The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-31


and then there flashed across tie held Of
recollection the rustling in the laurel
bush and the picture of a barelegged
boy galloping northward on Andersoh's
horse. Having thus solved the puzzle,
he asked quietly, "What is 1t you want
me to do, Miss Godfrey. ~
Tt seems to me like there amt but
one thing to do. Lafc hain't done any
thing and-and have. Cayn't you all
just turn him loose and take me in
stead?o
The inspector fought good fight for
self control and lostit "By God, young
woman, he isn't worth itr' he burst
out But shoput her hand on his arm
and straightway forgot her part.
"Oh, yes, indeed he is, Mr.. Jaffrayl
You don't know LATE, and you new can
know how much II love him. Caynt
you take me?'
NO." said the inspector roughly,
driven to the last resort of the sorely
tempted "You go back home, and I'll
see what can be done toward getting
him off easy No. don't say anything
more. You don't know what you ask. .
Before he could stretch out his hand
to prevent her she went on her knees
beside his chair.
II do know" she said piteously,
and it's such little, little thing-just
to let me go in his place. What do you
care as long as you got somebody to own
up to everything You ask?'
Get up, Miss Godfrey" he said
sternly. II repeat, you don't know
what you ask. The law is not to be set
aside or tempered with simply because
its workings happen to hurt some of
us.
"Oh, no, it isn't that" she went on,
unmindful of his command. II don't
mind the hurt only for LATE ssalSc. It'll
kill him, Mr.. Jaffray. It'll spoil his
whole life, and reckon the law don't
mean to be that hard. Oh, please take
me and let him go, won't your
No, tell you, once for all. Now
get up and go home before get angry
and say things I'll DO sorry for. !"
She felt herself refused and dismissed
and she rose, trembling. "Cayn't see
Lafe-just for minute?" she pleaded
mo; l can't allow even that :"
She went down the steps slowly and
with evident reluctance, turning on the
last one to ask softly, "Where is he
now, Mr.. Jaffray?'
He's asleep in that room. Now go,
and don't ask any more questions.
She paused a moment and then went
swiftly to the gate, and the inspector
sat listening until the click Of horse
shoes on stone stopped suddenly. Then
he sprang to his feet and began to talk
to his beard.
"That's what might have expected.
She cantered the horse up the hill to
make me think she's gone home, and
now she is coming back afoot to get a
word with the boy. By the Lord Harry,
I've mind to No; that would never
do. And yeti
he tramped up and down the porch,
this sworn officer Of the law who was
yet but man, fighting over again the
old battle between justice and mercy as
many a loyal servant of justice has
fought it since the law first set itself
over against lawlessness. Then he flung
the stump of his cigar far out into the
where he bent over the sleeping man as
if to satisfy himself that the letters
were still in place.
Anderson stirred uneasily. SIS that
you uns, Mr.. Jaffray?' he asked.
Eyes. =" lie took the irons from the
boys ankles. CHOW you can stretch
your legs bit. I'm going to take
chances on your running away"
Anderson laughed mirthlessly. st
couldn t do much with these here on, E"
he said, holding up his hands.
The inspector felt the handouts on
the boys slender wrists. They're too
tight" he said. And he loosened them.
lis that betteran
"A mighty sight better, thank you. ."
Jaffray threw up the window at the
head of the bed and listened. It was
calm night, but there was sound as of
the wind rustling the dry leaves in the
little grove at the side of the house.
THE inspector heard it and turned to
take his ovcrcoat from its peg ON the
wall.
"What the devil did you do it for?''
he broke, out savagely. "Why ON earth
couldn't you be content with the girls
love aud let other peoples property
alone?''
The handouts ratified, and though
Jaffray could see nothing in the thick
darkness he knew that the boy was try
ing to cover his face with his hands.
"Cause 1 didn' t have no better sense,
I reckon" The inspector heard some,
thing like sob, and then the boy went
on, 81 wish to God you'd thess put me
out of my misty, Cap'n Jaffrayp'
"How?'' W
"Any ways; don't keer how. Thess
femme git outside, and then you canmake
out like was a-tryin to git away and
turn loose on me with you uns gum
"And you'd rather die than stand
trial?''
For shore would--for Willie's
sake. Hit wouldn't be nigh as hard ON
her. -
"Lordi Lordr' groaned the inspector
behind his teeth. ibid anybody ever
hear of two such young fools?" Then to
Anderson, "You mean that, do you?''
Fore God, I do, Cap'n Jaffray.
uT-T