The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-03-28

the hundredth time. IF I hadn't let
her go an take in that wash o mine
instead o doin' it for myself you'd
have her now with We. Michael!'
Mike dropped his arm Imply and
IaIsed hjs heavy head.
Try not to think of il. Ma that's
! the only way. I've got more to re
proach myself with than you for she
| has gone from me in anger when the
word that I was too proud to speak
would have set everything right be
tween us"
She knows now. Michael; take COM
fort to yourself with that" Ma
Brennan said gently. The poor
child didn't understand that a de-
tective's sometimes got TO do things
in the line o duty that he can't ex-
plain to his sweetheart. no matter
what her friends tell her about him.
She understands now that you had
to go treilin' after that Dorsey girl
10 get a line on the Teller she used to
80 with who stole the money from
F'iannery's stOr an you couldn't speak
ill you'd got him safe in the lookup,
.
I've somethin' for We. l would have
give it to you last night, but after
the funeral an all I was Altered it
would be too much for ye."
She rose groaningly from the rocker
and waddlcd across the room 10 en-
old-fashioned chest of drawers in the
corner, and Mixes pain-dulled eyes
followed her in apathetic WEAKNESS.
She stood with her back to him and
he could see the broad ample should
ers heave in a noiseless sob while she
fumbIed with a little box she had
taken from the top drawer.
Il don't want to see II or even
know what it is if it's going to make
you cry more, Ma he declared. IF
you're down sick who's there left to
comfort me?"
He had struck the right note, for
though the tears We're rolling down
her fat cheeks once more as she
turned to him, Ma Brennan managed
a faint. quivering little smile.
Here. Michael. 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. p. Take 1t, lad"
She turned away and Michael sat
for long minutes staring down at the
strand Of bright shining hair which
curled warranty about his fingers
like the tendrils Of a living vine.
/ Had Ma Brennan been watching
she could not have helped noting the
f0h "a x4y0f oh Sc,
/ the young man, for trained detective
as he was the shock was too great
| for concealment. She turned again
only when the lamp on the table
! fiared up suddenly to full flame and
found him scrutinizing the lock Of
hair closely beneath the light His
cheeks were flushed
Thank you. Ma" His voice was
/ husky with a rising excitement and
| his fingers trembled as he drew an
| envelope from his pocket and put
the golden strand carefully away. IT
can't tell you what you've, done for
me, giving me this. You cut it Off
off Sallie's head yourself for me- Won
say?"
Il did that" She returned to the
rocker. wiping her eyes on her stifr
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
wrapper had been burned away an
an you'd not have known her your.
self. Michael! Thank God they'd sent
We to Philopolis an We got back too
later
He stffied the exclamation which
rose TO his lips and asked slowly:
1T was as bad as that, then? It
was only by her hair that you were
able to identify her?"
Yes, Michael" Preoccupied bv
her own grief Ma Brennan was still
oblivious to the new note in his voice.
Il was near crazed an when at last
I give up all hope o. fndin' her
amongst the hvin'-most o. the-the
otohers were accounted for 1 shall
never forget 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.
Michael. for one OF the two $50 bills
she left under the card on the dresser
would've more than bought them new.
an Sallie would be the first ii give
them to her an not take a cent. may