Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-10-03
"when did he come back?" he


said, "and l was s'prised. Il just
couldn't fink who it was. But mother
knew, and she cried, and it made her
iller, and the doctor was very ang'y."
Where is your father?" asked Mar
low.
The childs eyes dilated little.
"He mustn't be sturbed, sne said
Hes wifi mother and mothers drefful
! ILL., That's why he came back all in
such hurry"
She stopped, looking up at the detec
| tive with eyes that almost unnerved
him. Perhaps something in his face
began at last to impress itself upon
her baby mind. for sudden droop
came to her lip.
81 'spects fathers very bovered,"
she said, slowly.
At that instant the cottage door was
flung open and a man looked out. When
he saw NARROW he made half-move-
ment backward and then altered his
mind and stood still.
NARROW looked at him and recog-
niZed his man. This was Fred EN-
berson, the thief; this was the man
he had come to catch-this was the
man whose capture meant $500.
And between them stood child
whose mother was very i'll.
She turned delightedly.
"'Why, there's father" she cried.
Detective NARROW took a step for
ward and Emberson, suddenly making
up his mind, came down the little
tagged path.
Il know who you are he said
hoarsely, "and | know why you've
come. | suppose it's all up; but |
couldn't help it, and perhaps after
ward-the old man will forgive her."
He jerked his head backward.
Have you guessed who she is?" he
asked Did Mr.. Ritchie guess? Per-
haps he'll take care of her when
when I'm shut up. But never meant
| to take the money! shouldn't have
dreamt of it if she hadn't been so i'll.
They say she-she's almost dying, and
we had hard work to live on the sal
airy Mr.. Rtchie gave me-and |
couldn't help it. It's saved her per
haps l got down last night and
| l.
luxuries could; but she doesn't know
stole the money. She mustn't know
till she's we'll again. The neighbors
will look after her, and | want you
to take me quietly, so that nobody
will see. | admit everything, III ad-
NIT everything to Mr.. Ritchie, but |
did it for her, and perhaps when he
no. ic hn'11 fOrpiVp
her and take the child. | can go. I'll
promise never to trouble them again,
but it was the thought of her dying
that made me do it..
He broke off abruptly and turned
back to the cottage.
Let me wish her goodby," he said
huskily. You'd better come in
He pushed open the cottage door
with a weary air.
Its the end of everything" En-
berson went on. ''Mr. Ritchie trusted
me for a year, served him faithfully
and perhaps he will remember that.
for her sake. | went to him on pur-
pose-my wife and | arranged to try
to get his forgiveness in that way If
we could. 1t seemed the only way. and
it might have been all right if | had
not been mad at the last, but | had a
telegram saying how i'll she was and
| could not help it. I-I-did not stop
to think.
Il went to him year ago, for the
chlds sake. My name isn't Ember-
son. of course. but | couldn't go in
my right name lest he should recog-
niZe it. We wanted to win his for
giveness first. 1t hasn't answered.
But he'll take care of her-and the
child Oh, God knows, he surely
couldn't refuse to take care of her and
the child"
He faced round eagerly to the de-
tective. and NARROW, suddenly, curl
ously weak, held out his hand, and
made bewildering remark.
I'm hanged if I'll take the 50O.'
he said.
He has said since that he is NOT
of the stuff of which a detective should
be made, for he did not arrest the
thief after all. Instead, he waited till
| tne morning., anu tlleH ~thcy uiSSoCu
the child in her Sunday best, and he
caught the first train back and took
her to see her grandfather.
What he said tc him do not know.
How he went to work | cannot tell,
but when he went back to Staybridge
the old man went with him. And when
Fred met them at the cottage door
Ritchie had the child in his arms.
He looked into Fred's face and then
held out his hand.
Its half my fault he said "It
| hadn't refused to see you at first
five years ago, when my daughter
wanted me to-you wouldn't have had
the temptation. see now how cruel
| have BEEN"
!
Detective NARROW got married few
weeks later. Mr. Ritchie said he had
caught the thief. and persisted in gi''
| inp him the q 5O0 ter all-Tit- Bit: