The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-08-05

Then the watchers saw him lay part Of
his rope on the ground.
The desperate AT the open window was
evidently worried by this move. He had
found a small oak table in the house and
pushed this through the window onto the
little porch, holding il on end IN front OF
him as a shelter. Before he could rest
the table against the porch rail the little
man had whirled the moose in the ar
and, quite reckless regarding his own
safety, had given il a sudden whlrl and
sent it swiftly flying through the AIR;
The moose dropped over both man and
table and a quick jerk frightened it-an1
then before the fellow could draw back
another stronger jerk brought him-iirm-
/ ly bound to the table-crashing through
| the rail and onto the ground. The little
man dashed forward and snatched away
the revolver from the half-stunned man
and il was all over.
The stranger went back with the sheriff
to his office.
II WISH" said the veteran, that you
could trap another OF our bad men e
easily as you did that big ruftian, Mr.
| Mech"
The pale blue eyes were turned toward
| the sheriff.
"Who is he?'
Hes boy OF this town." replied, the
old man. * ne'er.dowell who has been
lot of worry to us. He's more than
suspected OF burning several barns two
years ago an lot OF valuable stock;
purely out of revenge. 1t will go hard
with him if he's ever caught here-an
there's a chance for it, too. lie dlsap'
peared after the barn burning, but, a
man over in Drummond seven miles
from here-says he's sure he saw MN
week ago. He had grown a beard an
looked like tramp an he was walkin
n little lame-but tn Drummond man
thinks it was Steve Bowen all right"
"Walkin' a little lame, ehy' said the
man from Arizona.
"Yes. If it's Steve he's comm home
TO see his mother-needs money, no
doubt"
Wills mother?' :.
'"Yes, an the funny thing about it Is
that he's got one OF the finest and sweet
est mothers that ever lived. Strange,
isn't it? The boy, seallawag, and the
mother a dear old angel. She won't be-
leve there's anything bad about, the lad
an I'm glad to say that the folks about
here never tell her anything to his dis
credit. She knows he's wild and way
ward. but she thinks it's because he, gets
into bad company an is only weak
guess likely it would almost kill her Il
She knew he was ripe for the peniten-
tiary.'
The little man drew a quick breath,
sheriff" he said, I'm glad you tod
me this. | don't remember, harln' any
mother Of my own, an, / have been as
Tough an hard an wild as they make
'em. but Tn sorry for the mothers when
IN bows 90 wrong-mighty sorry.
The sheriff looked at the little man.
II don't know what you may have been
Mr. Meech." he slowly said, but you're
nrime good stuff" And he put out his
wrinkled hand to the little man..
Il want a favor of you, sheriff, sad
the visitor. 81 want you to, iiX 1t so !
can meet this good mother. Maybe she
board me for a few days; | want to get
acquainted with her. Perhaps can
make her mind some easier 49,,
man. cov
80 it's Steve Bowen you're after
eyes, sheriff. An what's more III get
The sheriff shook his head.
sheriff. "Wsnted bad"
Il want him worse than you do, per
sisted the little man.
The sheriff Strengthened up, ;,
ut may come to fight, Mr. Mech,
he said.
I'm get him just tn same"
The sheriff frowned darlly, :,
"NNhat do you want him for, Mr.
"For ditching the sante Fe express,
killing the express messenger, and rob
bing the mail car"
The sheriff drew a long breath.
you get him." he said.
I've been folowin' him for three
said the little man. I'm
deputy marshal. o.,
what does it mean for him. ne
asked. .,, ),
The sheriff sighed heavily.
"Poor old mother" he said; -,
"She is not to know cried the lt:le
man quickly. He held up finger. lie
sheriff, all this is just between
you and me. -,
.T'H remember. Mr.. Mech
He took his hat. -,
"You are going to take me to see her!
said the little man. o1 Z,
And the sheriff, previously prompntfea
by the deputy marshal, INTRODUCED NJ
Mech to Steve Bowen's mother as, one
who had known her son in the Tar west,
md she had made him very welcome,
A little later he told her that her boy
might be expected home on lying visit {
1nly. and would return with HIM to the
vest. :, :, a.. E.ua {
nan chat this isn't the place for Steve.
IN these old towns, boys pick up ascot
ties that are not helpful to them. |
want You to feel right about letting your
nov 90 with me. / think | understand
i'm You'll trust me, won't you!
The mother looked into the blue eyes
md slowly nodded. r,
nv how. YOU knew he's only weak and
ond Of lively company and is little, eT-
rrayagant-that's ALL Not really bad, !
Il know" the little man answered.
Just trust me-. II
The prodigal desperate was taken in i