| Show the ra return n BY FRANK H SWEET co might y right 1202 by dally daily story pub co all through the hot july forenoon io a movers outfit had dragged slowly along the red sun hardened road when it reached the top of oc a long hill it swerved in under tinder the shadow of some bonie trees and lial halted ted A tall broad shouldered man clambered town down from the wagon and was presently followed by a young woman in a sunbonnet and etri an old man who peered eagerly from side to side the mules were and fed and two auant travel weary cows untied from behind the wagon and turned loose to graze then the man took a fishing pole and Lit started arted leisurely toward a green line of bushes which could bo be seen winding along in the distance the woman went weilt into the woods to gather ather fuel the old man mail wat watched eliel them depart with evident uneasiness he loitered labout about undecidedly and at last walked slowly down the road A big brindle dog rose lazily and followed him the wagon was concealed from below by an abrupt bend in the road along this were drooping 0 masses of ebin capin bushes theold man paused bear them and t gazed wistfully into the valley every building field and orchard passed successfully under ills his gaze and tits his dim ol 01 old d a yes eyes grew misty 10 els ile he turned an and hurried toward the wag wagon an with rutt loving reco recognition 0 presently lie he saw caw a horseman in the distance anti and he looked at him curiously af actor tt r awhile tits his curiosity to interest and then to apprehension A tho th horseman came slowly up tip the hul hill ho trembled violently and at last turned and hurried toward the wagon As lie he did so the dog sprang forward with loud barks of suspicion and defiance suddenly there was a sharp report and a thin cloud of smoke roso rose haliy into the air As it floated out over the chin chincarin capin bushes the horseman came into view there was a smile of amusement on liis its face which instantly disappeared as lie he glanced toward the wagon underneath it and lying in the shade w was is the form of a enn apparently asleep with a startled exclamation the horseman throw threw himself from his saddle and hurried toward the recumbent figure at the same moment the woman emerged from the woods the matter she deni demanded fiercely have you shot him hima N noa no I 1 reckon not the man rose and stood aside as she bent solicitously over the figure he seems to breathe all right and I 1 can find no trace traca of a bullet he paused a moment but bin as she did not answer added deprecatingly you see I 1 only intended to frighten the dog and fired high the old man groaned and throw threw out his arms as though to ward oft off something the woman stroked his head softly 1 I low lies hes all right she said lies been this way considerable consid erble lately coming back to his old home has made him sorter fi tilled I 1 reckon hits the first time lies hes been round here in n moren thirty year did he live in this nel neighborhood 1 I reckon so pap aint been much of a hand to tell about ills his old home most alost wo we know is what we p picked ached up from words now and then and from froin his actions do you expect to settle here the young woman did not seem to think the question impertinent the stranger was tall and of commanding 3 figure and she evidently believed him to be a herscu of consequence in the neighborhood neigh boyhood bo possibly lie he owned tho very land on oil which they were vera camped we all aint settled about that yet t she answered simply we like round hyer and will stay if my husband can got work id like to on account lie he aint never b been een satisfied up III in calina not that he ever spoke of coming back copt in lits his sleep she added hastily pap aint been a complaining man mail wo all had a time in getting him started he seemed troubled about som epin and we had to persuade and persuade fore hed give in here the old man opened his eyes and stared around questioningly 0 As his gaze vested rested upon the stranger lie he convulsively raised himself to a sitting posture at first he seemed inclined to run away then by a powerful effort ho he controlled himself ive been enec expecting ting you for thirty years he said in III a quavering voice which gradually became firm Yo youre airo colonel parkerson yes ive allers been sorry I 1 run away the old man continued as lie he rose slowly and bowed his head like it man awaiting 0 sentence but hit all came on me so sudden I 1 loved your son john like as lie he was a brother and and the killing was abc acc accidental the stranger gazed at him for foi a moment in amazed silence then lie he grasped the unresisting hand are you phil turner lie he asked eagerly then with disappointment in tits his voice of course not you are an old old man and phil would be only fifty two just my age aint you colonel tom parkerson there was fierce energy in the old mans voice 1 I am john parkerson my illy father died many years ago why for the old man was groveling on oil the ground cai caressing essing his feet 1 I am an old old man lie he quavered but im phil turner and im only fifty two oh john john I 1 thought I 1 had killed youl you the young woman wom an had been watching them wonderingly john parkerson turned to her with moist eyes your father was foreman on out our plantation he said softly ile he and I 1 were young men together and were like brothers he shot me accidentally while out hunting poor phil he raised the old man mail to his feet and added cheerfully you must never leave us again phil the old burke place is for sale very cheap thirty acres and house under tinder a fine group ot 0 live oaks I 1 advise you to buy it 1 I aint prospered enough to buy land he said deprecatingly john parkerson laughed you remember we owed you a quarters wages when you left phil ho 4 r i tt 0 i I 1 4 I 1 oh john john alin I 1 thought 0 I 1 ha had d killed you said that two hundred dollars has been accumulating interest for thirty years it will ho be enough to buy the burke place |
