Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-06-28

We've kept that from her, but she
knows all the rest. She Is fairly des-
perate. She seems to think she has
not heard the worst and is almost dis
tracted. She has done nothing but
walk to and fro between her house and
ours. Uncle Abner, 1 don't believe
Howard did it. don't, don't!
II know he didn't" Abner answered.
II am absolutely sure Of it."
Through the dusk the old woman ad-
vanced till she stood facing Abner.
She put an unsteady hand on his sad
die. "Whar's Howard?" she inquired
Il left i'm in the Office gittin' ready
to go to his supper" was the prompt
response. ME n him worked hard
today gittin' out the paper. I'm here
to state, an ef we both don't sleep
sound tonight it will be because the
mosquitoes know Their business bet
term we do our'n.'
Pm no fool, Abner Daniel" the wo-
man blurted out, great stare Of de-
spair IN her eyes. II know the danger
that's hoverin' over my child better'n
anybody alive. Till today l gloried in
the mercy Of the Lord l was CRATE
full for what you did to keep Howard
here ut home whar l could see i'm
now an then. but this is what even
that brief Joy has fetched to me. l
can't stand 1T can't can't"
Abner's voice was full Of clashing
currents when he answered, looking
n or
''Yore boy Is innocent of that crime,
Mrs. Tinsiey. an eff God let's i'm suf-
fer fer it I'll turn ag'in all that's holy
M good in the universe. The situa-
ton may be little shaky now, but
right will prevail in the end
That's all you kin tell me, then?'
the woman painted. you say right
will prevail. l don't know. I doubt
everything now. Noth1n' Is fair to me,
Mt least If they dare-dare to put my
boy under lock and key But she
was unable to speak further. With a
dry sob, high heaving Of her breast,
she turned and walked away.
The next morning Abner was up with
the dawn. Indeed, he had slept little
through the night and was feeling the
| Ill effects Of it. He saw Pole Baker
walking briskly along the road from
the village.
"Whar you been so early?" Abner
asked.
II stayed in town." Pole answered.
Il sat up with Howard in his room
till after midnight"
"1'm glad you kept i'm company"
Abner said, plaint1vely.
Il had to stay" Pole said. 1T looks
like everybody in town is actually
afeard Of i'm, an he's noticed it..
Frank Raymond and some other boys
dropped In, but they had little to say,
an all but Frank looked as If they be-
lieved Howard was lyin' What's
friendship In time O. real trouble? Not
with hill o. BEANS"
Abner leaned on the bars, sliding his
strong thumb nail under a splinter,
slowly prying 1t off and putting it be-
tween his tobacco stained and blunted
teeth. i've been bothered about the
grand jury" he said. II wonder eff
it will act. Eff an actual arrest Is
made 1t will go hard with the poor
boy"
1T IS sure to come an early today"
Pole replied.
"You think so?'' Abner said despon-
dently.
mot the slightest doubt Of it." Pole
went on. I'm fact, Howard was
wotcho1 o1oco oil Loot p3Oht Tho frop<
and back doors of the hotel was guard
ed by the sheriff and his deputy"
How do you know that?" Abner
asked.
Il seed 'em; 50 did Howard. We
took a little walk, an they followed
US. Howard looked pale, an thought
the fresh air would do i'm good. As
l come away this mornin' met the
sheriff on the back porch. know i'm
well. I legged fer i'm in his election.
an he would do me a favor eff 1t come
his way. He knows how like How
ard, too, an stopped an told i'm
l was sure Howard wasn't the man,
an both him an the deputy seemed
astonished.
"'What do you take me fer?' the
sheriff axed. Didn't hear Howard
threaten to do it? An wasn't he on
the spot half an hour before the shot
was fired with loaded gun in his
pocket?'"
That's what they all say" Abner
sighed. Ills own father come over last
night about bedtime to see me. l told
I'm Howard was innocent, but it went
in at one ear and out at the other"
well. l must go home an git my
breakfast" Pole said, then I'll meet
you in town. Howard tried to git me
to wait an eat at the hotel, but they
hadn't made the fire in the kitchen
stove when l got up an I'm hungry.
Besides, like home cookin' an cof-
fee that's just right. Thar's another
thing that is odd about me, too, Uncle
Alb, an that is that l never feel right
eft I start day without seem my chill
dren. l want to see 'em all in bunch
at the table eatin' Their fill. Another
odd thing about me is that l hate to
come home late at night an find 'em
all asleep. l want 'em to be awake,
eff 1t Is jest fer q minute. It seems
like something awful has happened eff
they don't crawl over my lap an hug
me an say good night. don't know
l reckon I'm womanish Teller. Sally,
my first wife, used to make 'em say
Their prayers up to the day she died
They 'u'd kneel down on the floor an
saw EN- out lOud. an swear II WAS nc