San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-08
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Al( AS
s> DOUGLAS GRANT
DOUGl As GRANT
20 us4 NeA- Sc svlee INC

to his sweetheart, no matter what her
friends tell her about him. She UNI
derstands now that you had to 20
trailin' after that Dorsey girl to get
, line on the Teller she used to 60
with who stole the money from Elan
nery's store an you couldn't speak
till you'd got him safe in the lock-
up, not even to Sallie herself. Michael
live sometlGn' for we. l would
have give. it to you last night, but
after the funeral an all / was afeerd
it would be too much for ye."
She rose groaningly from the
rocker and waddled across the room
to an old-fashioned chest of drawers in
the corner, and Mikes pain-dulled
eyes followed her in apathetic weari-
ness. She stood with her back to
him and he could see the broad
ample shoulders heave in a noise
less sob while she fumbled with a
little box she had taken from the top
drawer.
II don't want to see it or even
know what it is if it's going TO make
you icry more, Map he declared. "If
you're down sick who's there left to
comfort me?"
He had struck the right note. for
though the tears were rolling down
her fat cheeks once more as she turn
ed to him. Ma Brennan managed
faint. Quivering little smile.
Here. Michael. l cut it off her
head for We with me own two hands
just before they closed the coffin, an
cruel quick they were to do it,, too.
Take it. lad"
Che turnod ouroy apd Michael cat
for long minutes staring down at the
strand of bright shining hair which
curled vibrantly about his fingers like
the tendrils of a living vine.
Had Ma Brennan been watching
she could not have helped noting the
change which crept over the face of
the young man, for trained detective
as he was the shock was too great
for concealmcnt. She turned again
only when the lamp on the table flared
up suddenly to full flame and found
him scrutinizing the lock of hair close
ly beneath the light. His cheeks were
flushed.
"Thank you, ma" His voice was
husky with rising excitement and
his fingers trembled as he drew an
envelope from his pocket and put the
golden strand carefully away. 81
can't tell you what you've done for
me, giving me thisi You cut it off
off Sallie's head yourself for me, you
say?"
Il did that" She returned to the
rocker, wiping her eyes on her stiff
new black bordered handkerchief.
There was little else to know her by.
poor darlin'. but the sunny hair of
her, for the bit of nightgown, an wrap
per had been burned away an'--an'
you'd not have known her yourself.
Michael! Thank God they'd sent We
to Philopolis an We got back too late "
He stifled the exclamation which
rose to his lips and asked slowly:
1T was as bad as that, then? 1t
was only by her hair that you were
able to identify herr"
Eyes. Michael" Preoccupied by her |
own grief Ma Brennan was still OBJ |
livious to the new note in his voice. 81 |
was near crazed an when at last 1 |
give up all hope o. findin' her amongst |
the livin'--most O. the-the others |
were accounted for. / shall never for |
get it till my dyin' day!
Don't let's talk of it any more" he |
said soothingly. Tell me again about |
that woman from the wreck who got in
here and took those clothes of poor
Sallie's."
"She did not mean to steal them,
for one of the two fifty-dollar
bills she left under the card on the
dresser wouldve more than bought
them new, an Sallie would be the
first to give them to her an not take
A cent, may God rest her! There's lit
tie to tell about the strange woman,
me not SEEM hide nor hair of her, but
twas only few minutes after the
crash. when the wreck had first
caught fire, that Use Thorkinsen seen
her come staggerin' in the back door
here with singed blanket wrapped
like shawl over her head an all
round her, an / guess whatever else
she'd had on must ha' been burnt or
tore off her for she left nothin' be-
hind her here except that blanket. She
was carryin' a fine black travelin'
bag, though, Use says, an she must