The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-12-14

same child only now she was older
and prettier
He stopped and went toward her.
She was such q little. thin child. and
her face was pale and delicate in spite
of the country air. She looked up at
him with bright eyes and smiled, and
so1 c..Cw lie felt oddly uncomfortable
before her
He hesitated before he spoke, and
then his question came with a gruff,
sharp jerk.
What is your name?" he asked
Her round eyes searched his face 1t
locked stern enough just then. but it
id not frighten her She slipped down
from the wall and held out her hand
Its May" she said.
"And-what is your fathers name?'
In spite Of himself NARROW hesi-
tated
Fathers called Ed darling.'" she
replied. Cos mother said so. An
he's been way such long time, and
don't fink he ever come back"
The detective locked down at her
I + red GdrllnS.
When did he come back?" he
! asked. abruptly.
The child all unconscious, took her
! father another step nearer prison.
only the day before this day" she
! 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 child's eyes dilated little.
"He mustn't be 'sturbed' sne said
Hes wifi mother and mothers drefful
i'll. 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 a sudden droop
came to her lip.
Il spects fathers very bovered,"
she said, slowly.
At that instant the cottage door was
flung open ard a man looked out. When
he saw NARROW he made a 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 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 I know why you've
come I suppose it's all up; but l
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 l never meant
to take the money! shouldn't have
dreamt of it II she hadn't been so Ill.
They say she-she's almost dying, and
we had hard work to live on the sal
airy Mr.. Richie gave me-and
couldn't help it. It's saved her per-
haps. l got down last night, and
got her everything 1 could-all the
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 l want you
to take me quietly, so that nobody
will see l admit everything, I'll ad-
NIT everything to Mr. Ritchie. but l
did it for her. and perhaps when he
knows she's his daughter he'll forgive
her and take the child. l 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 weary air.
Its the end Of everything" En-
berson went on. "Mr. Richie trusted
me for year-I served him faithfully
and perhaps he will remember that.
for her sake. l went to him on pur-
pose-my wife and l arranged to try
to get his forgiveness in that way it
we could. 1t seemed the only way. and
it might have been all right If had
not been mad at the last, but l 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
child's sake My name isn't Ember-
son, of course, but l 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
,odo houi1derinp remark