hom from frum the office ui at t usual nt at f 20 dutifully kl fd hi his wife Ito Itoi i and washed himself hurriedly In preparation prena- prena ration mUon for tor the waiting walling soup He lie with WA visibly preoccupied piNt Presently his hIli wife mild Mid to him 4 You look worried om d. d dean deary Isn't lent your I I work cork all n right Everything E 0 o. K h he h. responded I but he relapsed Into allence She didn't him further He JIo i had these the allent spells i The Tho thins thin thing that held Johnson on tonJ j I tied wa waa thins Homr-thins ho ht dared not con- con tt tf n h he could hardly admit to himself without It wa wean uI the memory of ot a A. girl Irl We should tate Mate at nt once that them thero 1 were were- circumstance Not only wn waa the girl extraordinarily Ily beau beau- beautiful but the WA way In which aho he ho came t across cro notice was waa ft na welt weltHe 11 I He lie had seen her Just a n na ho he was wa com com- ing In up the Mep with hi his hi latchkey In hi his hi han hand the Sho couldn't ha have been more mort than 19 or 20 I The She wn was nt slim lIm and dark and her face toce wn wonderfully UI passion passionate ate at and alert rt For a fraction of ot n n. second she h had hJ In Inclined In hi his hi direction t eyes eye faces face with with parted PJ 11 lips pa a nil a though about to speak f Ak to him Then something In hi his attitude attitude he he WM Was the most delicate minded of or m men menor menor n nOr Or or some nm second ascend thought ht of ot her own made madl her h hesitate The girl f hurriedly on on W Wil William tI il- liam 1 Into the house Th Tho oddity of ot th the experience had not Immediately appealed to him But nut a n minute later ler a nil A he be climbed the th stairs and later still wh when n h he washed 1 hi hl his face and on through supper h he recalled d th the passionate alertness of ot the WRY way she aho had h looked nt nl t him n Recollection of ot the Incident returned d to him Incessantly long lone after Mrs Mra Johnson had gone gon to bed He lie WIt waa ru nervous and wide Id awake Suddenly amid the little sounds of the th ct nl night ht there came a soft distinct tapping at t th the door Johnson started and look looked up I It was WI past J II 11 J. J For or nn an Interval h hI he i did not Ur Th The summons wo waa repeated a lilt little louder but still guarded and c. c cautious cautious u Johnson tiptoed d to 10 the Inner hall haJJ turned up the tho pa gaa and cautiously I o opened nd the door I He lie had pretty good n nerves n for tor an office man still he ho couldn't suppress movement of ot surprise Standing th there re before him gro gro- t black ck and misshapen n wa waa n I negro dwarf dWArt Th The visitor didn't at attempt attempt at- at tempt to come In Instead he Immediately immediately Immedi immedi- I ly plunged plunge t 1 Into a 11 I of ot ur urgent nt Igna that J Johnson wn waa D to follow He lie was ob loUAI obviously In a I hurry hum At th the same Ame time with a n. hand placed t alternately on h head hACI ACI and h heart he strove to con e convey on nn assurance of ot submission anti and good faith What do you OU want Where h do you want me to go Jo Johnson asked d softly eon The dwarf wa wu apparently d deaf d. d He lit mumbled unintelligibly and plucked at the white man mans sleeve alcove Johnson Johnon came to a swift Th The night had b begun rt Ho lie would see o It through A Aft Au b best lIl he could h he made tho the dwarf understand that he would come com a u as soon soona a IU as h ho he could chan change his hie slippers for tor his hi hi shoes hoe A few rew minute later without having hA disturbed d his wife witt he hf was wan fol following following toJ- toJ lowing the tho ne negro ro silently down the II stairs I It sit wai but a IL few tt minutes minutes' walk from th the place Johnson lived to a n park puk facing upon which were th the house of ot the tho wealthy To this park pInk Johnson followed cI the tho dwarf th the clear thought only emerging ing Ina from hi hla hi bewilderment being that I hi his wife might wake wl up and find him missing Half a n block farther on the negro o scurried Up the step tep of ot B. B brownstone mansion manalon and aM himself that Johnson WA was still at his heels opened the th door and ent entered Tho The hall light wa waa wa dim dimly I burning and Johnson caught an nn Impression of ot sumptuous furniture I Ito The nN negro TO never ner tarried but mounted to tho the second cond floor toor traversed tm a corridor corridor corri corri- dor to 10 the tho door of or a n rear room paused until Johnson had caught up Ut with Ith him then knocked nn and threw the tho door wide open Tho The room was r with light t If It Johnson Johnsons eyes eye were Ore dazzled d b by the th sudden brilliancy hi hit his brain was vas no noles noless les Je less confused b by what he lie M SAW The most mot prominent feature tM of ot the tho chamber r was wan a large white bed hod and on this there IA lay one on of ot th the strangest figures tl rS r'S h he had hall ever Of Jook looked d upon not o even n ex excepting excepting tx ex- I c that of th the dwarf who had led Jell him lh there rl He lie saw cow a R mass mas of ot tangled white whitehair whitehair hair knotted about b by a Z red silk handkerchief handkerchief hand nd kerchief nn and 1 a 1 drift of ot white heard The rest of or tho the face tao showed brown like leather lather nn was waa set sd with a pair of ot piercing blue eyes eye 11 It was waa at a n his big man and nd his great 0 length and breadth was oU wrapped In a ason sort son of ot arlet p kimono This much rushed In n up uJ upon n John Johnsen JohnA n during the first t second Fecund d that h he h. stood there while he heard the door close clo e behind behind be be- hind him Then the thc silence n e was waa annihilated annl- annl d by a rumbling whisper p r r. Come Comfit hero h re where I can look at t you you ou said Raid the man on the tho bed b Then Damme Damm youre you're Johnson all right And I bid him farewell U at The labor of hi bl his mighty whisper hl seemed to tire tine him and for tor an in Int Interval n 1 only hi his piercing eye cyca and the brain b behind th them m were nero er bup busy bury Willie your our father lher would a b been n here If Ir he wa was n the old man continued There are debts th that l no noman noman noman man forgets forget Ive I've come m for tor to rock ek k you ou on his account Im sorry youre you're sick Ick said l ld John John- John John-I son I IThe The old man helped himself Ir to a shriveled leaf from an ebony box and 1 It seemed mc to tr strengthen him Your father r died when h n you was little th the patriarch went on otherwise other wise you'd oUd know all about me m.- Im I'm Ro Robert rt H H. King and kin king 1 Ive I've been too loo these tUt fifty years But nut oh th they're re rean an ungrateful tul lot They're an ungrateful ful lot I r ruled em Mt fair and I ruled rule 1 em square I Lost JOlt m my right hand though Wh when n your our father went Hed He'd a put putdown putdown putdown down this revolution re Do you OU h hear The They started a A. revolution ro Johnson said Baid that he heard The od odd mans man's eye ee ees had bl blazed zd at him so he was eager to please near Hear do you 1 Well you OU listen Willie the old man him mm until until until un til you hear the rest rent t of or It It It Its It's such uch a 1 chance as your our father tather never ne had Its It's uch lIuch a chance a IU as Robert King never n had hd not at your our n. n age Theres a Malay down there named Sing lies HOH at nt tho the head of ot this here revolution re He nn starters started It because I 1 wouldn't let Jet him have o m my gal But Hut ButI I 1 hail had other plans I J wa was nil of ot Rfd Red Bill Dill Johnson Johnson-a a full tull measure of ot a aman aman aman man he was and was and hiv he used to toast boast about that little boy 00 of ot hian back In N New pw w York It It wa was aJI the th J last t thing that he said when hen I bid him farewell at ll Be a 1 father tather to little Willie wlm And Ill I'll do It yet In spite of ot that th Black Malay Malay Ma Ma- Ja lay Po lla Sing lie Ho got Jot too strong for tor me mf me-I'm Im I'm not the man I used to be but be-but but he aint too Atron strong for R Red Bill DIU Johnson Johnsons bo boy I t found toun 1 your our address In a at sew New t York di di- di rectory I got hOt one from Batavia t. and HO 40 w gold Id It cost me mt too taco And I r rented this house hou for tor to die InI In I I 1 could trust the nJ agents agent for tor that But Dut for tor the rest I t coul couldn't tru trust t them I I 1 had lead to see e you ou Ive I've piled d up pearls pearl and power for tor you OU Willie And that I ain aint t all lie He paused I I Minnie he p panted hoarsely Johnson turn turned d. d The Tho door had hadI I I opened d. d Standing there slim RUm shrinking was wu the girl Irl of the unspoken m message Ke If Jt she he appeared beautiful to him then she he h appeared d infinitely ly more so to tono no now instead of a street df dress dres S. S she rahe 0 worn Nm something wonderfully clinging and diaphanous JI lien Her r heavy Y dark h hair lr wa was caught In a single tress that t ell feU U I lonely losely to list her h knew Over Oer her J left tl ear wa was a lilac iliac orchid For a moment her heri I dazzling e eye swept pt O over Or r him In recognition 1 then she glided forward to the I foot toot of ot the bed I Did rn rny my father call she he asked sweetly tl with a lisping A accent nt Aye A stand Aland there Minnie