The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-02
THE EVENING STORY
The culprit.
(By ]. L. Sherard.)


(By ]. L. Sherard.)
For the fourth time within a few
minutes after his tardy arrival some
one raped insistently on his office
door, and Mayor Ford, turning a lit
tie impatiently from a perusal OF his
morning mail at this fresh in
terruption Of his work. called
mechanically:
Come in"
The door opened gently. and the
chief of police pushed his charge be-
form him. The suggestion of a
frown. which had gathered on the
young mayors brow, instantly van
ished when he recognized who his
unwilling caller was. He looked in
Quiringly into the face of the chief.
The officer briefly detailed the facts
of the boys trouble leading to his
arrest and detention at police head
quarters.
''Why, you-Jim-boy-I can't be-
lieve it. W-what's the matter, any
how?" Ford mumbled in astonish-
ment.
1T never done 1t. No. sir. I'm not
guilty. answered Jim promptly.
"But I don't wanter to be tried this
play of anxiety. mot anyways un-
til I get my witness. I've got wit
ness who en- clear me all right
Cali right, then. Well wait. It's
half an hour till court time. Don't
docket the case until you hear from
me-" Ford called to the chief. who
was leaving the room.
well, Jim, I won't believe that you
are guilty until you've been tried
and convicted" He caught himself
about to add, "And 1 won't believe it
then"
who's your witness. boy?" Ford
asked.
"Oh. wait and see." Jim replied
you refuse to tell me?"
eyes, SIR"
Come now. You must not talk
that way. Perhaps you don't realize
that you are in the hands of the Of
ugly offense; do you? Speak out
boy"
Jim remained speechless.
"You refuse to answer my ques-
ton % Ford spoke with an I'M
mstakabls shGw Of fsh irritation Gogredlv
Anyways, TIL my witness comes
Ford turned to the unfinished work
at his desk, but his thoughts refused 70
dwell there. In spite of himself ms
two years, with all of which Jim was
so intimately associated. He recalled
the pathetic circumstances that brought
the ragged, poverty-curSed boy into MS
life and into that OF another. me ne
death of Jims parents. his legacy OF
abtect poverty, the unselhsh deternl-
nation of Miss Talbot. the teacher OF
the little West End school. to care LOT
him instead of sending him away 10
an orphanage; the alternate care Jim
ed; the friendship and the more tnan
friendship Ford entertained Tor lne
lovable teacher; her final consent TO
let him share the burden of the boy
the happy days that followed,
the fond dreams of the future-and
then the abrupt ending of it all All
these things flashed through ms mlhu
3nd smote him with pang Oh regret.
A wave of pity for the boy swept over
him. Could Jim, good. faithful boy that
ne had been, could he do such thing
as that? And then that trace OF Gym
cism that had of late crept into foro
mind began to assert itself
"Heredity and crime are closeIy
pound together" he thought to him
self. This boys father may have been
! criminal. Nobody knew anything
about him. He wandered mere shlLlI
ess' without energy, died, and in all
,robability left to the boy no heritage
save that of an Unborn criminal In
stinct."
His reflections were interrupted by
sixth knock on the door, gentle anu
lesitating this time.
Come in" came the invitation, ap-
;ently. .ha
,aIler. Miss Talbot, y-you here! ne
) hammered in surprise, not knowlng;
what to say. Wont you sit down!
The Young LADY bowed stiff1y, decnn-
ID the proffered chair and remained
lin sent for me-" she said simply.
II heard he was in trouble
Eyes; at least he is charged VIII
,t-larceny. 1 mean" exclaimed Ford
.atching at the legal term that sound
d better. He said that he had wit
,ess who could clear him of the charge. |
But you-what are you-What can ! uo
or Won. Miss Talbot" he faltered.
Then, recovering his composure, ne
old her what the charge was, stating
Substantially what he had been inform
ID by the chief. ..
,itedly interrupting. you mustn't mlna
nv buttin' in" he begged. I'm goin'
ne have my say" he protested. IA
not guilty. didn't take the boys
watch. You know couldn' "a done
such a thing. 1t was this way" He
came a little nearer TOOK the Watch
n fun an John knowed it. I told him
What 1 meant to do. He understands.
Ne an Johns the best of friends l
.ouldn't "a taken his watch or any
1ody else's. I'm no thief Me an MIN
ixed things all up. He promised to do
what 1 told him. He had me me. arrests i
le will come in and clear me before the
.ase comes up before the-the mayor
t must not go on the book.
THAT was all fun; all made up, he
hurried on more boldly to explain
xooar iS this. You've DO- h