The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-03-20
CHAPTER vIII-continued.

There comes Colonel Hand" said
Mrs. Hacket as she looked out of the
window. ''T,he poor lonely Wing! He
has nothing to do these days but sit
around the tavern"
Colonel Hand was a surly-IoOking
man beyond middle age, with large
eyes that showed signs of dissipation.
He had small, dark tuft beneath his
lower lip and thin, black, untidy hair.
What do We think has happened?"
he asked as he looked down upon us
with a majestic movement Of his hand.
1.-THE son O. that old BucEtail, Ben
Grimshaw, has been arrested and
brought to Jail for murder
''For murder?" asked Mr.. and Mrs
Hacket in one breath.
For bloody murder, SIR the colonel
went on. ut was the shooting of that
man in the town O. BaIlybeen a few
weeks ago. Things have come to a
pretty pass in this country, 1 should
say. Talk about law and order; we
don't know what it means here and
why should we? The party in power
Is avOwedly opposed to it-yes, sir. It
has fattened upon bribery and corrup-
ton. Do you think that the son o.
Ben Grimshaw will receive punish
ment even if he is proved guilty? Not
at all. He will be protected-you mark
my words
He bowed and left us. When the
door had closed behind him Mr.. Hacket
said:
Another victim horned by the
SnapdragOn! If a man were to be
slain by bear back in the woods
Colonel Hand would look for guilt in
the opposition party. Michael Henry
whatever the truth may be regarding
the poor boy in Jail, we are in no way
responsible. Away with sadness!
What is that?''
Mr.. Hacket inclined his ear and then
added: michael Henry says that he
may be innocent and that we had bet
ter go and see if we can help him.
Now ! hadn't thought O. that. Had
you, Mary?"
''No," the girl answered.
I'VE must be letting Mike go ahead
of US always" said her father. s'You
saw the crime, I believe" turning to
me.
I told them all I knew of it.
''UI'on my word, like you, my
brave lad" said the schoolmaster. ST
heard of all this and decided that you
would be help to Michael Henry and
q creditable student. Come, let US
go and pay our compliments to the
senator"
The schoolmaster and 1 went over
to Mr.. Wright's house-a white, frame
building which had often been pointed
out to me.
Mrs. Wright. a fne-looking lady who
met us at the door, said that the SEN
ator had gone over to the mill with his
iwheelbarrOw.
We've plenty of time and Wen wait
for him. said the schoolmaster.
81 see hint" said little John as he
and Ruth ran to the gate and down
the rough plank walk to meet him.
We saw him coming a little way
down the street in his shirt-sleeveS
with his barrow in front of him. He
stopped and lifted little John in his
arms, and after a moment put him
down and embraced Ruth.
SWELL. I see We still love the tender
embrace o. the wheelbarrow." said Mr..
Hacket as we approached the senator.
shy embrace is the tenderer of the
two the latter laughed with a lock
at his hands
He recognized me and seized my
two hands and shook them as he said /:
"Upon my word, here is my friend
Bart. I was not looking for you here
He put his hand on my head, now
higher than his shoulder, and said:
81 was not looking for you here"
He asked about my aunt and uncle
and expressed joy at learning that 1
was now under Mr. Hacket
II shall be here for a number Of
weeks he said. 'and 1 shall want to
see you often. Maybe we'll go hunt
ing some Saturday"
We babe him good morning and he
went on with his wheelbarrow. which
was loaded, remember. with stout
sacks of meal and -four.
We went to the school at half past
eight What thrilling place it was
with its e children and its three
rooms. How noisy they were as they
waited in the schoolyard for the bell
to ring stood by the doorside look
Ing very foniish. dare sag, for l
knew not what to do with myself Ny
legs eneascd Il the tow breecnes felt
az Il they were on fire. saw that
most of the village boys wore bought