The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-12-14

Tatman and me.
II s'pose, she said, grimly, you'd
like TO search the house.
'Tatman's face was flushed, and his
whole figure seemed to cry out an
apology for our being there.
Il believe | shall have to, he
said. The law requires it, you
know
"The woman Strengthened up stiff
as rod.
Well, she said, Il won't put you
to much trouble. 1T amt worth while
for you to go pokin' around into un-
necessary corners. Here's what there
is left OF the last haul. The potatoes
is She stepped to the cupboard in
the corner and threw back the door.
Marthal' the man called out,
sharply.
That's all right, HI, she said. 4
knew it'd have to come sooner or later,
nm it's no use to beat about the bush
now that the officers is here. There's
the potatoes, she repeated, down
there in that box. The meal is in that
jar on the second shelf. The meat is
wrapped up in that towel. The stuff
is almost gone already, for we've got
n good many mouths to feed here.
countin' in the dogs. It's good
thing you come when you did, for like
as not there'd have been another haul
tonight or the night after
''lbe woman sat down on n stool
opposite her brother, aud motioned
Tatmnn and me TO chairs in front of
the fireplace. ] took the seat, but
THtman remained standing.
I'm very sorry TO lind things as
they are, he said. Il came, of course,
to arrest Mr.. Leach, should ! find him
guilty. He is evidently u very sick
man. l do not see how can take him
into custody today, yet-if he is guilty,
as you say
1.-The woman sprang to her feet like
a wounded animal.
Who said he was guity?' she
broke in. Il said we got the stuff
from Peter Fagin's, but l didn't
say Hi took it. He didn't. Why,
man, where are your eyes and
your common sense? Can't you
see? Can't you understand? Don't
You know that those weak arms
couldn't carry half that load hundre
yards, let alone three miles? No, il
you are goin to arrest anybody, you Ii
have to arrest me. did the stealth
I've been doin' it all along. l.
There was catch in her voice
then. The woman sank back on the
stool again and gathered the young.
est child into her arms and began t.
rock her body to and fro nervously.
Tatman took the vacant chair be
side me and mopped his streaming
forehead.
You wouldn't think I'd be able tc
do it, either, would you?' she re-
sumed, pitching her voice in its high
keyed monotone once more. I'm 71
years old, but I've still got heaps oi
strength. l've always been strong as
an OK. I've had need to be, too, fol
I've had to work like one most of my
life. I've had all my brothers to dc
for. There was six Of them. Some
how, their wives all died when tn,
children was little tots, and Nv,
brought 'em all up the best / knowet
how. His is the last I'll have to dc
for. / liked His wife better than an,
of the rest of the women folks, and
like her children best. If she'd beer
my own sister | couldn't have though
more of her, and ii the children wa,
my own ] couldn't think more o
them. AT least, it seems that way
Anyhow, l wouldn't have stole fol
anybody but them. promised theil
mother when she was drawing he,
very last breath that they shouldn
want for anything if L could help it
an | guess they never have, so far.
Hi never did have the knack o
gettin' ON very WE'LL she said. Il
was this little fellow that set me goin
this one here in my arms. He was
hungry for two days an nights. H,
cried and cried till couldn't stand il
any longer and then / well, hustled
l took from Peter Fagin the frs
night. You'll say, of course, l ough
to have asked for help. Well, mebb,
| had, but / don't know as it woult
have done any good. Folks was al
down on us. Somehow, they dom
seem to understand that HIS sick an
has been ailin' for months. The,
still think he's sullerin' from lack o
ability to get on. But it amt tha
now. If I'd begged, the best they
could have done would be to send III
to the poorhouse, and there is so muci
red tape to be unwound before body
can get in even there, that tn,
chances are we'd have starved tC
death before the business could b,
settled. That's the way it was will
the Dolan family.
'"Tatman remembered the Dollar
episode and nodded an acquiescence
You may think it strange that
woman MS old as | am could get arounC
as lively as I've been doin' this win
ter. 1t is funny. can't understand
it myself, but somehow when l wa
out-stealing I was spry as cricke
and as still as mouse. i never fel
afraid, either. / guess that's tn,
reason never got caught. But nov
that you've got me, 1 suppose II
have to give in. Do you want to taxi
me along with you now? 1t won
take me long to get ready. Clothe
don't cut much OF figure with us. AL
] wish is that you'd kind of look afte
Hi and the children when I'm gone.
'The man in the corner sobbeC
aloud. Tatman arose and stalke(