The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-02-02
COUNTY, MD. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1900


is left of the last haul. The potatoes
is She stepped to the cupboard in
the corner and threw back the door.
Martial the man called out,
sharply.
""That's all right, Hi,' she said, 4
knew it'd have to come sooner or
later, an 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 a good many mouths to feed
here, countin' in the dogs. It's a good
thing you come when you did, for like
as not there'd have been another haul
tonight or the night after
"The woman sat down on stool
opposite her bfother, and motioned
Tatman and me to chairs in front of
thefreplace. took the seat, but Tat
man remained standing.
"'Tm sorry to find things as they
are he said. I come, of course, to ar
rest Mr.. Leach, should l find him
guilty. He is evidently very sick
man. don't see how I can take him
into custody to-day, yet-if he is
guilty, as you say
"The woman sprang to her feet like
wounded animal.
"'Who said he was guilty?' she
broke in. I said we got the stuff from
Peter Fagin's, but 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 hundred
yards, let alone three miles No, if you
are goin' to arrest anybody, you'll have
to arrest me. | did the stealin'. I've
been doin' it all along. u
"There was catch in her voice ther.
The woman sank back on her stool again
and gathered the youngest child into
her arms and began to rock her body
to and fro nervously. Tatman took the
vacant chair beside me and mopped his
streaming forehead,
"'You wouldn't think I'd be able to
do it, either, would you?' she resumed,
pitching her voice in its high-keyed
monotone once more. I'm 7s years
old, but I've, still got heaps of strength.
I've always been strong as an OK. I've
had need to be, too, for I've had to work
like one most of my life, I've had all
10 do -.
of them. Somehow, their wives all died
when the children were little tots, and
I've brought 'em all up the best
knowed how. His the last I'll have to
do for. liked HIS wife better than any
OF the rest of the women folks, and
like her children best. If she'd been
my own sister couldn't have thought
more of her, and if the children was my
own l couldn't> think more of them.
At least, it seems that way. Anyhow,
I wouldn't have stole for anybody but
them. I promised their mother when
she was drawing her very last breath
that they shouldn't want for anything
if I could help it, an guess they never
have, so far,
"'Hi never did have the knack of
gettin' on very WE'LL she said. 1T was
this little fellow that set me goin'-
this one here, in my arms. He was hun
CRY for two days an nights. He cried
an cried till couldn't stand it any
longer and then I-well, | hustled. ]
took from Peter Fagin the first night.
You'll say, of course, ] ought to have
asked for help. Well, mebbe had. but
I don't know as 1t would have done
any good. Folks was always down on
US. Somehow, they don't seem to un-
derstand that His sick, and has been
ailin' for months. They still think he's
sufferin' from lack of ability to get on.
But it amt that now. It begged,
the best they could have done would
be to send us to the poorhouse, and
thereis so much red tape to be unwound
before body can get in even there,
that the chances are we'd have starved
to death before the business could be
settled. That's the way it was with the
Dolan family
"Tatman remembered the polan epi-
sode and nodded an aequiscenee,
"'You may think it's strange that
woman as old as am could get around
as lively as I've been doip' this winter.
It Is funny. ] can't understand 1t my
self, but somehow when l was out
stealing-I was spry as cricket and
as still as a mouse. never felt afraid,
either. l guess that's the reason never
got. caught. But now that you've got
me, suppose I'll have to give IN. Do
you want to take me along with you
now? 1t won't take me long to get
ready. Clothes don't cut much of a
figure with us. All wish Is that you'd
kind of look after Hi and the children
when I'm gone
"fhe man In the cornersobbed aloud.
Tatman arose and walked over to the
small window and stood looking atthe
snow-dimmed glass. By and by he came
back to. the fireplace, He reached out
and grabbed old Martha's hand, and
when he spoke saw that his hand and
voice were both unsteady.
~ think he said. that you can take
better care of these children than
can. don't want yop to-day. My war
rant is made out for Hiram Leach.
can't change it tn Martha. 1t is my
duty to do so, suppose, butt can't
do my duty. Here is something to keep
you going for awhile. Don't spend any
of it till Peter Fagin's meat aud meal
and potatoes are all gone. You might
get me into trouble if you did,
"The woman leaned her gray hair
against the child's unkemDt locks. She