The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-09-11

sobs Of a mother saying goodby In the
darkness to the last boy the war had
left her old age. When the goodby
was said, and the father, waiting In
the buggy at the gate, had called for
haste and the boy was hurrying out
with his gripsack, there was moan,
the soft>rush of the coarse homespun
dress toward. the gate, and her arms
were around his neck again.
81 can't let you go, child. Lord have
mercy! He's the last" And the low,
pitiful sobs.
Come, come, now, ma, we must get
away from here before the officers are
after him"
"Just .minute!"
A kiss, and then another, long and
lingering. A sigh, a smothered cry
from mothers broken heart, and he
was gone.
Thus Texas grew into the imperial
commonwealth of the south.
To save appearances. Mcleod was
removed to Independence with the
other prisoners, and in a short time
released with a number of others
against whom Insignificant charges
were lodged.
When he returned to Hambright the
people looked at him with suspicion.
"How is it, young man." asked the
preacher, that you are at home so
soon, while brave boys are serving
terms in northern prisons?"
Had nothing against me-" he re-
piled. T. -
"Well, I've an idea that you saved
your hide by puking. I'm not sure yet,
but information was given that only
the man in command of the whole
county could have possessed
There were q half dozen men who
knew as much as 1 did. You mustn't
think me capable Of such a thing. DR..
Durham protested Mcleod, with
heightened color.
Its a nasty suspicion. I'd rather
see child of mine transformed into
cur dog and killed for stealing sheep
than fall to the level Of such a man.
But only time will prove the ISSUE"
"I've made up my mind to turn over
new leaf" said Mcleod. 'T'm sick
of rowdyism. I'm going to be law
abiding, loyal citizen"
/ That's just what I'm afraid of"
exclaimed the preacher with a sneer,
rs he turned and left him.
And fears were soon confirmed.
Within a month the Independence OBJ
server contained a dispatch from
Washington announcing the appoint
ment of Allan Mcleod as deputy
United States marshal for the district
Of western North Carolina, together
with the information that he had re-
nounced his allegiance to his old dis
loyal associates and had become an
enthusiastic Republican; and that
henceforth he would labor with might.
and main to establish peace and fur.
Their the Industrial progress Of the
south. .,..-~.. 49,. ..,.... ->.:.
81 knew it. The dirty whelp" cried
the preacher, as he showed the paper
to his wife. f-.>..- --- ,-.
"Now. don't be too hard on the boy,
DR.. Durham" urged his wife. HE
may be siEcere in his change Of poll
tics. You never did like him"
sincere! Yes. as the devil Is always
sincere. He's dead in earnest now.
He's found his level, and his success
Is sure Mark my words, the boys
Villain from the crown of his head to
the Fsoles Of his feet. He has bartered
his soul to save his skin. and the skin
is all that's left
I'm sorry to think it. I couldn't
help liking him.
"And that's the funniest freak ever
knew your fancy to take, my dear-l
never could understand it."
When Mcleod had established his
Office in Hambright, he made special
efforts to allay the suspicious against
his name. His indiSant denials of the
report of his treachery convinced
many that he had been wronged. Tive
! men alone maintained toward him an
attitude of contempt. Major Cameron
and the preacher.
He called OH Mrs. Durham, and with
his smooth tongue convinced her that
he had been foully slandered. Sho
urged him to win the doctor. Accord
ingly he called to talk the question
over with the preacher and ask him
for a fair chance to build his charac
ter untarnished In the community.
The preacher heard him through pa
/ tiently, but IN silence. Allan was per
spring before he reached the. end OF
i his plausible explanation. 1t was a
tougher task than he thought, this de-
liberate lying, under the gaze of those
! glowing black eyes that looked out
from their shaggy brows and pierced
I through his inmost soul.
you've got an oily tongue. 1t Will
carry you long way in this world. l
! can't help admiring the skill with
| (which you are fast learning to use 1t.
| You've fooled Mrs. Durham with 1t,
but you can't fool me-" said the
1