Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-08-06

Pickert pulled his slouch hat stfll
further down over his eyes, and look
ed stealthily at the store rs he shut
fed past. But in that glance he had
seen ali that he needed to finish his
. report. He had walked this way be-
fore.
The captain was a strict man, and
If a report did not please him, Pick.
ert we'll knew that he was not the
one to show any leniency In his deal.
ings with the offender. But he was
confident that his report this time
could not fail 30 please his superior.
1t was not infrequently that Pickert
wished that he could leave Il all. The
desire to be honest again would al
most master him at times. but when
he had about made up his mind, the
thought would come to him that there
was no other place for him in life.
Who would give employment to q
man wearing such rags as he was
obliged to wear, and on whose face
the deeds Of the last two years had
not failed to leave their marks7 No,
It was no use to try to be decent once
more He got enough from the spoils
to keep body and soul together. and
though that was about all. 4 was bet
ter than not being able to have even
a crust and shelter.
The captain dressed well-almost
elegantly. He did not take an active
part in the affairs which his men car
ried on in the night. He only super
Intended the business-it was by far
the safer way-yet to him fell the
maximum share of the ill-gotten gains.
Once Plckert had been honored and
respected, but that was before he had
left his home for the West. Not fnd-
ing the gold which Had lured him
there, he had drifted back TO an East
ern city, and had fallen in with bad
company, and eventually, not having
a penny left, he had Joined the cap
tain's band.
Since that time he had tried to
thrust all thoughts OF his old home
from his mind. but was impossible.
Pickert hated the small dingy room
under the caves which he was obliged
to call home, and to-day he dreaded
more than ever TO return 70 II Just
now he could not help thinking of the
home Of his boyhood days and his
mother who had loved and trusted
him He had left her with the assuT-
ance that some day he would return
with gold enough TO give her every
thing that heart could wish. And
how weH he remembered her answer;
Never mind the sold, jim. All l ASK
is that my boy SHAH be GOOD ana
an honest man. And ne had told
her that he would be all that she
Wished. And now
Pickert's rough hand stole up to his
eyes, and ne murmured something un-
der his breath.
AS he was passing a small cnurcn
In the most disreputable part OF the
city-very near mis- home-he was ar
rested by the sound OF singing. Just
now was q great revival season, and
noon services were being held IN
most OF the churcnes.
some FEELING whien ne could not
throw on impelled him to enter, and
he sneaked into seat by the door.
He was too wicked to De here, ne NUT
tered to himself-in a minute he
would be moving on-but he would
walt until they had nnished singing.
HIS eyes grew moist as he listened 70
the hymn. How many times IN his
Doyhood he had heard his mother
sing The Ninety and Nine. Then
ne had been good ana honorable.
what would she say II she could see
MN now II would break her heart
Ine tears zen now upon toe ragged
coat ana at that moment PicKert reg
istered a vow In his heart. TN DO
man again-its not 100 late Tnen
swiftly the thought came what Will
the captain say II you back outE'
fhen as quickly ehe answer 1T won't
make no dinerenee what he says-or
what ne does. I'm dead tired OF doing
wrong"
He started to leave the church, but
ne stopped suddenly, petrihed with
amazement The captain stood by the
door! When he had recovered him
self he walked up to him.
I'm through doing your dirty
work" he whispered hoarsely in his
ear. You can do what you want to
mel don't care-Fm through with
this miserable kind Of life."
Let us walk along together little
ways" was all the captain said in re-
ply
Pickert was astounded. What had
happened? All the captains bravado
was gone, and his black eyes had soft,