The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-12
S%sNsN<se<SeseE<~
 With the Law in His Pocket.
BY HAYS BLAcKMAN.

~T~s~S>V~S>S> " at a quickened pace. After a while the child fell asleep. Once, when he had felt her hands and found her fingers blue with cold despite the wraps. Grady stopped at farm house and warmed her by the kitchen fire.
 Toward noon the child awoke. She was tired and fretful and cried for rest and warmth, till, in despair. Grady deter mined to risk a halt. Carrying the child had hampered him. and but ten or twelve miles lay between him and the town where, for aught he knew. men called him a murderer.
 A little way from the road stood a woodeutters s cabin. log pen inclosed on three sides with an open front Grady carried the child there and laid her down In bed of leaves. He made fire and gave her some of the food he had He sat down by the child and watched her till she fell asleep once more. His little motherless girl! If he could but get nome he would lead different ife ae had not meant to hurt that boy. The thought of the pallid face with the ugly wound above the temple anG the dark blood mating the boys hair forced & .hudder from him. He was drunk when he did 1t. He remembered nothing before the lads heavy fall and the frightened fsces about had scbered him. He was hot tempered and his passions were strong. b t a murderer-Grady shivered and rose to his feet Not that, he
 He leaned against the side of the hut. Down the trail little man advanced with jerky walk. He and Grady saw each other almost at the same moment. Grady took a quick step forward. The pocket and cooked 1t warily. Now Grady" he said, you stay right where you are" And Grady staid. Uncle Billy came up to the cabin.
 Ut an p. no use fpr you ns to sad try sneer ana fully "rm a mighty poor shot. but reckon at this range l could depend oil hitting you with this pepper box. Tel you the truth, son, Pm always little scared of firearms. They're dangerous and if you'll promise that you ain,t go ing to try to get away I'll just put this blunderbuss in my pocket"
 For full minute he and Grady re- Billy shok his head. Slowly Grady raised his hand and pointed to the pistol. Put that thing down." he said. NOW. you stand right where re-, you are; aoh
 Step by step brady edged away from the cabin, watching Uncle Billy closely the while. Just as he stepped into the road pd started to run, the little con, stable Vswung his heavy pistol up and he he yelled. i've got the law in my pocket, tell you! Come back! Sur render or I'll shoot"
 Grady paid no heed. but in the sec ond's hush that followed a child's voice smote his ear. Father" the child cried
 father" and Grady turned. Just mo- ,nent he stood irresolute in the road Ahead of him lay freedom; behind, the prison, from which he might go. mur, derer to his doom yet Grady hesitated but a second. Then he went quickly into the hut and knelt beside the child.
 My baby girl.'' he said. Poor little baby girli Hen mean old daddy was going to run off and leave her because he % was too big a coward to stay and face the music! Forgot all about her. the little baby girl her dying mother trusted to him! Never mind. honey. I'll never do it again."
 blunderbuss," he said quietly. I'll go back to jail with you Uncle Billy put the pistol in his pocket. Grady lifted the child in his arms and drew the wraps carefully about her. Come on'. he said. I'm ready"
 The little constable looked from the child to the man silently. A suspicious moisture frightened his eye and crystal lzed into a tear that slid down his sharp nose.
 wait a minute" he commanded, slap ping absently at his pocket. Tut. tut, forgot to read the warrant to you. "Oh. never mind the warrant, Grady answered impatiently.
 But I have to read the warrant, l tell you. It's the law-I have to read
 Well, read ahead, then.'
 "Get over there in the door. Turn your back" Uncla Billy commanded. lie faced about with his eyes on the wall opposite Grady and taking the warrant from his pocket began in monotone. "Dagone 1t all, fs pretty hard Tor an honest man to do his duty if he's got any heart. l said Id put the law to you, II 1 could get you back to town. ana will. But if you've got sense enough, Murray Grady, to sneak off while I'm reading this here document that I'm spelling out to you now l amt going to hunt very hard for you" Grady started into attention and Uncle Bliiy you're still standing there gawking at me when l get through, he spelled on monotonously, T don't care II you are hanged-dagone me ii do. Get out or here and begin over some where eise, and let whisky alone. You ought to De ashamed of yourself raising that little girl like you are. That ain't no way to do a girl child. Dagone it. Grady, ] atn't going to look again to see II you re there. but you'd better get out pretty ouick. For the child's sake, at least, Grady, save her the disgrace-and dagone 1t ali. that oughter fetch him. Cncle Billy finished. s
 fIe took off his spectacles and wiped them carefully Then he turned around. Grady was gone. Uncle Billy. put the | warrant for Gradys arrest back into his pocket and slapped the pocket ab- sently. . ...o.. l onybodv served that read that way, he chuckled, as he went back down the trail,
 MAN" by F. H. Lancaster.