The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

room and shutting the door behind him.
 The man slowly seated the boy in the chair, then faced the detective a half smothered suspicion in his eyes.
 "I cannot thank you enough, he began impetuously. His mother and l have been distracted. His mother is out look ing He bit off the sentence, suspicion rife in his eyes. How did you know where the boy lived?" he finished slowly
 "Oh, favver, he's such a good man. exclaimed the boy, looking at Hogan with drowsy, friendly eyes.
 Hogan looked at the floor, finally at tho pale-faced man.
 Charles Fairchild, you're my prisoner Captain Schmidt would like to see you at the station house. You're wanted on that forgery charge" he blurted out harshly
 The man looked at him with unseelng eyes, the blood slowly ebbing from his cheek. He fiercely grlpped at the table he had been leaning against, then dropped Into a chair and buried his face in his hands. The boy. the sleep frightened from him, gazed at Hogan with vide reproach- full eyes, scrambled from the chair, and, running over to his father flung his arms about his neck. Hogan turned and glow cred at the opposite wall
 Finally the man raised his head. He had aged ten years in that one minute.
 Let me goi" he demanded hoarsely in-
 
 don't know what it means to me-to the wife-to the boy pay you--Ill--there, let me go," his voice was pleading, im- perative. "No one will ever know. God, you don't know how I've worked to turn over a new leafl Give me chance!' He clenohed his hands in an ugony of sup plication, passion. 'I starved, l sweated to-scrape a home together! Toto be an honest <fnan. I've got small one out in Chicago. My record was aginst me here. I came on to bring back the Wife and-and boy. I've got good position. I'm in a fair way of leaving an honest name for my boy. Don't, for Gods sake, don5t. Give me chance, man to man! Only one little chancev
 It's not my order; it's Headquarters said Hogan, gruffiy.
 "Go on. give me chance" reiterated the man frenziedly. Its nothing to you everything to me. I've hoarded every honest penny; my wife has slayed, starv- ed, to pay off that forgery II pay the bank every penny if you only give me little time. Upon my honor as a." He choked on the word gentleman" Just one chance.' he cried hoarsely. For for-the boys sake. I'm not feion. went wrong. I'm of good family. Far child isn't my name. dsgraced my right one, but I'm living honorably under It in Chicago, where they don't know my rec ord. Don't brand me criminal. For Gods sake. don't It will kill my father -mother-wife-all all" He sprang to his feet, his chest heaving, his hands working. The boy had huddled in the chair, staring at Hogan with wide, re- proachful. wounded eyes.
 I'm sorry" said the detective dogsed- i ly, but it's my duty" But even as he ! said 1t he knew that 1t was his ambition. | Then footsteps sounded in the corridor, the hall door was flung open and wonl- | an entered. As her eyes met those of the ! boy, she gave a strangled cry and. flying ! across the room. she clutched him fierce | ly to her breast. She sobbed and laughed over him, utterly oblivious to the dramat | ic tableau at her back. The man wal looking at her. love in his eyes, wear, smile upon his white lips Hogans eyes likewise. were riveted upon the slim