The Red Cloud chief., 1913-01-16

sapphire. cats eye. flashing emeralds
| and rubies. II was the dressing table
of some wealthy woman who.
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 snatched 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
act. yoL dirty sneak-thief! Let me
look at your face. So you would rob
dying woman, would you? I'm 60
ing to strip the hide off you before
call the police"
II didn't know" Graves babbled.
A feeble voice from the sick bed
made both start
John" whispered the sick woman.
John! It's you. dear John: 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.
Il knew that I should live to see you
again"
The middle.aged man 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 60 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 1t. and sank down
upon a chair. He felt the hand OF
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 1t was
only little twinkling flame In the
darkness. And the thief sat notion
less, his hand held tightly In the light
clasp of the dying woman.
After a long time she reused her
self. Johnny" she whispered, TURF
me so that can put my lips to .our
ear" And the convict turned the
shrunkeu old body reverently. and
with a 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 1t.
Johnny" she said. Il want you to
be good boy after am gone.
want you to be good for your old
mothers sake. Johnny. There's no
body will ever love you as have done
nobody In the whole world. You've
been wild. Johnny. dear, and people
have said hard things about you and
called you hard names. but knew
that you were my boy Johnny. my
good boy. and that you were good at
heart. Promise me you'll always run
straight. Johnny"
Graves promised.
Then ! can so in peace, Johnny.
dear. Kiss me-" The dying woman
half raised herself and Graves took
her in his arms and pressed his lips
reverently to her forehead. And not
daring to STIR he remained thus half
through the night.
Then longer-till the gray light be-
gan to steal through the shutters.
vying with the low glow Of the gas.
The outlines Of the room became ap-
parent, the objects visible. Graves
had almost fallen asleep when the
man touched him on the shoulder and
pointed
The vital fires had burned them
selves out; gently and imperceptibly
the life had faded out Of the old frame.
The dead woman's placid smile
seemed like a benediction.
Graves rose up. I'm ready now
he said to the man.
"Go!" answered the man, pointing
to the door; and the ex-convict shuf-
fled along the carpet, his face work.
ing, his checks stained with tears.
He halted at the door, hesitated, and
shuffied back again. He went up to
the man.
II don't want to CO." he muttered.
Il want you to call the police. Say"
he went on, In impassioned accents,
I've got an old mother like that in
Mapleton, and she's alive and wants
me to come home. DO you think III
went that could ever become q man
again? I've been In prison three
years"
The mans hand fell on his shoulder,
just as the head warder's had fallen.
He seemed sorry for him; 1t was odd.
to come to think Of 1t. how kind men
were to one another.
My dear fellow. | believe that Pro
vidence sent you here-Providence.
which is only another name for God"
said the man. 60 back and face the
world anew in your home town"