The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-05

But Hogan impatiently shook his
head.
And why can't father come home to
see mother and his little boy?" he asked
gently.
'.Muvver says there is a lot of bad
men who want-want to hurt favver."
"Oh,r considered Hogan. And so
you were on your way to tell your ia
Their to come home, that the bad men
lad gone away? Is that IT, eh?''
The child nodded.
''Favver was going 10 take US away,
away
Hogan turned to Mullaney.
81 guess know who this kid belongs
to. I'll see him home" and. taking the
boy in his arms he started toward
Sixth avenue.
Have you ever been to your fathers
house before2" he asked, while on his
way.
Yes" said the boy. "Once muvver
says favver's been home for four, five,
days. You're not a bad MANI" he fin
isheds suddenly, looking trustfully into
Hogap's eyes and Tightening his hold.
A queer thrill of self-contempt shot
into the plain clothes mans heart. For
six years now he had been a stranger
10 that feeling 1t was dirty work he
ton stified his conscience.
mo. I'm not a bad man." he an
swered, hurriedIy "And what does
your fathers house look like?"
The boy considered.
Its awful big and-and dark and
have to go up an awful lot of stairs.
Flat house." unused Hogan. And I
suppose you have lots of fun looking
out of the windows at the cars? You
know, the cars that run past On a high
bridge" and he pointed TO the elevated
overhead.
The boy said ives" with his head.
'I'H risk ii as fat house on Sixth
avenue" said Hogan to himself. But
where?"
He and his little charge had reached
the glare of the avenue.
Hogan considered, scratching his
chin. How could he find the elusive
fiat house?
Don't you know where your own
home is? Your mother's?" he asked,
presently.
'N-no. It's that way. A long way,
and the child pointed up the avenue.
"And you can't remember where your
father livss2 Try" persuaded Hogan.
The boy shook his head, finger in
mouth.
Then how did you find your way 20
your fathers house the last time you
visited him? And how did you get heme
again. grimly persisted the plain
clothes man.
Il went wiz muvVer. Muvver came
wiz me today, but when we got oft the
big car II got losted," and the tears
would not be denied.
HE can't have wandered far. The
father mus, be in this precinct" unused
Hogan, his pulse quickening. He had
set the child on the sidewalk, but now
he stopped and lifted him again in his
arms. Once more those gray eyes
stirred vague memory in his heart.
Now tell me. child" he said impress
lively. How did you know whenever
you were near your fathers house2
Wasn't there anything you used to like
to watch, like the cars that went by
the window? The cars on the high
brdige?"
Tine boy suddenly clapped his hands.
"Oh, you mean the car? "A big, a
great big house on wheels all golded,
and favyer would get a funny fat man
wiz funny red hair to give me pies"
But Hogan, recognition pulsing in his
eyes, started up the avenue.
Dams Pantry on Thirty-seventh
street, by all that's holy"
Are We going toto favver's?" ask
ed the boy happily, laying his drowsy
head upon the broad shoulder of the
detective.
Yes" said Hogan. But his eyes
would not meet the trusting gray ones
so near his own.
On his way I'D TO Thirty-seventh
street Eogans big heart was raked BY
many feelings. For the first time since
joining the force he despised his call
ing-and yet he was about TO earn the
much-coveted step in promotion. The
boy whose golden head was so near his
own hand had touched a chord in his
nature that had not actively vibrated
for many years. 1t brought to his mind
his mothers face and her heritage of
duty. honor. love and charity. But he
was only doing his duty. Yes, his duty,
not his ambition. He crushed down the
mor1entary spasm of weakness, of self
contempt.
The boy was very tired and happy
when they reached Thirty-seventh
street, and after brief period OF in
decision he fisaliy located his "fav-
ver's house. Hogan, grim smile or
his lips. pushed open the hall door and
assembled the narrow. meanly carpeted
stairs AZ the boys instructions he
mounted three flights. then knocked at
"favver's' door. There was silence,
then footsteps sounded and the door
was opened half an inch
s-Favver," called the boy. The next
moment he was in the arms of a fair
haired man with Van Dyke beard
and brown eyes lie had birthmark
upon his right ciseek-three moles
formed like a triangle
ssThe kid was lost, so / brought him
hon.e.r said Hogan. entering the small
room and shutting the door behind him.