Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-01-01

looking his WY. He went there.
Graves tossed of the fiery liquid,
set down the glass, and went out.
New Years eve! He had not thought
of that This was the evening for
making good resolutions. The record
ing angel was writing the title at the
head of a new page of life. What
record would his page show this time
next year?
He walked the streets until his head
swan from the liquor 1t was very
dark and the rain fell steadily. Graves
was wet to the skin. He walked an
Unreasonable time, until at last, look
ing up, he saw house.
A flame 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 code.
He crept up the garden, felt lower
window, and found that he could raise
it. A minute later he was cropping in
side a dining room.
Cautiously he struck and lit
match. Then he gasped in astonish-
ment. For on the buffet, carelessly
laid out, was a galaxy of silver plate.
That central piece-that fiat 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 we're two rooms at the head
Of the first fight. The door of one
was closed; the second door was open,
and inside, by the light of the lowered
gas jet, Graves could see a table
strewn with rings. He crept in and
stood staring at them. There were
nearly a dozen Of them-diamond
pearl, sapphire, cats eye, flashing
emeraids and rubies. Itswas the dress
ing 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, you dirty sneak-thief Let me
look at your face! So you would rob
a dying woman, would you? I'm go.
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! 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
yOul Oiu piCduCu thC VoASo'
II knew that l 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 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
upon a chair He felt the hand OF
the old woman close upon his.
Are you John? Are you my boy?
l cannot see. Tell me that you are
john" the old woman whispered.
"Yes, / 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
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