Cheyenne record., 1913-12-25

head of a new page of life. What
record would his page show this time
next year?
swan from the liquor. It was very
dark and the rain fell steadily. Graves
was wet to the skin. He walked an
immeasurable time. until at last, look
ing up, he saw q house.
A fame Of anger burned in his
heart, hotter than the fire in his brains.
Good resolutions! What were they
for such as he? They were for the
rich, for those who could afford to
keep the laws! He was no fool to be
bound by such a code.
window, and found that he could raise
it. A minute later he was cropping in
side dining room.
Cautiously he struck and lit q
match. Then he gasped in astonish-
ment. For on the buffet, carelessly
laid out, was galaxy of silver plate.
That central piece-that fat tray,
which he could put under his coat
and walk away with, must be worth
a couple of hundred dollars alone!
He would take 1t on his way out. He
opened the door and crept upstairs.
There were two rooms at the head
of the first flight. The door of one
was closed; the second door was open,
and inside, by the light of the lowered
gas Jet, Graves could see table
strewn with rings. He crept in and
stood staring at them. There were
nearly dozen of them-diamond,
pearl, sapphire, cats eye, flashing
emeralds and rubies. It was the dress.
ing table of some wealthy woman
VINO.
There was somebody in the bed!
An old, white-haired woman who lay
there, hardly breathing. fiat, with
white hands picking at the bed covers!
Graves sDatched up handful of the
baubles and turned. Suddenly two
powerful arms caught him as in wise
and he looked up into the face of the
middle-aged man.
Come outside, you-you dog!"
whispered the other Caught in the
dCL yOu oA1Sy oACoh.shiCls ASI IuS
look at your face! So you would rob
dying woman, would you? I'm CO.
ing to strip the hide of you before l
call the police"
Il didn't know" Graves babbled
A feeble voice from the siok bed
made both start.
"John!" whispered the sick woman.
John! It's you. dear John! l knew
you would come home!"
The captor and the captive stood
motionless. thrilled by the pity in the
voice.
John, won't you come here and kiss
your old mother?" pleaded the voice.
II knew that I should live to see you
again."
The middle-aged pan whispered into
the ear Of the thief.
Her son was killed in an automo-
bile accident last week. Now's your
chance. I'll let you go if"
You're coming to me. aren't you.
John?"
YES" muttered the thief, and with
unsteady footsteps he staggered to-
ward the bed, found it, and sank down
upoH u llo lclI luo AdAO VI
| the old woman close upon his.
Are you John? Are you my boy?
! cannot see. Tell me that you are
John" the old woman whispered.
Yes, I am John" the convict whis-
pered back.
She said no more for a while but
seemed to doze. Gently. by almost
imperceptible degrees, the man In the
room lowered the gas light till it was
only a little twinkling flame in the
darkness. And the thief sat motion
less, his hand held tightly in the light
clasp of the dying woman.
After long time she reused her
self. Johnny" she whispered. turn
me SO that l can put my lips to your
ear" And the convict turned the
shrunken old body revereutly, and
with. new and strange fearlessness.
Then the old woman spoke again, and
SO low and weak were her tones that
he could only grasp them by bending
his ear till her lips touched it.
| Johnny" she said, Il want you to
be good boy after l am gone.