Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-11
XXXVI.

Frederick's arrest had been conducted so
quickly that no hint of the matter reached
the village before the next morning. Then
the whole town broke into an uproar and
business was not only suspended, but the
streets and docks overlooked with gesticu-
iatlng men and excited women, carrying on
In every corner and across innumerable
doorsteps the endless debate which such an
action on the part of the police necessarily
opened.
But the most agitated face, though the
stillest tongue, was not to be seen in town
that morning, but in a little cottage on an
arid hill slope overlooking the sea. Here
Sweetwater sat and communed with his
great monitor, the ocean, and only from his
flashing eye and the firm set of his lips
could the mother of Sweetwater see that the
crisis of her sons life was rapidly approach
Ing, and that on the outcome of this long
brooding rested not only his own self-satis-
faction, but the interests of the man most
dear to him.
Suddenly, from that far horizon upon
which Sweetwater's eye rested with a look
that was almost a demand, came an answer
that flushed him with a hope as great as it
was unexpected. Bounding to his feet, he
confronted his mother with eager eyes and
o.tstretched hand.
Give me money, all the money we have
In the house. l have an idea that may be
worth all l can ever make or can ever hone
to have. II it succeeds, we save Frederick
Sutherland; If 1t fails, / have only to meet
another of Knapp's scornful looks. But it
won't fall; the inspiration came from the
sea, and the sea-, you know, is my second
mother!"
What this inspiration was he did not say,
but it carried him presently into town and
landed hin in the telegraph office.
The scene later in the day, when Fred
erick entered the village under the guar
d~!anship of the police, was indescribable.
Mr.. Sutherland had insisted upon accom-
panying him, and when that well-loved fig
ure and white head were recognized, the
throng, which had rapidly collected in the
thoroughfare leading to the depot, sue
cumbed to the feelings olcasioned by this
devotion and fell into a wondering silence.
Frederick had never looked better. There
is something in the extremity Of fate which
brings out a mans best characteristics,
and this man, having much that was good
in him, showed 1t at that moment as never
before in his short, but over-eyentful life.
AS the carriage stopped before the court
house on its way to the train, a glimpse
was given OF his handsome head to those
who had followed him closest, and as there
became visible for the first time In his face,
so altered under his troubles, a likeness TO
their beautiful and commanding Agatha, a
murmur broke out around him that was half
a wall and half a groan, and which affected
him SO that he turned from his father,
whose hand he was secretly holding, anu,
taking the whole scene in with one flash Of
his eye, was about to speak, when a sudden
hubbub broke out in the direction OF the
telegraph office, and a man was seen rush
ing down the street holding a paper high
over his head. 1t was Sweetwater.
"News!" he cried. News! A cable
gram from the Azores! A Swedish sailor
But here a man with more authority than
the amateur detective, pushed his way to
the carriage and took OFF his hat to Mr..
Sutherland.
81 beg your pardon" said he, ''but the
prisoner will not leave town today. I'M
portant evidence has just reached US"
Mr.. Sutherland saw that it was in Fred
erick's favor and tainted on his sons neck,
As the people beheld his head fall forward
and observed the look with which Freder-
lex received him in his arms they broke into
a great shout:
News" they shrieked. News! Fred
erick Sutherland is innocent! See! the old
man has tainted from joy!" And caps went
up and tears fell before a mothers son OF
them knew what grounds they had for their
enthusiasm.
Later, they found they were good and
substantial ones. swsetwater had re-