Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-13
VIII

1t was not far to the station -
down thru the lane from the Palace
,5aloon--and close to the station, he
}.emembered, there was IL little short
order house that was generally pa
i.roniaed by the railroad men, Old
Mother Barretts, ntrt-order house.
they called it, She was the wife OF
an engineer who had been killed, he
had heard, and She had boy work
ing somewhere on the railroad. Not
that he was interested in these de-
tails; in fact, as he walked along, the
Hawk was not interested IN old
Mother Barrett in Il personal sense at
tll--but, as he reached the short
order house and entered, his eyes. as
tho Theoretically drawn in that direc-
ton, fixed Instantly on the little old
woman behind the counter.
The Hawk was suddenly very much
interested in old Mother Barrett. II
was not that she rnade a somewhat
pathetic figure, that she dropped a
little ut the shoulders, that her face
under her grey haic looked tired, OF
that, tho scrupulously neat, heI
clothes We're n little threadbare--i,
was none of these things-it was old
Mother Barretts hands that for the
moment concerned the Hawk. She
was In the act OF adjusting her spec
tacles and picking ZIP very new and
crisp en-dollar bill, that a customer
from the stool in front of her had ev-
identity rendered in payment for his
meal. The Hawk shot a quick glance
up and down the room. There Were
several other customers at the long
counter, but the stool beside the own
err of the ten-dollar bill was vacant
and the Hawk unostentatiously strud-
died it.
He glanced casually ut the man al
his elbow; allowed his eyes to stray
to the kindly, motlerly old favs witt
it's grey Irish eyes, thae ~as puckere0
now in a sort of hesitant indecision--
and glanced little more than cas-
ually at the banknote she kept turn.
ing over and over IN her hands. No
he had not been mistaken, 1t WAS one
of the counterfeits which, according
to MacVightie, had flooded the Eas
and were now making their appear.
ance in Selkirk, and it was Il dupli-
cate OF these in the false tray of hi:
trunk. His eyes perhaps were sharp.
er than old Mother. Barrett's--in any
case, his identification was the quick
er, tor his gaze had wandered to the
on the counter with hts finger tip:
I~.~ !. Il I.a. = a.
spoke.
Tim afsraid I can't take this
she said slowly, handing the bank,
note back across the counter.
Whats the matter with it?" de.
manded the man isruffly.
'Why--its--it's counterfeit" SHE
said little anxiousls. as tho sh,
We're fearful of giving offence.
The Hawks eyes, with mild ant
quite impersonal interest, were on tn,
mans face now. The man had pickes
up the bill, and was pretending to ex.
anime 1T critically.
Counterfeit echoed the MAJ
shortly. Say, what are you givinl
US! It's as good rs wheat! Give m,
my change, and let me get out-In
in hurry!" He pushed the bill to-
ward her again.
She did not pick = cp n.om tn.
counter this time. {
I'm, sorry" She seemed genuinel,
disturbed, and the sweet old face wa
full of sympathy. I'm sure you die
not know that it was not good. an,
ten dollars is a great deal to lose
isn't it? It's too bad. Do you re
member where you got it?"
Look here, you're dippy!" snappe,
the man.. Il tell You it's not counter
felt. Anyway, it's ali I've got. Ii yor
want your pay, take it,"
You owe me thirty five cents, bu
l can't take it out of this" She shool
her head in a troubled way. This i
counterfeit"
You seem to be pretty well poste,
-on counterfeits." sneered the MAJ
extensively. How do you know it,
a counterfeit-eh?"
Because I've seen one like this be
fore she said simply. My sol
showed me one the last time he wa
in from his run, and he warned me t,
be careful about taking any"
"Oh, your son -eh?" sneered tn
man again. Some son! Wised yo,
up, did he? Carries il around witt
hin-eh? And who does he shove j
off on?"
Ihere was queer little sound iron
the Old lady--lilse a quick hurt catel
of her breath. The Hawks eyes trav
eled swiftly to her face. She ht,
turned little pale, and her lips wer
trembling-but She was drawn IL,
very proudly, and the thin shoulder
were Squared back
Il love my boy" she said in {; loy
voice, and tears came suddenly int,
her eyes, Il love. him with all m,
neart, but should Il Thousand time
| rather see him dead than know hin
k9or thief. And a man who attempt
TO pass these things knowingly is "A
thief. l have been Very respectful t,
you, sir. and | do not deserve wha
YOU have said. ] assumed that yo,
had been swindled yourself, and tha
you We're perfectly honest in offerin.
the bill to me, but now from your"
Whats the trouble, Mother Bar
pa big railroader farther II,
the counter had laid down his knit,
and fork, and swung round on hi.
stool With a hurried glance in tina
direction, the man hastily thrus
the counterfeit note into his peck ct
laid down thirty-five cents on tl1s
counter-and, with a dive across tfrt
room, disappeared thr the door.
The Hawk stared thoughtfully after
him.
Il couldn't butt in on that, ant
hand him one said the Hawk tt
himself almost alphabetically. mot
with twenty thousand in sight.
couldn't afford TO get into a row, and