New Britain herald., 1924-03-28
CHAPTER V. Ni,,l,acl's tDuts~t

On the same evening as that on which the conference was held in i Mrs. Copcland's library and only n | few hours earlier Ma Brennan sat in i Ter kitchen n hundred miles away sunk in grief too deep for further l tears and on tho other side Of the i table Detective Sergeant Curtis rested his head on his hand and gazed un-
 secingly into the warm glow Of the 1 stove.
 A sympathetic chief had relieved him of duty fer a day or two and he | had graritatcd 10 the little home on Roundhouse Lane. empty now of all save memories for him and the com radeship in misery of the old friend who alone could guaye the depth Of lis bereavement.
 Iris mo should be where she's lyin' now." Ma Brennan moaned for the hHndredth time.. "Tf 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 ye, Michael."
 Mike dropped his arm Imply and raised his heavy head.
 "rry moi 10 think of it, Ma. that's inc only way. I've got moro 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 with that" Ma Brennan said gently "The poor child didn't un- derstand that detectives sometimes got to do things in the line o'.duty that he can't explain 10 his sweet heart. no matter what her friends tell her about him. She understands now that you had to go trailin'' after that Dorsey girl to get q line on the fellsr she used to go with who stole tlesmonry from Flannery's store an you couldn't speak till you'l got him safe in the lock-up, not even to Sallie herself Michael, live somethin' for yp. would have give it 10 you last night. but after the funeral an all was afeered it would be too much for yc."
 She rose groanineiy 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 sec the broad ample shoulders heave in a noiselcss sob while she fumbled with a little box she had taken from the top drawer.
 "I don't want 10 see it or even know what if is if it's going to make you cry core. Ma" he declared. "If you're down sick who's there left 10 comfort me-"
 He had struck the right note, for though the tears we're rolling down her fat cheeks once ,mo-e as she turned 10 him. Ma Brennan managed a faint. quivering little smile.
 Here. Michael. I cut if off her head for ye with me own two hands inst bcfore they closed the coffin, an cruel quick they were to do it, too. Take it 1ad."
 She turned away and Michael sat for long minutes staring down at tho stfnng Of bright shining hair which rurled vibrant1y about his fingers like th" tcn1rils of a living vine.
 Had Ma Brennan been watching s1e could not have helped noting the change which crep. over the face Of inc young man. for trained detective as he vas inc shock was too great for concealment. She turned again only when tho lamp on the table fatcd up suddenly to fuil flame and ioHnd him scrufiniziue inc lock of air closely beneath the light. His riTrcks werr flushed
 Thank you, Ma" His yoice was