Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-26
The Light in
the CLEARING
Bv IRVING BACHELLER
Copyright 1917. The Bobbs.Merrn Co.

who Is that?" l asked
I "Nick Tubbs-the village drrnt
ard and sign o the times" he an
swered. Does chores at the tavsr
all day and goes home al night I'M
ed with his earnings an a grss,
sense o. proprietOrship. He Ia M
| top flower on the bush"
/ went about my chores Tho.
was 10 be no more waverinz In mo
conduct. At the supper table M,
Hacket kept US laughing with songs
and jests and stories. The h9v
John, having been reproved h,
rapid eating, hurled his spoon upon
the floor.
Those in favor Of his punish
ment will please say aye?" said he
schoolmaster.
l remember that We had a L.
vided house on that important
question.
The schoolmaster said: Michael
Henry wishes him 10 be forgiven an
promise of better conduct. but FOR
the next offense he shall ride the
badger"
This meant living for a painful
moment across his fathers knee.
The promise was given and our
merry-making resumed. The dis
trict attorney, whom l had not NE,
before, came 10 see me after sun
per and asked more questions and
advised ME to talk with no ono
about the shooting without his con-
sent. Soon he went away. and AFT
er l had learned my lessons Mr..
HaCket said:
Let us walk up to the fail and
spend a few minutes with Amos"
We hurried to the jail. The sher-
if, a stcut-built, stern-faced man,
admitted us.
Can we see the Grimshaw boy?a
Mr.. Hacket inquired.
Il guess So" he answered as he
lazily rose from his chair and took
down a bunch of large keys which
had been hanging on the fall. his
father has just left"
He spoke in a low. solemn tone
which impressed me deeply as he
put a lighted candle In the hand Of
the sChOolmaster. He led Us
through a big door into a narrow
corridor He thrust a big key into
the lock of a heavy iron grating
and threw it open and babe Us step
in. We entered an ill-smelling,
stone-fi0Ored room with a number Of
cells against its rear wall. He
locked the door behind US. I saw
a face and figure in the dim candle
light, behind the grated door OF one
of these cells How lonely and de-
Jected and helpless was the eX-
preston of that figure. The sher-
iff went to the door and unlocked
II.
Hello, Grimshaw," he said stern
ly. "Step out here"
1t all went to my heart-the man
ners Of the sheriff so like the cold
iron of his keys and doors-tsv
dim Candle-light, the pale, fright
ened youth who walked toward rs
We shook hands and he said that be
was glad to see US. I saw the
scar under his left ear and reach
ing out upon his cheek which my
stone had made and knew that he
bore the mark Of Cain.
He asked t. he could see me alone
and the sheriff shook his head sng
said sternly:
Against the rules"
"Amos, I've a boy o. my own an
feel for We" said the schoolmas-
ter. I'm going to come here, nov
and then, to cheer ye up and bring
We some books TO read. If there's
any word of advice I can give ye--
let me know. Have We a lawyer"
There's one coming tomorrow"
Don't say a word about the case,
boy, 10 any one but your lawyer
Eiind that"
We left him and went to our
home ard beds. I TO spend half the
night thinking of my discovery
since which, for some reason. I had
no doubt of the guilt of Amos, but
! spoke not of fl to any one and
the secret worried me.