The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-18

don't take me to prison! Mother'd starve
n YOU locked me up!"/
MY dear girl" said Mr. Mitchell
soothingiy, what are you saying7 What
have you done? Why should you be put
In PRISON."
she endeavored to control herself. and
finally between her sobs he caught the
words:
"Dont-don nt-they put-wit-witnesses--
in-in jail?"
At last he understood This girl knew
something. but was not herself guilty or
any wrong. She had witnessed the crime
which had been committed, and she knew
enough or our laws TO understand that
she could be held prisoner az VIII
ness needed by the state, under law
which thus works great injustice 10
many.
There. therer' said he Don't weep.
You have nothing TO fear ! am not an
officer. and you shall not be locked up. 1
promise you that. But wish YOU 70 ten
me all that you know. Come, won you
trust me?'
yes. sir>-Tn--trust YOU" she answered
tmidy. wiping away her tears Then AT
ter a few moments she had composed
herself and began her story:
You see, sir, one night last week had
some extra work TO do. and tried harn
TO finish IL. cause mother ncedeo uF
money for medicine. She's got bad
sew, and about 3 o'clock | had To go 10
bed But ] couldn't sleep very well. Ey-
cry now and then I'd hear mother cough
and I'd think OF the work hadn hihsn-
ed. and I'd try To get up TO go al
again. but was 80 dead with sleep. too
that | just couldn't. But after lohg
time I heard the clock strike IL ana
knew that II | was going to get 'hs
work done I'd have to get up. sleep or no
sleep. So made Jump and ianoeu ON
the floor I'm heap. ] guess hurt mysei
a little cause Il woke me up complete
Then I thought | was sunocatlnR' he
room was so Rot and sitting. and Went
10 the window and stood breathing the
fresh air That's how came To see hlm
"Whom did you see?" asked Mr. Nit
chel eagerly
what he was doing, He was Waking
about stealthy like. and he had a bundle
Il, his arms He came pretty close To the
window cause he was walking near the
wall, but he had his head down when !
first saw him. and then afterward ne mao
his back to me. 1t was dark too oelns
very cloudy Well, he went little way
out, to the tree you see taere' ana ne
stopped down and begAp TO rumble WIN
the bundle I could see he was unwrap-
ping something. but | couldn't make OUT
what II was cause he laid II behind the
tombstone. Then he stood up straight TOT
minute, ana just Autn 'H' ''es'
away. ana the moon shone out bright
and I could see his face just as plain as
anything"
'Did YOU know him.
mo but I'm good at remembering
faces"
you mean that you would know him
again
Anywhere Id pick him out OF MIL
lion. The moon shining on his face made
II look like a ghost. and It's haunted me
ever since. why. in the dark OF nights. if
| shut my eyes. I see that face staring 81
me. oh. yes. Id know him again
behind a tombstone?"
mo; | didn't see the baby then, though
I heard a baby cry. but that's common
round this neighborhood, and ] didn't
think anything OF II. But l saw him put
something behind the stone, and when l
saw the baby In the grass the next day
felt sure the man had put II there
What did he do after you saw his
face? Did he see you I'm the moonlight?
NO; | don't think he was exactly look
ing my way. though his face was turned
SOS could see II. He stood just "A min
ute. Then he picked up something from
the grass, and he went over behind an
other tombstone. where | could see him,
though and he dug hole and put what
ever he had In IT, Then he stood up and
trampled down the grass with his feet
Then he watched his chance, when no
one was passing. and climbed over the
fence, and that's the last saw OF him.