Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-06-19


When No. 99S stepped cut from the
grim, walled enclosure ard became
walter Tanning once more, he al
.;cst felt as if there had been some
uistake-as if the silent, plodding
aGntiIels must surely see him and
coming at a double trot, conduct him
back into the place of toll and pain
When he had taken his seat in the
train, sudden panic seized him. Why
was he going home? Why was he
bound for the scene of his crime-ii
crime it was to fight and half-kill as
lie had done when Nellies hot-head
Cd brother had come out armed and
angry. prepared to blast and crush
both young lives with his obstinate
misunderstanding. Would anyone
care to see him? Would Nellie-No
99S smote the seat with clenched fist
At Cedarville flaming stole out up
en- the wrong side and took shelter
JehiEd line of boX-cars. He deter
mined TO proceed to the outlying
foods and wait until later. He could
poi abide to shuttle UP the old ia
miliar paths in the ill-itting suit OF
bIac;
He found a snug resting place in
TIE forest near the roadside and lay
urCn his back. Birds sang and hop
pyd about him. squirrels peeped a.
ch tered; unseen things creeped and
rusted in the wood. y strange con.
tent came over him. A numbering
vt@icle ratified in the road and he
sole out TO have a look 1t was old
'almer Skaggs, whose waterE elon
"a;ches he had pillaged in earlier
day.,
"Hev, Uncle Jerry" Tanning cali
ed. Old Eeck needs a sEoe on the
-'~Nt foreleg! Ard how's Aunt Nan.
dy?"
The deaf old yoaman turned his
Aecd ard flaming, taxing fright again
bounded into the wood
The incident put new life into him
and sudden desire came to revisit
the old haInts 1t was getting la;e
and he emerged fsom tho fore st and
COX the main road TO town. I!e me,
no one whom he knew. while the
strangers he encountered ID not
stare at him, so then Tanning began
to forget the prison-pal,Cr and the
cheap black suit. And tlCn he top,
ped raise and, budding on the olt.
s.,irts of the sleepy town, he saw the
cottage-the one cottage with its
surrounding rose-G2rden that had fill
ed his dreams at the place of hate
-,Di~ t. n is.4p he,
could see there We're many roses.
Tanning broke into little trot,
yet hugged the side of the road, FIR
he did not care to be seen from the
cottage. AS he neared the old picket
| fence, he heard the creak of a ham.
mock. 1t was the hammock where he
and Nellie had made their vows and
where That had occurred-and Fan
ming shuddered at the thought.
Memories became too strong for
him and he prepared to leave. But
| somehow he edged in closer. Then
soft, low voice came from the
swinging hammock. 1t was the quaint
ballad she had sung that very even.
ing when it occurred. Tanning gave
great gulp and would have bound.
ed away; but as If moved by an ir'
resistable force, he found himself ap.
preaching the creaking gate The
girl ceased to sing and assumed the
funny little pose Of chin upon right
hand that she had been won't TO take
when he told her his hopes and
dreams And Tanning, shuddering
in anticipation of the expected scream
stopped in front of the girl and W..
ed.
But the girl merely fixed a pair OF
good, brown eyes upon No. 99S and
said quietly:
81 am glad you have come, Walter
| have waited here for you since that
night"
Tanning trembled and put his hand
to his forehead. But Bob-youI
brother?" he asked.
A figure, striding out in the dark
ness, paused before him.
"Why, Tanning" said his late ad
versary, you here? sit down man,
want to apologize-to tell you how
misunderstood and jumbled things"
With an inarticulate gurgle of joy
Tanning sank into the creaking ham
mock. 1t was the passing Of 998.-
Stuart b. Stone.