The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-03-20
l remember that We bad a dirided

4
The schoOImaster said: michael
Henry wishes him to be forgiven on
promise of better conduct. but for the
next offense he shall ride the bad
ger"
This meant lying for painful mo-
ment across his fathers knee.
The promise was given and our
merrymaking resumed. The district
attorney, whom / had met before,
came to see me after supper and asked
more questions and advised me to talk
with no one about the shooting with
out his consent. Soon he went away,
and after 1 had learned my lessons
Mr.. Hacket said:
Let US walk up to the Jail and
spend a few minutes with Amos"
We hurried to the Jail. The sheriff,
a stOut-built, stern-faced man, admit
ted US.
Can we see the Grimshaw boy?"
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 wall His ia
Their has just left
He spoke in a low, solemn tone
which impressed me deeply as he put
q lighted candle in the hand of the
schOOImaster. He led US through a
door into a narrow corridor. He thrust
big key into the lock of heavy iron
grating and threw it open and babe US
step in. We entered an ill-smeIling
stone-1oOred 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 detected and helpless
was the expression of that figureI The
sheriff went TO the door and IN
locked it.
Hello, Grimshaw," he said sterniy.
'Step out here"
It all went to my heart-the man.
ners of the sheriff so like the cold iron
of his keys and doors-the dim candle
light, the pale, frightened youth who
walked toward US. We shook his hand
and he said that he was glad to see
US. l saw the scar under his left ear
and reaching out upon his cheek,
which my stone had made, and knew
that he bore the mark of Cain
He asked if he could see me alone
and the sheriff shook his head and said
sternly:
Against the rules
Amos, I've a boy O. my own an 1
feel for ye," said the schoolmaster
I'm going to come here, now and
then, to cheer We up and bring We some
books to read. If there's any word
OF advice l can give ye-Iet me know.
Have We a lawyer?"
There's one coming tomorrow"
Don't say a word about the case,
boy, to anyone but your lawyer-mind
that"
We left him and went to our home
and beds, l to spend half the night
thinking of my discovery, since which,
for some reason, 1 had no doubt of
the guilt of Amos, but 1 spoke not of
1t to anyone and the secret worried
me.
Next morning on my way to schoo!
1 passed a scene more strange and
memorable than any in my long ex-
perience- 1 saw the shabby figure of
old Benjamin Grimshaw walking in
the side path. His hands were in his
pockets, his eyes bent upon the ground,
his lips moving as If he We're in deep
thought. Rowing Kate, the ragged,
silent woman who, for the fortune of
Amos, had drawn a gibbet, the shadow
of which was now upon him, walked
slowly behind the money lender point
ing at him with her bony forefinger.
Her stern eyes watched him as the cat
watches when its prey is near it. She
did not notice me. Silently, her feet
wrapped in rags, she walked behind
the man, always pointing at him.
When he stopped she stopped. When !
he resumed his slow progress she fol- |
lowed. Il thrilled me, partly because |
had begun to believe in the weird, /
mysterious power of the Silent Wom- /
az. L had twenty minutes to spare |
and so I turned into the main street |
behind and close by them. 1 saw him |
stop and buy some crackers and an |
apple End a piece of cheese Mean
while she stood pointing at him. He /
saw, but gave rs need to her. He !
walked along the street "a front of |
the stores, she following as before. |
How patiently she followed
started for the big schoolhouse and /
a number of boys Joined me with |
pleasant words.
Sally ran past US with that low |
lived Wills boy, who carried her books /
for her. His father had gone into the !
grocery business and Henry wore 1
boughten clothes. I couldn't tell Sally /
how mean he was. I was angry and |
decided not to speak to her until she 1
spoke to me- I got along better in /
school. although there was some tit |
tering when l recited, probably be- |
cause L had a broader dialect and big |
ger boots than the boys in the village. !