The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-11-28
HARRY'S MOTHER
Copyright. by Bobbs-Merrin Coz
By DUNCAN MILLER

OOs(
say your sons name is Ainsworth,
Harry Ainsworth?"
Yes, SIR
'Well-a-he does not seem to be
charged with stealing a razor
''Oh! I'm SO glad, and then you'll"
Bowers was arrested for stealing
the razor and" continued Billy, not
feeling just right about the throat,
''and-a-Harry Ainsworth, see, is
charged with stealing purse contain
ing $50 from one of the guests of the
hotel"
Not at all! Not at all, sir. 1 saw
the newspaper myself-or the clip
ping rather-and it said that Harry
was accused of stealing a razor-and
when he had a razor, too. Wasn't 1t
silly?" She smiled I'll just show you
the clipping. Here is-Oh! pshaw!
1 came away in such a hurry that 1
forgot it. Anyway, Harry wrote me
and said"
But" commenced Billy, then he
paused; the going was getting pretty
heavy for him by this time; he looked
at the other men. The foreman was
looking out of the window, the manu-
facturer had picked up his cigar,
which had gone out, and, after putting
the wrong end of it in his mouth, laid
it down again; there was no hope
for Billy in the others, so he lunged
ahead.
But" he resumed, "the man from
whom the purse was taken positively
identified it when it was found in your
sons possession
Fifty dollars, did you say? My
Harry-take-No, sir! He didn't need
| it," triumphantly She was beginning
lot to like Billy. Women never like
prosecutors when they're prosecuting
| Harry made five dollars week and
| his board and that was ample, for
sometimes he sent ME money. Why,
only last month he sent me his whole
months salary. Oh! No, sir, Harry
didn't do that because he told me
She faltered, then stopped. The con
f1dent smile began to die.
In any event." said Billy, kindly,
I'VE couldn't settle the matter tonight.
If he should be indicted, he would
have to be tried and it would be mat
ter of weeks before that"
| l
could only get one day away, they are
so busy at the store" said Harry's
mother.
q much fear you'll have to stay
longer, Mrs. Ainsworth, if you want to
see this matter through"
The gloom of approaching darkness
was settling over the dingy room. The
cars were changing their strident
warnings to the hurrying home-goers
on the streets below.
She arose. The smile was dead
'I'1l-Fll stay until they let Harry
out. You'll excuse me-won't you
for taking SO much of your time-but
II don't know much about law L"
She Strengthened up, turned and
walked with strained erectness toward
the door. The foreman wondered why
he didn't hear the door open. He
looked around toward it. She was
standing quite still. No sound came
from her. Her head was bowed in her
hands and her spare frame shook
The foreman went to her, took her
by the arm and, leading her to the
other door, said, huski1y: go out
this way, you'll not see any one and
it's nearer
She passed QUITO wait until they
let Harry OUT
The foreman closed the door
After a moment he announced with
unwonted brusqueness: I'VE stand
adjourned until tomorrow morning at
nine o'clock
The retired saloonkeeper spat again
and blew his nose vigorously; it
seemed to Billy in the uncertain light
that his cheeks were streaked, but
then the saloonkeeper had been per-
spring earlier in the afternoon.
The manufacturer coughed a little
and said: There's no use talking, if
a fellow wants to be sure he's rid of
the hay fever he must stay away until
after tn fifteenth of October"
In another minute the room was va
cant
Billy reached home just in time to
help tuck the boy i'm
While he was reading the paper
| after supper he looked up at the
sweet-faced woman on the other side
of the table and said:
Don't think I'll run for anc Their
term as prosecutor, Mary
A moment or two later he added:
and, dear, we must be very care
full to know with whom the bow nIavs