The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1910-08-06

sudden whirl az. sent it swiftly flying
through the air. The moose dropped
over both man and table and a quick
jerk frightened land then before the
fellow could draw back another
stronger jerk brought hlm-firm-
!y boand to the embarrassing
through the rail and onto the ground
The little man dashed forward and
snatched away the revolver from the
half stunned man-and it was all
over.
The stranger went back with the
sheriff to his Office
Il wish said the veteran. that You
could trap another OF our bad men
as easily as you did that big rufian.,
Mr.. Mech.
The pale blue eyes were turned To-
ward the sheriff.
Who is he?"
Hes a boy Of this town" replied
the old man A ne cr do WGll WAC has
heen . lei of worry 10 Us. Hes noe
than SUSPECTED Of Burning several
barns t~o yeas ago an a lot o. yalIa-
bic stock, purely out Of revenge. +
viii so hard with him if he's ever
caught ho.e-aE there's chance Tor
il. TOO He disappeared aftet the bar.
burning, but a man over in DRUM
mond-seven miles from here-says
he's sure he saw him a week ago
He had grown beard and looked Ike
a tramp. an he was walilin little
Iamc-but tn Drummond man thinks
it was Steve Bowen all right
"Walkin little lame, eh?' said tile
man from Arizona.
Yes. If its Steve he's comm
home to see his mother-neads money
no doubt"
His mother?"
Yes, an the funny thing about it
IS that he's got one of the finest and
sweetest mothers that ever lived
Strange. isn't it? The boy, a scala
wag, and the mother dear old angel.
She won't believe there's anything
bad about the lad, an I'm glad to say
that the folks about here never tell
her anything to his discredit. She
knows he's wild and wayward. but she
thinks it's because he gets into bad
company an is only weak. l guess
likely it would almost kill her if she
knew he was ripe for the penitent-
larry"
The little man drew quick breath.
Sheriff." he said, I'm glad you
told me this. | don't remember havln'
any mother of my own, an I've been
as tough an hard an wild as they
make 'em, but I'm sorry for the moth
ers when tn boys go wrong-mighty
sorry"
The sheriff looked at the little man.
II don't know what you may have
been, Mr.. Mech" he slowly said, but
you're prime good stuff And he put
out his wrinkled hand to the little
man.
Il want a favor of you. sheriff. said
the visitor. Il want you to fix it so
can meet his good mother. Maybe
she'd board me for a few days. |
want to get acquainted with her. Per
haps | can make her mind some
easier"
The sheriff looked hard at the little
man.
so it's Steve Bowen you're after"
he slowly said.
Eyes. sheriff. An what's more, I'll
get him."
The sheriff shook his head,
Hes wanted here, too" said the
sheriff. Wanted bad"
Il want him worse than you do"
persisted the little man.
The sheriff Strengthened up.
1T may come to fight, Mr..
he said
'I'll get him just tn same"
The sheriff frowned darkly.
What do you want him for, Mr..
Meech?"
For ditching the Sante Fee ex-
press, killing the express messenger
and robbing the mail car
The sheriff drew long breath.
you get him" he said.
I've been followin' him for three
said the little man. I'm a
deputy marshal"
The sheriff arose.
What does it mean for him?" he
asked.
Most likely twenty years at LeaV-
The sheriff shighed heavily.
Poor old mother" he said.
"She is not to know" cried the little