The Washington herald., 1920-09-16

a whole week on It. and then it'll
take me back again. Jest think.
now, that little boy OF mine has
got to be a otticer-a city mar
shall Of whole town That's
somethin like constable. amt
IT | never knOwed he was a Of
hcer; he didn't say nothin' about
1t in his letters. reckon ne
thought his old mOther'd be skeer-
ed about the danger he was in.
But. laws, ! never was much Of
hand to git skeered. 'Tain't no
use. I heard them guns a-shuut-
in while | was gittin' off them
cars. and | see smoke a-comiu'
out Of the depot. but jest walked
right along. Then SEC sons face
Looking out through thu. window.
! knowed him at oncrt. H, met
me at the door. and squeezed me
most to death. And there YOU
was. sir. a-lyin' there. Jest like.
you was decd. and lowed we'd
see what might he done to helm
sot you up"
Il think I'll sit up now" said
tbS cOncussiOu patient I'm feel
ing pretty fair 10y this time.
lie sat. some what weakly Vt,
leaning against the wall He WAS
a rugged man. big-boned ana
straight. His eyes. steady and
keen. seemed to Iinger upon the
face Of the man standing 50 stilI
above him. His look wandered
often from the face he studied to
the marshal's badge upon the
others breast.
Yes. yes. you'll be all right. 60
said the old woman. patting his
arm. If YOU don't set to cuItfn'
up agin. and havin' folks shoot
in at you. Son told me about
you. sir, while N"u was Iayin'
senseless- on the floor. Don't YOU
take it as meddlcsomc fer an old
woman with a son as big as Won
TO talk about it, And you mustn't
hold no grudge ag in nay son for
haYin' to shoot at We 4 officer
has got to take UP for the Law
it's his duty-and them that acts
bad and lives wrong has to suf-
fer. Don't blame my son anv.
faint his fault. He's always
been a good boN-good when he
was GROWN: up. and kind and
'bedient and behaved Won't
YOU let me advise YOU. sir. not to
do SO no more? Be a good man.
and leave liquor alone and live
peaCeably and godly. Keep away
from bad company and work hon
est ana sleep sweet"
The black mittened hand Of the
old pleader gently touched the
breast Of the man she addressed
Very earnest and candid her old.
worn face looked. In her rusty
black dress and antique bonnet
she sat. near the close Of a long
life. and cpitomized the eNpe-
rienCe of the world. still tho
man to whom she spoke gazed
above her head. contemplating
the silent son of the old mother.
What does the marshal say"
he asked. Does he believt the
advice is good suppose the mar
shall speaks un and says il the
talks all right"
The tall mau. moved uneaSily.
He fingered the badge ON his
breast for a moment. ana tntE he
put an arm around the old won
an and drew her close to him Sne
smiled the unchanginE mother
smile of three score years. and
patted his big brown hand with
her crooked. mittened fingers
while her son spake.
'I says this" he said. looking
squarely into the eyes Of the
other man. that if ] was in your
place I'd follow it, II I was a
drunken. desp'rate character.
without shame or hope. I'd fo!-
low it. II was in your place
and you was in mine d sav
5 Marshal. I'm willin' TO swear IL
you'll give me the chance III quit
the racket. I'll drop the tangle-
foot and the gun play. and won't
play hoss no more. I'll be a good
citizen and go to work and quit
nv foolishness. So help me God"
That's what I'd say to you II you
was marshal and ! was in YOUR
place"
Hear my son talkin." said the
old woman softly Hear him.
sir. You promise to be good and
he won't do you no harm. Forty
one year ago his heart first beat