The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-10-24

saiu Mics. Wnlcn VIII DE the Derl
man now, eli? Getting exciting, isn't
| it?"
That evening George, who had beer
out all day, came quickly into the
| room soon after o.
knew by his look that he was EN-.
ployed OH some important mission.
His brows were drawn down into q
single straight line and his lips were
firmly pressed together.
He stood for some time on the
hearth rug, evidently in deep thought.
He had not removed his top coat.
"Are you of again?" remarked.
He looked up suddenly. "Going to
drive to Holloway" he said. "Will
you Gomez"
knew by this that he would tell
me more OF his errand. irose at once.
He looked at his watch.
1.-THE cab will be round in few
minutes" he said quickly. "I'll tell
you what it is, Tom, if ! miss this /
shall give up this work altogether. l
have not been very lucky lately, old
man, though / have not worried you
about my affairs"
"They never worry me-" ! began, ~
only wish you"
II know-I know" he interrupted
kindly; "you think your back is
broad enough to carry my troubles
as well as yours, but you shall never
have mine to bother you, Tom, while
you have any OF your own. This is
the only thing you have heard OF, =
and then he went on to tell me the de-
tails OF the case that Miles had re-
ferred to.
~ came across the track this after
noon" he said, "and now it's only a
question of time"
He drew deep breath of relief and
threw his shoulders back. ~ did
make mess of that last thing, and
that makes me more keen about this.
You see, there's another man." knew
he meant Smollett, who would give n
good bit to get hold OF this Job before
me, but there's not much fear of my
losing it now"
He smiled MS he spoke and looked
more hopeful than he had done for a
long time.
We said nothing more and drove off.
1t WIS a wet, cold night, and was
glad when the cab stopped and we left
it at the corner OF q shabby looking
side street.
Third door on the right" said
George, partly to himself, "past the
coal yard, over the butchers. You
wait here for two minutes, Tom; if l
am not down then you follow me.
Back room on the top OF staircase. l
may want you. Don't stand in the
wet. Here's doorway to shelter in"
At the end of two minutes was
climbing quietly up the narrow, dark
staircase. No sound OF voices any
where.
Birds flown. Bad luck to him." /
thought. lawfully hard on George,
poor fellow"
| was at the top, when suddenly
there came the sound, SO seldom heard,
OF mans voice broken by sobs,
striving to speak quick and coherent
ly.
"Ah found it's no 60, confessing his
sins" smiled to myself, and pushed
the door ajar.
Ali how could 1 have kno wn
Georges voice, always so quiet, so
self-controlled? How could l recog-
nize George himself, kneeing on the
floor, by the side of II poor, miserable
bed, holding in his arms the figure of
q man? A head was resting on his
shoulder; his hands were smoothing
back the dark hair from thin,
white face on which his own tears
were fast falling.
"Come, my boy, no time to lose.
You know me! Bob, dear, quick; say
you know me-your father, Bob; it's
only your father. You must get 'out
of this. No one knows but me, Bob,
no one will know, no one will follow
yeu-quick, quick" And with O sob
il his throat, he turned round and
saw me.
He had forgotten my existence, but
now seemed to think that l knew
everything.
No explanation that this was his
lost son, whom he had tracked to
earth, and whose discovery was to
bring him so much credit. No thought
OF the object fer which he had come.
The detective was not there; in his
place stood broken-hearted father,
with but one thought in his mind
how best to get his unhappy son out
OF the reach of the law which had so
nearly caught him.
"Come," he cried, in hoarse whis-
per to me, "help him to stand, he is
weak; we must arrange for him."
/ had looked round the place. The
squalid poverty OF the uncleaned
room, the well worn pack OF cards
lying on the chair by the bed, the
empty bottle on the other side, and
the stale smell OF spirits and tobacco
III the room, and all told the same
tale, and bore silent but unmistak-
able witness to the complete mastery
OF evil habits.
But OF all this George seemed to see
nothing.
The sharp, searching scrunity of the
detective had given place to the loving
look OF father, to whom all forgive
ness was possible.
With hasty hands he had taken of
his hat, greatcoat and scarf, and was
now hurriedly putting them on the
figure, who offered no help, and who
seemed too dazed and bewildered to
speak.
Here is money, my boy" he
whispered in a husky voice; at is all
l have now, but you shall have more;