Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-12-10

iadys pretty daughter out OF OH minu.
He had tried hard to forget her. but
his thoughts always came around to
her again before long, and every now
and then he would ask himself how
she would regard him after she had
heard the news.
He glanced up at the line OF people
sitting facing him on the opposite
benches, and over their heads to the
big clock on the wall. II seemed to
him that the minutes were dragging
terribly. He was getting nervous.
He gave a startled look over his
shoulder toward the entrance. He
could feel his heart humping against
his ribs, and as he looked down again
at the timetables he saw that his
hands were trembling,
And then a vision Of the gray, bleak
prison came before him. He heard
the Changing OF the great steel doors
the sharp orders OF the keepers. He
Strengthened up with a frightened gasp
and looked about in alarm. 1t was
r~eassuring to find that no n was
watching him. But would his train
never be called!
/. How he wished he was safe across
the Honduran border! What a renei
It would be to feel that he need have
nc fear of capture!
Again his eyes wandered about the
room. keenly observant Of the crowd
.AI- A. H. o~Aa1 from nnl' 10
another of the long row Of travellers
in front Of him, slowly turned his gaze
to the doors where the passengers
were filing In from the ferries. n
then
"Dwyer,"
He choked back the cry that rose to
his lips and sank back in his seat,
white and trembling. Far down at
the other end Of the room was the
man he had robbed.
For a moment canyons nerve de-
serted him completely. He felt that
he was lost, that Dwyer would surely
search the room until he had discov'
cred him, and that escape was I'M
possible. Probably Dwyer had not
come alone. At any rate, there were
always policemen near at hand IN
such a place.
Dryer came forward very leasurely.
| For a man on the trail Of q thief VINO
had relieved him Of a fortune. ne
seemed to be singularly unperturbed.
| He even stopped to laugh at q crow
ing baby on one Of the benches. Still,
it was just like the old man never to
betray his true feelings.
Never before had Lanyon been
through such agonizing moments OF
suspense. He felt that the strain was
more than he could bear. that his
nerves would give way, and he would
cry out II he had to endure 1t much
longer.
At last Dwyer saw him.
I've been looking for you, Lanyon.'
he called. as he stepped up to the
bench.
The old man seated himself by Lam
yon's side. and, lounging back. chewed
thoughtfully at an unlighted cigar.
Apparently. he was dividing his at
tention between the cigar and the
!. clock on the waI1, but Lanyon knew
that the tail Of his eye was upon him
all tAa time. At last, he said slowly:
81 know all about that prison rec
ord. Lanyon. Your friend Berrian has
lust given me the whole story"
"Berrian! He told you'll" cried Lam
yon. and In that moment the remnants
of his faith in human nature van
ished.
yes, he told me-" Dwyer conti-
nued. ~And. I've come here to let you
know / won't hold II up against you.
You've done good. faithful work for
me for ten years, and ! believe I can
trust you.
you weren't much more than a boy
when that happened. You've learned
a good deal since then. I guess"
Lanyon felt as II he were In q
dream-a dream that had brought one
feeting glimpse of hope, and then had
plunged him in despair. A mist came
into his eyes.
!. At last his hand went into his peck
ct, and he pulled out a roll Of bills.
"Mr. Dwyer." he said. "this money
is yours. Even though I am a thief
In couldn't rob a man that's treated
me as you have But, you see, you
made a mistake about wanting me
back"
without the least show Of surprise
Dryer took the bills and counted them
very slowly. Then he put them care
fully away in his pocket.
81 guess when a man goes wrong
more than once there isn't one person
, in a hundred who'd be willing to trust
him again." he said.
81 don't believe there is," Lanyor
assented, leaning forward and cover
ing his face with his hands.
uni sss it's somebody that's gont
wrong himself and knows what It II
to live It down." said Dwyer.
He laid a hand on canyons shout
der. 81 was In Trutillo myself thirt,
years ago. But they got me at last
I did my turn behind the bars. And
if Berrian's father hadn't given me I
chance, I'd have been behind EN-
|, again before very long, like as not
Go up to Maine. my boy. ina
old mother Of yours will want to SCI
|, you. And then come back
/ en- sink into the very soul Of a bah!