The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-24

as we'll as several coins and gold
ring. likewise his property What could
be opposed to such testimony as this?
The boy put a bold face on the mat
ter, he admitted that he had been out
a good part of the night, but he said
he had been laying traps for wood
chucks. He could not explain about
his knife, except that he had lost 1t
some days before. AS to the terrible
contents of his pockets. he vehemently
professed to know nothing about it;
but he was quite sure he had never been
near Lawyer Corvin's. 1t was but a
poor defence, and it was evident that
his many friends We're disappointed.
As Tom looked round the little room in
which the preliminary examination
was held there We're no eyes to meet
his own with encouragement and faith.
Yet his self-command could not have
faltered but for a sound of stitled sob
bing that reached his ears. He looked
round. and there was Nancy.
My darling good boy!' she cried out.
Il know you didn't do it. if an angel
was to sit right there and say you did!
If they send. you to prison, I'll go too,
and Nellie with me. You was always
the best boy in the world, and I'll lay
down my life for you, | will, sooner
than let them wrong you'll don't care
who they are"'
SO the old fire in the Billop blood
flashed out again, even in gentle Nancy.
Tom, remembering how far from con-
siderate he had too often been to this
beloved woman who loved him so, could
not any longer keep the tears from
raining down his stubborn brown phiz:
and with a suddenness that dscon-
certed Mr. Higgins-who, however sec
reilly wished the boy had spread pair
of wings and flown out Of harms way
altogether-he jumped over the high
backed bench that stood between him
and her, and threw his arms around
her comfortable shoulders, and pushed
his cheek against hers. and gulped out.
Don't you cry. nanny: they can't
hurt me--insde-for l. didn't do 1t; and
goin' to pris'n's nothing if you know
you're all right. You'll see if I don't
make somebody sweat for this yet!
love you, you dear. and wish I'd al
ways done what you wanted me-"
This, as the newspapers would say,
created visible impression favorable
to the prisoner. Mr. COrvin, after a
pause, observed that nobody would be
more pleased than himself if Tom Lin
ton succeeded i'm establishing his inno-
cence: at the same time, until the facts
before them were satisfactorily ex-
planned, justice to all parties required
that the prisoner be kept In custody
He had no doubt Mr.. Higgins would
make him very comfortable. STILL
stealing was stealing, and the law was
bound to take action according to the
evidence brought before 1t.
Then said the unlucky Tom. with a
Oh, IN, +
how you get your money. may be you'd
be going to Jail for stealing stead of
met
That settled the question of ball. the
magistrate said he thought 1t would be
best to let MIR. Higgins retain charge of
the prisoner for the present. In fact
everybody except Tom was more or less
afraid of Lawyer Corvin; and really. 1t
was difficult to see how Tom could be
otherwise than guilty.
Accordingly tlde worthy constable
conveyed Tom to the village lookup,
which was room In the disused water
mill below the falls Fenbrook was a
law-abiding community. and the lock-
up was empty three hundred and fifty
days in the year: but this night 1t hap
pened to contain another boy. a young
tramp. who had been caught a while
III SOIIltDDuy anu
who was awaiting transference to the
house of correction in the neighborng
town.
1t was an error of judgment on Mr.
Higgins part to put the two boys to-
gether. One boy is slippery enough:
but there Is no place that two boys
working together. cannot get out Of
1t may be that Mr.. Higgins thought of
this. but chose not to act upon the
knowledge.
But. as people afterwards said, If he
meant to give Tom chance, he only
succeeded in fixing his doom.
The next morning, when the consta-
BILE opened the door to give his prison.
ers their breakfast. he found hole in
the roof hardly big enough for cat to
get through, but no boys.
The tramp whom nobody was con-
cerneh about. seems to have got clear
off: why could he not have been
drowned instead Of Tom? 1t Is to be
feared that Nancy. in the anguish of
her heart, asked the Lord OF heaven
and earth that question.
The body, almost nnrecognlzable save
by the clothes, was found ten DAYS
later The boy had tried to swim the
river probably Intending TO get down to
the sea-coast. and perhaps ship as n
cabin-boy in some outward bound ves-
sci. 1t was the spring OF the year, and
late flood had swollen the stream and
carried away the bridge. Tom was o