The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-10-18
CHAPTER XXX.

Dll<lI was luTOWu luLO the sen
- on Tuesday. Jocky Mason
reached London on Wednesday
Il and kept his appointment with
Inspector Bradley on Thursday even
ing.
The inspector received him gracious
ly, thus chasing from the ex-convict's
mind lurking suspicion that matters
were awry. There is a curious SYM
pathy between the police and well
known criminals. They meet with
friendliness and exchange pleasantries,
as watch dog might fraternize with
wolf in off hours.
But Mason had no responsive smile
or ready quip.
Whats upY' he demanded morosely.
you sent for me. Here l am. would
have brought my ticket sooner if you
hadn't written"
"All right, Mason. Keep your wool
on. Do you remember Superintendent
Robinson?"
Him that was inspector in White
chapel when 1 was put away? Rath-
err
well, some friends of yours have
been inquiring from him as to your
whereabouts. He sent message round
and 1 promised that you should meet
them If you showed up. l was half
afraid you had bolted to the States"
Friends! l have no friends"
"Oh, yes, you have-very dear friends,
indeed"
"Then where are theyT
He glared around the roomy police
Office, but 1t was only tenanted by po-
licemen attending to various books or
chatting quietly across huge counter
His surly attitude did not diminish
the inspectors kindness.
Don't be so doubtful on that point,
Mason. Have you no children?"
Something in the police officers eyes
gave the man clew. His swarthy
face flushed and his hands clinched.
"Yes," he said huskily, 81 left two
boys. Their mother died. They were
lost. have looked for them every
where"
Inspector Bradley pointed to door.
Go into that ROOM" he said quietly.
"and you will find them. They are
waiting there for you"
Mason crossed the sanded floor like
enc walking In his sleep. He expert.
enced no emotion. He was q man
stunned for the nonce.
He opened the door Of the waiting
rom apd optarad co,,t;o,oIy IIa ~, ;vbt
have expected hoax, jest, from his
attitude.
Two stalwart young men were stand.
ing there talking. Their chat ceased as
he appeared. For an appreciable time
father and sons looked at each other
with the curiosity Of strangers.
He knew them first. He saw himself
no less than their unfortunate and suf
fering mother, in. their erect figures
the contour of their pleasant faces.
To them he was unknown. The ED
est boy was ten years old, the younger
read a message in the mans hungering
eyes, and they were the first to break
the suspense.
Father" cried John.
The other boy sprang to him without
word.
He took them in his arms. He was
choked. From some buried font came
long forgotten tears. He murmured
their names. but not coherent sen.
tence could he utter.
They were splendid fellows, he
thought, so tall and well knit, so nice
hammered, so thoroughly overjoyed to
meet him.
That was the best of it. They had
sought him voluntarily. They knew his
record and were not ashamed to own
him. During the long days and nights
of ceaseless inquiry he was ever tor.
If living, should look on him as &C.
cursed, blot on their existence.
He half hoped that he might discover
them In some vile slum, where crime
was hallowed and convicts were he
roes. He never pictured them as hon
est, well meaning youths, sons of
whom any father might be proud, for
in that possibility lurked the gnawing
terror of shame and Reputation.
Masons heart was full. He could not
thank God for his mercy. That re-
source of poor humanity was denied
him, and, to his credit be it said, he
was no hypocrite.
His scared soul awoke to softer feel
ings, as his eyes, his ears, his very
heart, drank In fuller knowledge of
them, but he was tormented In his Joy
by an agonized pang of remorse. Oh,
that he could have met them with
hands free from further crimel
In some vague way he felt that his