The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1917-04-04

You're poor man, guess" insist
cd Airline. "And you look hungry.
And I've just got supper ready.
earned 1t all myself" proudly de-
claimed Airline. There's pie, and
ham, and coffee, and doughnuts, and
It's all mine to give. and you're well
,ome. Come into the house and see,
ron't your"
The hard, bitter face of the stran-
cr softened. Airline had hold OF his
and now and insisted on gently but
esolutely bringing him along.
"Therel" she cried triumphantly. as
she led her guest into the kitchen.
| what do you think of that?"
The stranger sank to n chair. from
sheer exhaustion, II seemed. He
listened to the gay babble of the child,
sounding like joy bells In his willing
ears, but soul furnishing for kind words
and charity. She poured out steam
ipg cup of coffee. she cut the pie and
loaded his plate and her guest de
voured the repast with the ardor and
zest of man truly hungry. Airline
ran out to the shed to get some wood.
When she returned the man sat back
M his chair, his eyes closed. his body
relaxed and limp.
Poor manr' whispered Airline to
herself. 81 suppose he's just about
all done out. Sh-sh |" she spoke sud
denly, gliding to the door, finger warn
indy on lip. as her mother appeared.
Why. Arlinei what is all thisT"
asked her amazed mother. "and who Is
this strangerr
Airline recited her story. The moth
cr's eyes dwelt fondly upon her us she
recognized the generous Instinct Of
humanity in that gentle soul. Airline
went up to her guest and pulled his
sleeve. He did not respond. Then
Mrs. Ross, gazing more closely looked
grave and alarmed.
"He Is unconscious" she uttered.
"He looks ILL.," She felt his hands.
They were very cold. airline, run
next door for Doctor Prescott There
is something the matter with this
man"
There was, indeed. When he came
the doctor looked grave and puzzled.
They carried the man into the next
room and placed him on the bed.
ale is very Ill.," announced the doc
tor "His vitality is low and he seems
to have a chronic affection of the
heart. / do not think he can live.
You can scarcely afford to care for n
stranger. Mrs. Ross. but It would he
unmerciful to turn him adrift. | will
see that you are repaid for the expense
he may be to you"
"Oh, he is welcome to all we can do
for him." declared warm-hearted Mrs.
Ross.
The invalid rallied a few hours later.
Slowly he recognized his surroundings
and the Incidents leading up TO his
present environment. He held little
Arline's hand, his eyes full of tears.
He tried to express his fervent graft
tude to her mother.
"And l am so undeserving," he said,
and then he started and stared fixedly
at framed portrait of Edgar Ross
hanging on the wall. "who-who is
that7" he asked. almost sharply.
A spasm OF pain OF the intensest
emotion crossed his face as in a sub
dued tone. Mrs. Ross told Of their
misfortune. The patient reused up al
most frantlcally.
"Send for some one to witness my
confessionl' he cried. "Oh. madam
your husband is an innocent man." and
then his story came out. He was
burglar whose deed had caused the
conviction of Edgar Ross, and. that
night long past seeing the police APP
preaching and knowing he might be
searched. he had slipped his spoils into
the pocket OF the wayfarer he pretend
ed to be helping home.
He had got out OF town at once and
since then had been falling In health
until he had become homeless and
moneyless.
at was retrlbution," he declared,
but now can make atOnement."
The contrite man died the next day,
but not until he had paved the way
through his confession to insure the
restoration Of Edgar Ross to his long
ing family.
So, the generous impulse OF brave
little child brought about the rehabili-
tation Of the father she loved.