The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-20

ing.
The Inspector received him gracious
ly, thus chasing from the ex-conyict's
mind lurking suspicion that matters
We're awry. There is Il curious sym
patty between the police and we'll
known criminals. They meet with
friendliness and exchange pleasantries,
as Il watch dog might fraterniZe with
Il wolf in off hours.
But Mason had no responsive smile
or ready quip.
whats up?" 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 l was put away? Rath-
er."
We'll. some friends of yours have
been inqulring from him as to your
whereabouts. He sent message round,
and promised that you should meet
them if you showed up. l was half
afraid you had bolied to the States"
Friends! l have no friends"
"Oh yes. you have-very dear friends,
indeed"
"Then where are they?"
He glared around the roomy police
Office, but it 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 he so doubtful on that poirss,
| Mason. Have you no childrenT
Something in the police officers eyes
| gave the man a clew. His swarthy
+ face flushed and his hands clinched.
yes" he said huskily, 81 left two
| boys. Their mother died. They were
lost. l have looked for them every
where"
Inspector Bradley pointed to door.
Go into that ROOM" he said quietly.
land you will find them. They are
waiting there for you"
Mason crossed the sanded floor like
one walking In his sleep. He expert
enced no emotion. He was q man
stunned for the nonce.
| He opened the door Of the waiting
room and entered cautiously. He might
| have expected hoax, a 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
eight, when they last met. But they
read a message in the mans hungerint
eyes. and they We're the first to breal
the suspense.
Father" cried John.
The other boy sprang to him withou
word.
He took them in his arms. He wa!
choked. From some buried font came
long forgotten tears. He murmure.
, their names, but not a coherent sen
tence could he utter.
They were splendid fellows, hi
thought so tall and well knit, so MIC
hammered, so thoroughly overjoyed t
meet him.
, That was the best Of it. They hat
sought him voluntarily. They knew hi
record and were not ashamed to owl
him. During the long days and night
of ceaseless inquiry he was ever tor
mented by the dread lest his children
, If living, should look on him as az
cursed, blot on their existence.
He half hoped that he might discove
them in some vile slum, where Grim
was hallowed and convicts were Inc
roes. He never pictured them as hor
est, well meaning youths, sons c
whom any father might he proud. fo
in that possibility lurked the gnawin
terror of shame and Reputation.
Mnson's heart was full. He could no
thank God for his mercy. That r,
source of poor humanity was denie
him, and. TO his credit be it said, b
was no hypocrite.
His scared soul awoke to softer fee
ings, as his eyes. his ears, his yer
heart, drank in fuller knowledge /,
them, but he was tormented in his 10
by an agonized pang of remorse. o.
that he could have met them wit
hands free from further crime!
In some vague way he felt that b
punishment for Philip Anson's deaf
would be melted out by a sterner ju
tice than the law of the land He VIZ
too hard a man to yield instantly. II
@ crushed back the rising food OF horr'
$ that threatened to overwhelm him
this moment Of happiness. He force
himself again to answer their anxiol
inquiries, to note their little airs
manliness and self reliance, to 81
! with growing wonder that they we
, well dressed and wore spotless linen
+ A police station was no place for CO
: fidences. Indeed both boys were awe
by their surroundings.
They passed into the outer Office. al
Mason went to thank Inspector Bra
ley.
Don't forget your ticket" whisper.
the pleased officer
The reminder Jared, but it was u
avoidable. Mason got his ticket
dorsed, the lads looking on shyly Il
while, and the three regained the FIRE
dom of the street