The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-05
The Woman
He Married
A MAN WITH A CONSCIENCE
BY JANE PHELPS

1
Chapter "a.
Dick came home that night terribly
excited. He was late, AND ran to the
door to let him in. I knew the mo-
ment I saw his face that something
unusual had kept him.
what is it?" asked.
"Sh-s-wait until Junior goes to bed.
Then I'll tell you and mother all about
| it" Mother had remained with me.
said she just could not leave until she
knew something of why Junior had
| been lured away.
/ Naturally we hurried our dinner,
and with little appetite. 1t seemed to
me that Junior never was so unwilling
to go to bed, or ever had so many
| wants to be satisfied. We had rather
babied him All day, and he was taking
/ advantage of it. But finally he was
asleep and we were free to talk.
'What he told us was all true, 1
fancy, Dick commenced. The big
house he said they stopped at was a
| roadhouse probably. 1t wasn't Sander
| son who took him, but a man he hired
to do it, and who finally became con-
science stricken and brought him back.
| Mr.. Peabody thinks Sanderson didn't
| have the quits to steal a child himself,
| and so got this man. But evidently he
| too was not quite tough enough for
| the job"
| But how did you know"
st found a note at the bank from
| the man who took him. the one who
drought him back. 1t was not in
| 1t was an attempt to make me suffer,
to frighten me. He was to have kept
Junior a week. instead of not quite q
day and a half, then bring him back.
| The note said that Sanderson wanted
! to get even with me, a stranger. for
| meddling with him: showing him up
| to the bank people,
| What will be done with the man
| who took Junior?' mother asked.
Nothing! He begged me in the
note not to try to find him, because
he had brought Junior back un-
inal action, and that he did it because
he needed money so badly. That he
was in debt, and couldn't resist max
ing what looked like easy money"
But Dick-to let him go-if you
Junior again-perhaps?
| mo, I think not. Mr.. Peabody feels
just as I do about it. The note was
| that of a repentant man, and, Nan, 1
| can't find it N my heart to hunt him
out and prosecute him. I remember
our own difficulties, my own tempta-
| lions too keenly.''
| 81 guess you are right" mother said
softly. Then added: with what
measure you mete it shall be measured
to you again." and after a moment:
Judge not that ye be not Judged"
| But, mother" interrupted, "shaIl
we ever feel safe, sure that this man
Sanderson won't attempt it again ?'
| 81 think So" Dick broke in. Mr..
Peabody has communicated with
| Sanderson. If ever he makes another
attempt to injure us-or anyone in
| the bank, he will prosecute him, in
| some way that was the understanding
with the district attorney. Sanderson
| had to keep straight in every particu-
lar. Anyway. Nan. 1 fell like quoting
| Scripture as mother has done: Let
him without SIM ct cetera. That poor
| devil, harassed with debt needing
| money, hardly knew the enormity of
| the offense he tried to commit That
| he returned Junior safe and sound
| shows he has conscience, and thatit
meant more to him than the money he
1 might have had if he had carried out
| his agreement. No, I really do not
think we need worry about either him
or Sanderson hurting us again"
In spite of Dicks optimistic opin-
ion was terribly anxious, and so wei
| coined mothers decision to remain
with US few days with added delight.
| She undertook Juniors education in
| that respect. He must be taught not
! to go with strangers.
| eff any nice man asks you to go
riding, or gives you candy, you must
( call mother" she told him over and
over, until his baby mind seemed to
grasp the idea.
| Mice mans goes too fast Use
scared" he said when she emphasized
the danger of going in an 'autobile'
with anyone unless daddy or mother
were with him.
| Yes, and nice little boys ask their
mother, when they want to go any
where
Mother said I might dig in the
sand wifi my pail and shovel
Yes, of course she did, but she
didn't say you could go in the auto
! bile"
| ct don't like .autobile' anyway. Use
| scared" he repeated.
| That fellow must have driven ter
ribly fast to brighten Junior like
| that" Dick said when I told him of
mothers efforts to make Junior I'M
! derstand he must not go with strang-
ers. He is fond of motoring, and
never seems Frightened no matter how
fast he is driven"
Let us all try to forget the last
two days. mother said before we re-
| tired. Just remember to be thank
full, and to trust Him who knoweth
when a sparrow falis-how much
more will He look after one of His
little children"
tTo be eontinued)
|
The bishop of Birmingham said at
a Los Angeles luncheon: