The Washington times., 1911-01-16

think it would have been better to have
been sorrier a little earlier?'
Il couldn't help itI' sobbed the boy.
You couldn't help IT,
| mo! 1t was because o me brudder
I've never stole before. Honest, lady
but me poor brudder's been sick for
! tree monts. 1 tried to find a Job.
can't find none. Our moneys all gone
an dere amt no one but me. What car
do. lady? Let me poor bruddeI
starve?"
You're telling me the truth" the
young woman asked, slowly.
One of Toms sharp eyes peeped up
at her; he saw sympathy struggling
with unbelief. His blubbering increased
| DE Gods trut, lady! You can send
me to h if It amt. Me brudder's s
sick-dere's nuttin' to eat, no medi-
cine, an nobody'd gimme work. So
help me God"'
At this instant the cry arose, Here's
| officer. pressing through the alley that
opened among the children, had his
hand on Toms collar.
so, you was caught with the goods
on he cried. giving the boy rough
me! Come along, lady. It's only two
blocks to the station"
He jerked Tom forward and started
away. But the young woman, who still
held one of Toms wrists, did not move.
"Will you wait, please?" she said quiet
w. flash in her brown eyes. What
right have you to touch this boy?"
why, didn't he nab your pocket
book?"
NO one saw him do 1t. unless it
was l."
well, you seen him. That's enough!"
I'm not saying" she said, looking at
him very steadily. mo one here can
say whether he tried to take 1t, or some
one else tried to and I happened to
him only on complaint. I am the only
one who can make complaint. And
make none. please let gO"'
The policeman stared, but his hand
dropped from Toms collar.
Thank you. Now, you she turned
TO Tom, you look me in the face.
What you told me is the truth ?"
During the moment of controversy
Toms free hand had moved quickly be-
tween his mouth and his cheeks. 1t
was a tear-stained face, in 1t an angony
of earnestness, that he now, raised to
nuttin' but de trut'!' he said, his free
hand upon his heart.
Wen see" She called one of the
women to her side. You can easily get
on without me, Mrs. Hartwell," she
said in a low voice. The most import
ant thing for me is to look into this
boys case I'm going to have him take
me to his brother"
Tom overheard the last sentence. He
paled. please don't take me to me
brudder." he begged, new ring in his
voice. He thinks I'm honest. Whatn
he t'ink when you tell him? He'll
t'row me out. Don't take me. WHAT'S
de use? / told you de trut'."
IF there is a brother. he must be
told the truth: if there is no brother,
we must know the truth" she answered
She asked the policeman to follow at
distance, and then asked Tom to lead
them to his home.
An see that you take US to the right
place. too" said the officer. with a
warning look An don't try to get
away, for I'll be watchin' you"
They started off. The young woman
did not take Toms arm, for the same
reason that she had asked the police
man to follow several yards behind
that there might be no apparent cap
ture, and no curious trailing crowd.
Toms body palpitated with dread Of
facing David-of what David would say
to him, of the way David would look
at him, but mos of all Of the change in
David's attitude toward him when these
accusers should make plain that for two
weeks he had been lying and stealing.