The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-03-06

while | played with the gang. You
didn't tell 'em ! used to steal her
money when she came home bent in
two from the washtub. Yes, an struck
her when l was only ten years old be
cause she wouldn't gimme FIVE cents
FOR cigarettes.
why didn't yoU tell how ! stamped
on the cakes she struggled in to me
at the reform school? Why didn't
you mention my comm home fghtin'
drunk after bein' away FIVE years? |
upset the table where she had every
thing spread put for my return. made
her gimme all her money, an went off
with the boys.
"A week later she was turned out
on the street. an | never lifted a fin
ger to help her. Why didn't you e
ton that, Mr.. District Attorney?
Many a night she passed by Egan's
saloon, where | hung out. an slipped
some money into my hand. Instead OF
thankin' her, I'd invite the boys in an
leave her standin' at the curb.
Then | was sent up for breakin'
into Story's house. Do o think she
was ashamed of her drunken, thievin'
brute of a son? No, sir! She went
everywhere beggin' them to let me go.
"Yes, an paid for n of the best
lawyers in the country, though 1t
didn't do no good.
That's what got me to thinkin'.
What did | ever do for her except to
make her life miserable an bring
shame on her? One day she tripped
as she was goin' out of my cell, an |
caught her in my arms and kissed her.
Then she smiled up at me through
her tears until
Jaw, you wouldn't understand. But
I did, an as soon as she was outside
the bars l got down on my knees an
prayed-prayed. mind you-that she
might live until | was free so | could
work for her an show her how felt
about her now,
Every time she came after that she
looked thinner an older. Once when
she didn't come at the regular time |
thought-the thing had happened. But
she came, an ! was happy.
THE day they let me go, we took a
trip to Coney Island, an l felt like a
kid. | guess she was happy or she
wouldn't have told me. That Edelman
had squeezed fifty dollars out of her
as hush money. Told her he'd sQueal
on me like he did before if she didn't
cough up.
Then, after he got the money. he
faxed up that lyin' statement to keep
49,. - -Rzs.zz Aaoo,,zn ha ura afraid
of me. If I'd gone straight home the
detectives were ready to pinch me.
But didn't. | went to the %scoundrel
an ordered him to hand back the
money. He pulled his gun on me, an
l let him have mine right in his grin
| min face. Then the cops came.
Lord, when you're down you're always
down!
Now you're goner send me back
now, when | was ready to do a mans
work-now, when l wanted to slave
r for her as she did for me
"An' you won't let mel" he shrieked
j pounding wildly on the rail. I'm sc
much scum an filth to be swept dowr
A in the sewer where | belong. But wha'
about her? What's she ever done tC
be punished? She amt got a bit o
:, strength left nor a place to go nor
soul to take care of her"
!. Turning to the judge, he flung on
9 his wasted hands.
Don't send me away" he cried
Don't you believe me? Just let me
work for her till-she dies, an Their
: you can do what you want with me
I said wasn't begin off. am, judge
| am-here, on my knees.
= Gimme a chance to prove I'm il
= earnest-only a year.. What more cal
> 1 say! You're old yourself. Look a
l her, Judge. Look at her old clothes
c an WORKOUT face. l did it. I've killet
her. Her face will be before me nigh
an day. L"
The prisoner threw his head on hi
arms and leaned against the rail in
huddled heap. The members of tn
jury, in various cramped attitudes
e stared at the floor or out the win
dows. ThroughCA 1t the court wa
deep silence, broken here and Their
by a spasmodic sob.
Presently the little old n TOT
n tered toward the prisoners box an
reached up her bony hands from ur
3. der her shawl. AS she felt his cor
a vulsive grasp, she pressed her waste
1t cheeks against his arm and cried sof'
" ly.
n TITS all right, old lady" he muttere
hoarsely without looking up. stop
er now. Don't take on-don't."
if The whispering died away as tn
S Judge looked up from the brief o
d which he had been tracing patterns
'e cleared his throat several times. an
~ frowned.
IN accordance with the verdict
le the court" he commenced, and the
ID paused to cough. "In accordance Wit
Up the verdict-that is to say-in view
e%xtenuating circumstances sentenc
ID is suspended"
al There was a general shutting OF fee
al and chairs as the large audience ros
Of to depart.
ct In a short while the was empt
lie save for two figures at the dock.
Presently the man got up from hi
ct knees.
Come. mother" he said gentt
ut ! wed better he goin' home"
an emigrant ship many years ag'
a.