The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-03-22

Henry wishes him TO be forgiven on
promise of better conduct. but for the
next ofTense he shall ride the bad
ger"
This meant lying for a painful mo-
ment across his fathers knee.
The promise was given and our
merrymaking resumed. The district
attorney. whom | had met before,
came 10 see me after supper and asked
more questions and advised me 10 talk
with no one about the shooting with
out his consent. Soon he went away,
and after l had learned my lessons
Nh Hacket said:
Let US walk up to the Jail and
spend a few minutes with Amos"
We hurried 10 the Jail. The sheriff.
Stour-built. Stern-faced man. admit
ted Us.
Can we see the Grim>haw boy?"
Mr. Hacket inquired.
Il guess So" he answered as he
/ Iazily 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 low. solemn tone
which impressed me deeply a. he put
/ q lighted candle in the hand of the
/ SchoomaSter. lie led Us through Il
/ door into narrow corridor. He thrust
a biz key into the lock of a heavy iron
| grating and threw il open and babe US
step in. We entered an ill-Smelling
Stone-fo0red room with a number Of
cells against its rear wall. He locked
the door behind Us. | saw a face and
I 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 figure. The
sheriff went TO the door and I'M
locked it.
Hello, GrimShaw," he said sternly.
step out here"
Il 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. | 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 Il boy o my own an
feel for ye," said the SchoOlmaster.
I'm going to come here, now and
then, to cheer We up and bring ye some
books TO read. If there's any word
of advice | can give ye-let me know.
Have We a lawyer"
There's one coming tomorrow
Don't say u word about the case,
boy, to anyone but your lawyer-mind
that"
We left him and went to our home
aud beds, l to spend half the night
thinking of my discovery, since which,
for some reason. / had no doubt of
the guilt of Amos, but l spoke not of
it TO anyone and the secret worried
me.
Next morning on my way TO schOO!
l passed u scene more strange and
memorable than any in my long eX-
perience. | 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 foretinger
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
When he stopped she stopped. When
he resumed his slow progress she fol
lowed. 1t thrilled me, partly because
| had begun TO believe in the weird
mysterious power of the Silent Won
a.. l had twenty minutes ITO spare
| Gnu 81 luI ucu iLlO
behind and close by them. | saw hin
stop and buy some crackers and an
apple and a piece of cheese. Mean
while she stood pointing at him. He
saw, but gave no heed to her. He
walked along the street in front OF
the stores, she following as before
How patiently she followed,
started for the big schoolhouse and
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
bOughten clothes. l couldn't tell Sally
how mean he was. was angry and
decided not to speak to her until she
spoke TO me. l got along better in
school, although there was some tit
tering when l recited, probably be
cause l had broader dialect and big
cor hnnrS than tho hnyS i'm tho yiIIoua