The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-04-17
"weE, Bart how do you like
schoolT' he asked.

uncle. Stick to IL. You'll make
friends and get interested before long."
II want to go home," I declared.
snow let's look at the compass" he
suggested. "Youre lost for minute.
and like all lost people you're heading
tho wrong way. Don't be misled by
selfishness. Forget what you want to
do and think of what we want you to
do. We want you to make man of
yourself. You must do 1t for the sake
of those dear people who have done
SO much for you. The needle points
toward the schoolhouse yonder."
He went on with his work. and as I
walked away I understood that the
needle he referred to was my con-
science.
went about my chores. There was
to be no more wavering In my con-
duct. At the supper table Mr.. Hacket
kept us laughing with songs and jests
and stories. The boy John, having
been reproved for rapid eating. hurled
his spoon upon the floor.
"Those in favor of his punishment
will please say aye?" said the school
master.
1 remember that we had divided
house on that important question.
The schoolmaster 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 a painful mo-
ment across his fathers knee.
The promise was given and our
merrymaking resumed. The district
attorney, whom l 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 l had learned my lessons
Mr.. Hacket said:
LET us walk up to the Jail and
spend 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 boy7'
Mr.. Hacket inquired.
II guess sO," he answered as ht
lazily rose from his chair and tool
down bunch Of large keys which hat
been hanging on the wall. His ia
ther has just left"
He spoke In a low. solemn tont
which impressed me deeply as he pu
a lighted candle In the hand Of tn,
schoolmaster. He led Us through &
door into narrow corridor. He thrust
big key into the lock of a heavy iroI
grating and threw 1t open and bade u
step In. We entered an ill-smellinl
stone-floored room with a number O
cells against its rear wall. He locke,
the door behind us. i saw q face an,
figure in the dim candle light, behin'
the grated door Of one of these cells
How lonely and detected and helples
was the expression Of that fgurel Tn
sheriff went to the door and ur
locked It. f
"Hello. Grimshaw," he said sternly
"Step out here"
1t all went to my heart-the man
ners Of the sheriff SO like the cold irO
of his keys and doors-the dim candl
light, the pale, frightened youth VIII
walked toward us. We shook his han
and he said that he was glad to sc
US. ! saw the scar under his left en-
and reaching out upon his cheel
which my stone had made, and kne'
that he bore the mark of Cain.
I He asked II he could see me alon
and the sheriff shook his head and sal
sternly:
Against the rules"
"Amos, I've boy o. my own an
feel for ye," said the schoolmaste
I'm going to come here, now an
then, to cheer ye up and bring ye som
books to read. II there's any wor
of advice l can give ye-let me know
Have ye a lawyerf"
"There's one coming tomorrow"
Don't say q word about the cas-
boy. to anyone but your lawyer-min
that"
We left him and went to our HON
and beds, to spend half the nigi
thinking Of my discovery, since whlcl
for some reason, / had no doubt {
the guilt of Amos, but spoke not {
1t to anyone and the secret wOrrie
me.
Next morning on my way to scho'
passed scene more strange an
memorable than any In my long e,
pericnce. l saw the shabby figure ,
old Benjamin Grimshaw walking
the side path. His hands were In h
pockets, his eyes bent upon the groun
his lips moving us II he were In dee
thought. Rowing Kate. the ragge
silent woman who, for the fortune ,
. Amos, had drawn gibbet, the shade
of which was now upon him. wake
slowly behind the money lender poin
Ing ut him with her bony forefnge
Her stern eyes watched him as the C,
watches when its prey is near It. 81