THE CRIMSON WEST
BY
ALEX. PHILIP
There in the East we dreamed our dreams of the things we hoped to do,
And here in the West, the crimson West, the dreams of the East come true.
—Donald Malloch
THOMAS ALLEN, PUBLISHER, TORONTO
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY PURNELL AND SONS
PAULTON, SOMERSET, ENGLAND
To
Those Fortunates Who First Saw TheLight Of Day In This Glorious Country,And With Whom Rests The FutureProsperity Of The Land of Their Birth—THENATIVE SONS OF CANADA—ThisBook is respectfully dedicated
THE CRIMSON WEST
CHAPTER I
Jangling his keys on their big ring, the sheriffled John McLean down several steps, thenthrough a long, narrow hall to the rear of thejail. From a distant corridor came the soundof a raucous voice attempting to sing one of thepopular ragtimes of the day.
“Some fellow’s still got a ‘hang-over,’ ” observedthe sheriff as he paused before a cell,consulted a number, then searched for the key.As the door swung open a sleepy voice was raisedin mock solemnity.
“What ho, varlet! Why dost thou open thedungeon door? Has the king granted a reprieve?”His eyes blinking, the inmate steppedinto the bright light of the hall. A dull redsuffused his pale face as he saw the tall figurebehind the sheriff.
“Hello, Dad! Nice morning,” he smiled ina weak attempt at joviality, but the smile fadedas he sensed a change in his father.
“My son arrested in a low gambling den!”the father said bitterly. “Donald, you havedisgraced the family name. Your drinking carousalsand gambling can have but one end.I have been too easy with you. For your owngood I’m going to turn you loose. Until suchtime as you can return to me rid of your badhabits, and have proven yourself a man, you arenot a son of mine. I—I’m done with you.”
Donald’s father turned abruptly on his heeland strode swiftly down the passage. It hadbeen a tremendous test of his will power tomake this short speech, and to resist the almostovermastering desire to take his boy in his arms.
The young man stood with mouth agape, astupefied look in his e