The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-10

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but this little one has shown me my mis-
take Little daughter. little d~aughter."
Tie door creaked. and the doctor slipped
into the room. He glanced at Burton. and
then looked down at the child.
"A nurse will be here In a few minutes.
he said.
Myra moved again; then she opened her
eyes.
"Oh. daddy, oh. daddy she said, in a
natural sweet little voice.
Shell live" said the doctor.
Thomas Burton put on his overcoat-
Fenton Kershaw gave Myra into the doc
tors arms. Take her." he said with a
gasp that was almost a sob. Then he turned
to the detective. I'm ready He put on
his waistcoat and coat.
Burton walked from the table to the
bed, and back again from the bed to the
table. His mouth was screwed up and
twitching nervously.
viii she really live. doctor?" he asked.
There's no reason why she shouldn't"
Sergeant Burton. detective. took another
short promenade. This time he walked
from the window TO the fireplace. and back
again from the fireplace TO the window.
And after staring out. apparently at moth
ing. he twisted round sharply and fixed his
burning, penetrating gaze on Fenton Ke.-
shaw. His voice shook.
Now look here" he said. Have you
taken much of that money!"
Haven't touched a penny" said Iler-
shaw.
rs it here?'
YES"
Give it me. and"-he breathcd hard
a you can go. Get off TO America. I'll
give you my brothers address in Chicago.
He'll find you work at once. Drop the
name Of Fenton Ke-shaw and stay over
there. III take care of the little one. l
shall tell my wife everything, l always do
its no good having a wife if you can't
and she'll look after her. When you've
made a proper home we'll send her to you.
But you must swear you won't write for
her till you've made a home for her, and
you must swear by her life that you and
me have saved this night that you'll never
do another wicked thing that'1 part you
from her. You'll be a kind father enough
to her, | don't wan anybody TO tell me
that; and so she shan't have TO struggle
through the world without a father, or
with a father whose name is cursed, if l
can help it. In throwing way two hun
dred pounds by letting you so, and that
means a lot to me at my age"
Who are your said the doctor.
who am L? Well. lets say I'm Myra's
friend" answered Sergeant Burton.
so am l Myra's friend" said the doc
tor. And I'll share this business with
you; | pay all expenses. no matter how
long she's with you. and look after her and
be at your beck and call when she's ill.,
Then he turned to Fenton Kershaw. well,
man. what do you say to this?'
Kershaw dropped into a chair, and fell
forward on to the table.
Cant you speak?" said the doctor.
The criminal lifted his head.
Scarcely" he said, scarcely What do
j say, you ask. what do l say?" He jumped
to his feet. God bless you both. that's
what l say
He drew an envelope from his pocket and
gave it to Burton. who started when he
saw the address.
Yes" said Kershaw, Il hated the things
as soon as / stole them: they burnt me as
ii they were made of lead and were red
hot. When she died l put them III this en-
velope, which l had directed, as you see.
to Messrs. Curtain & Pegwen. l wanted TO
get off: | didn't want to be caught, but |
$1,000 No0 49, a 0A1A =
steal for The pleasure of stealing, and
was sorry for what L had done. had had
enough of them
Here's a sheet of paper" said the de-
t~ective: just write. impioring them to for
give you; say you must have been mad
when you did 1T; say your wife's dead and
ask them,s for the child's sake and for the
sake of ali the years you've been an hon
est servant to them, toto stop all proceed
ings and give you "A chance of starting a
new life"
Kershaw snatched up a pen and dashed
off a few lines. Thomas Burton counted
the notes, added the piece of paper and
put them back into the envelope. which he
closed carefully.
And there's my brothers address in
Chicago he said. land here's mine
9TH nurse will be here presently" said
the doctor. Make haste"
Kershaw took up his hat.
'She was Mrs. Frank Kingston here he
said. so I'll be Frank Kingston to the
end"
He gave a few sovereigns to Burton. Il
can't give any more now. but I'll send
more as soon as / can"
Then he stepped on tiptoe to the fire.
place and looked at Myra sleeping in the
doctors arms.
"Myra Kingston" he said softly. your
father won't be branded as a felon. You've
made two very good friends; they never
shall regret what they re doing" He knelt
down and leaned against her little warm
body. Il swear by your sweet life that
has been spared that, though / shall long
and long and long for you, 1 will not ask
for you till I've made a proper home for
you. / swear TO work for you, to live for
you, to protect you. to guard you, to love
you-to love you so that no harm shall ever
come TO you through me. / swear"
He rose. "Wait." he said. waltz He
walked slowly across the room and stopped
at the side of the bed. He drew the sheet
reverently from the face OF the corpse.
He tried 10 spak once or twice, but no
words came. At last he said very clearly.
turning towards the other men and point
ing to the still figure on the bed. "And by
this-by this / swear"
Tears were OH his cheeks. He hesitated,
as though still held back by the shame OF
his sin, and then he stopped down and
kissed the cold lips. and his tears fell onto
the dead face. He covered IL again as rev.
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