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Updated: June 13, 2025
"I have arrived," he said, "not at a cemetery, but at an El Dorado and a land flowing with milk and honey." There was a humorous pucker around the corners of Madison's eyes, as he reviewed his two days' sojourn in Needley spent mostly in the "office" of the Congress Hotel beside the stove with his feet up on the wood-box.
"There is never presumption in kindliness and sympathy," answered the Patriarch. "But my name and story is buried in the past perhaps when I am gone those who care to know may know. I have not hurt you by refusing to answer?" "No, indeed!" said Madison politely to himself. "The element of mystery is one of the best drawing cards I know it's got Needley going strong.
When the train whistles for Needley, Harry, you put the soft pedal on the dope that ought to help some. And then you begin to taper that cough off and become a cure that's all." "I ain't like the Flopper," said Pale Face Harry ruefully. "I told you once I can't stop the hack, and I ask you again how'm I going to?" "Have faith in the Patriarch," suggested Helena innocently.
No longer on the company's schedule was Needley a flag station it was a regular stop, and its passenger traffic returns were benign and pleasing things in the auditor's office.
But Needley had more than that Needley held the Patriarch in affection, as a cherished thing, almost sacredly, almost as an idol. Faith the simple people of Needley had always had to a certain point but it faltered before this grotesque, inhuman, twisted shape that squatted in the road before the Congress Hotel like a hideous caricature of an abnormal toad.
Thornton had said but she could still walk, a thing she had not been able to do for a long time until she came to Needley. Helena laughed again oh, it was a good game! The Doc had made no mistake about that but then, when it came to planting anything the Doc rarely did make a mistake. Fancy fifty thousand dollars in one haul! Fifty thousand in one haul!
She was only sure that he was quite right in being sure she couldn't help loving him if she tried. She had hardly seen anything of him since that night in the Roost before he had left for Needley and he hadn't seemed to care much whether she did or not. That talk about playing the game and taking no chances was all bosh there had been plenty of chances where it wouldn't have hurt the game any.
"How far are we from Needley?" "About thirty-five miles or so," Thornton replied. "Say, an hour and a half with any kind of going at all. We ought to be back by nine." Helena nodded brightly and leaned back in her seat.
"Madison," said Thornton abruptly, "I believe you to be a gentleman in the best sense of the word, and because of that, and because of the unusual circumstances that first brought us together and the mutual interests that have since been ours, I have come to you to-night to tell you, first, that I am going away from Needley and that I shall not return and then to ask a service and repose a trust in you.
If only I knew you a little better, were with you a little more, I believe I could have the faith you speak of." "How long do you remain in Needley?" the Patriarch wrote. Madison got up from his chair, went slowly to the fireplace, and, with his back to the Patriarch, stood watching the crackling logs. "The old chap's no fool," he informed himself, "even if he is gone a little in one particular.
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