Do you OU blame rn me for tor refuting refusing to give t h her r to a Malay I of the girl It wn IU JohnI Johnson Johnson John John- I son foOn he addre Th r tatter latter detected I a wave a of or pink slowly mount Into her hr I dark face fact then slowly 11 recede but she he continued to regard rd her father sr n- n I T Halfbreed but I Ive I've rayed raised her hr like a white man mans gal Thom Them p peopled die dietor for tor her I crowned her queen before I left Itt That'll settle Ic Po III Sin Sing He JIe waa cruz crazy for her more than the rest to but him that gets get her gets get all 11 and she she's a white whit mans man's gal cal The old man paused ln and took I another leaf from the foon ebony box but buthis buthis buthis his nerveless 1 fingers were unable to carry It to his mouth When fn he h spoke again RJ his great whisper whisper whis whis- per was strangely smaller mAUer So I J brought her with me he said Mid for tor or n Red d Bill DIU Johnson Johnsons bo boy Theres There's a n. schooner r at t Macas Sell Sail 11 sou sou b by we west t for tor Str Strait It Tho Those w were th the last words ord that Robert Robert nobert Rob Rob- ert King or King Rob Robert rt o ever or r spoke When Johnson emerged d sufficiently out of or his confusion contusion to focus his hi eyes eve e el elon on th the patriarch he hf noticed that the tho thoI latter tatter wa was staring strangely In the C C- C I of ot the door Involuntarily tn Johnson wheeled h tI d and saw fow standing L there a n dark rk youth whose I face wa WM stamped d with an nn expression of or fierce and Joyful ecstasy The Tho girl had hart also tum turned and there I I sprang nJ to her lips tips a sob jcob that was 1 transformed trans trona- formed Into a n. name It was PO tA Sing Johnson speechless again looked d at t King KIn The blue blu e eye In tho the frame of ot tangled white whitt mane n still un stared but their brilliancy had dimmed d forever tOrf The black dwarf was aas L already there kissing one of ot the IhA dead dealt monarchs monarch's hands handa and nd mo moaning his wordless griefIn grief In hi his hi extremity John Johnson on turned tume to the girl What hat hat did he mean he ho whispered I am to be your our bride she he answered tremulously lie He made mado me mt promise I started d to see you OU this to evening evening to ask sk I you not to come com Sh She was shaken hk n In Ina Int a tt sudden burst of ot weeping and her herI I accent accent cc nt hot got ot the b better of ot her I- I But oh ah I Continued on pare 11 3 3 1 I DAILY SHORT STORY Continued from page 2 saire even O now not yet c t you have promised him nothing him nothing at all ant alli Fossa Sing had crept Into the room like Ike a frightened panther He was wn gazing gazing gaz- gaz ing ng at the tho girl with the fervent pasIon passion passion pas- pas sion Ion of ot a n at prayer Yet tho the situation was beyond him For aught he ho knew tho the stranger was the he de dead ld mans man's son eon Ho had traveled tar far ar In his quest and had como come to his journeys journey's end end the tho Lora Loro Knew anew how Ho was a n. good looKing youth A urge surge of ot pit pity for him filled Johnsons Johnson's heart icart He turned once moro more to the tho girl This man loves Joves you he said In a l I voice olce that sounded to his own ears cars as though some sarno one ono else elso were speaking Do 1000 Do you ou love Jove him The girls girl's shoulders were heaving and nd her face was hidden In her hands It t was sweet and touching to hear her confess contess I I r do There Thero are moments of ot exquisite consciousness consciousness con con- I In the lives of all aU of ot us when we recognize clearly clearl the parting of ot the ways Such a moment Johnson experienced now On one side he saw a the flat fiat routine of ot his civilized mediocrity rity duil dull work advancing ad years unlovely unlovely un un- lovely poverty and then then king king of QC a tropic isle iHle romance pearls and power Jower Ho lIe wavered ho he heaved d a mighty might sigh and then recovering hl his h hat lt from the floor where he be had hall placed It I beside his chair and looking neither to the right nor left nor unlocking his I set Jaws for speech n no U out of ot tho the room He was vas dimly conscious that the girl and Sing h had ld rushed Into each ach others other's arms But It was not until until until un un- til he was waR fumbling tumbling hurt and dazed I at the tho knob of or tho the street door that he was aware some one had followed him Suddenly two soft hands had clasped his face The Tate girl had escaped aped long enough to express her gratitude Go Goodbye od b e she panted and Cod God I ble bless s you you OU She kissed him on the lips Ups The flat fiat was dark and silent when |