The story first appeared in Cassell's Saturday Journal (2 may 1885)
This is a story about a family breaking up even when second chances are given because of ego, greed and anger getting in the way.
John Ranter, gruffy old Englishman went bankrupt because of his violent temper. He doesn't have friends and no one wants to be his enemy. He lost clients, thrashed his son to the extent that the lad ran away.
now fifteen years later, Ranter and his meek wife has retired to a drooped down equally sad cottage in Hampshire.
One day a smart American looking sailor meets him and explains that he is looking for a safe place to sleep for the night. Without directly saying so, he hints that he is carrying a large amount of silver and gold on him. Ranter slowly makes plans to loot the guest and so offers to host him at his house. He plans to kill him to take his gold and start a new life, as he misses the old life of plenty and riches. After supper, he waits several hours to ensure that the sailor is sleeping. His wife disapproves of his evil ideas and faints out of fear and alarm. Indifferent to her condition, he goes upstairs the rackety stairs to the guest's room.
Armed with a large knife, he slowly climbs the stairs, opens the door of the guest room. Only to find himself in front of a loaded gun. and looks into it. The sailor was waiting for him, aware and wary.
He explains that he is his son, John, and that he intended to give him all the money, but changes his mind after the intention of his father is revealed. Underneath John's anger is sadness that all the years of poverty has not made his father humble. Ranter, shocked and shameful, has a heart attack and dies instantly. John leaves with his mother to the United States and gives her the peaceful and luxurious life she truly deserves.
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