Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-12-14

often from the face he studied to the
tnarshal's badge upon the others
breast. #.<.~ # -. =. 49,
Yes. yes; you'll be all right" said
the old woman. patting his arm, If
you don't get to cuttiu' up ag'in and
havin' folks shOotin' at you. Son told
me about you, sir. while you was lay
in senseess Oh the floor. Don't you
take it as meddlesoine fer an old Wo-
man with a son us big as you to talk
about it. And you mustn't hold no
grudge ag'in my son for havin' to
shoot at you. officer has got to take
up for the law-it's his duty-and them
that acts bad and lives wrong has to
suffer. Don't blame my son any. sir
'Tain't his fault. He's always been
good boy-good when he was CROWN
up and kind and 'bedient and we'll be-
haved Won't you let me advise you.
sir. not to do SO no more? Be good
man and leave liquor alone and live
peaceably and godly."
The black mittened hand of the old
pleader gently touched the breast of
y
and candid her old. worn face looked.
In her rusty black dress and antique
bonnet she sat. near the close of a
long life, and epitonlized the expert
ence of the world. Still the man to
whom she spoke gazed above her head.
contemplating the silent son of the old
mother.
What does the marshal say?" he
asked. Docs he believe the advice is
goe:d? Suppose the marshal speaks up
and says if the talks all right?"
The tall man moved uneasily. He
fingered the badge on his breast for
moment, and then he put an arm
around the old woman and drew her
close to him.
II says this" be said. looking square
~ into the eyes OF the other man. that
if was in your place Id follow it. If
was a drunken. desperate character,
without shame or hope. I'd follow it.
If was in your place and YOU was
in mine I'd say: Marshal. I'm viIlin'
to swear if you'll give me the chance
I'll quit the racket. I'll drop the tam
glefoot and the gun play and won't
play boss no more III be Il good
citizen and so to work and quit my
fooIishncsS. SO help ne God" That's
what I'd say to YOU if you was mar
shall and was in your place.
Hear my son talkin'." said the old
woman softly. Hear him. sir. You
promise to be good and he won't do
you no harm. Forty-one year ago his
heart first beat ag'in mine. and it's
beat true ever since"
The other man rose to his feet trying
his limbs and stretching his muscles
Then" said he. IF you was in my
place and said that and was mar
shall I'd say. Go free and Go your best
to keep your PROMISE
"I-awsy." exclaimed the old woman
in a sudden futtpr, "ef | didn't clear
forget that trunk of mine. | see a
man settin' it on the platform jest as
l seen sons face in the window. and
it went plum out of my head. There's
eight jars of homemade ounce jam
in that trunk that made myself.
wouldn't have nothin' happen to them
jars for a red apple
y: Away to the door she trotted. spry
and anxious. and then Calliope Catesby
spoke out to Buck Patterson:
II just couldn't help it, Buck seen
her through the window ;,-comin' in.
She never had heard Il word bout my
tough ways. didn't have the nerve to
let her know | was worthless cuss
bein' hunted down by the community
There you was lynn where my shot
laid you. like you was dead. The idea
struck me sudden. and just took your
badge off and fastened it on to myself,
and | fastened my rnnut q ton IN To Vol