Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-06-24

of the room.
The mother placed bread and butter,
boiled beef, potatoes and cabbage on
the table, and they sat down for their
evening meal. Mrs. Kearney made the
sign Of the cross. and her son, from
long habit, bowed his head and touch
ed his breast in three places.
They were eating in silence when the
electric bell beside the kitchen door
tingled feebly.
"Who's that, wonder?' asked Kear-
ney, reaching behind him and pressing
the button which would open the street
entrance. They had resumed their
meal when there came a light tap at
the door.
"Come in" called Mrs. Kearney.
The door opened. The light over
head flooded the frail figure of wom-
an in black. She was old and little
bit of creature with the frame Of a
mere child. Her clothes were Of poor
quality, but were wonderfully neat and
tidy. She wore an old fashioned bon
net trimmed with stiff, white ruching.
Her hands were ungloved, and they
showed small and thin and heavily vein
ed. Her face was very pale, and in
her faded eyes was light of dreadful
anxiety. a..
"Come in, ma'am, won't ye, and have
seat?" asked Mrs. Kearney, leaving
her chair and going to the visitor.
The little old woman entered and
sat on the edge Of chair offered her.
"What can do for you. ma'am?''
asked Kearney, half turning from his
; plate.
"You can do everything for me, sir -
she replied, with quaver in the sound
of every word 1--WE come for my boy,
Jim-Jim Montgomery. He's In trou-
ble.- just heard Of it through the pa
pers."
A wave Of pity flooded the heart OF
Mrs. Kearney as she looked from the
pathetic little mother to her big boned
stolid son.
Kearney's jaw dropped, and the
knife and fork fell from his hands. he
turned cautiously and took sly look
at the face Of the mother of his Quarry.
He saw that she was a woman of re
flnement and not of the vigorous, as
sertive, independent motherly type Of
the east side. Her dress and her com
pertinent told him that she had come
from the country.
II would have been here sooner" she
explained, but I live on the other side
OF the Hudson, you see, near Nyack
and I did not know what had happen
ed. I thought my Jim was hunting q
job In the city, and when / did not
hear from him 1 went into the villag'
to ask the advice of some of the friend
of my husband, who is dead thes'
many years. then heard Of my boyi
arrest" ...,..-~
"Why didn't yuh 60 to see his law
yer?' asked Kearney.
II went to the Tombs prison" sh,
told him, "aDd they said 1t was to-
late for me to see my son. They di
not know the name Of his lawyer, bu
one Of the keepers felt sorry for N
and told me that, you knew all abou
the case. He got your address for me.
Mrs. Kearney began clearing ava
the dishes.
"He's innocent, sir" the frail visito
pleaded eagerly. HE has been m
support since he was a boy OF fourteen
and better son no woman ever ha(
He knows nothing about crime, NJ
Kearney. He's just country boz
His. father was a good man befor
him. and brought him up In the fea
of God. You've got good mother, sil
and you c-cc-an''- Isl .ssss 5:.
what can do, ma'am1' demande
Kearney sharply. I'm the chief wi
ness for the prosecution. 1 gotta d
my duty. hard as it may be. Tho Il,
tells me what l gotta do. and ! mui
do 1t. II you got witnesses bring 'el
to court in the morning. s# , ssz.
II have several friends IN Nyac
who will testify that my boy Is q goo
boy" she sobbed. They promised Z
come to the courthouse tomorrow
Kearney looked at his watch, pushe
back his chair and reached for his 81
and coat.
That's all I can tell you. lad" !
said AZ he departed abruptly.
Mira Montgomery called ate. him
Z thin, frightened voice, but tfho h0al