Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-09-30

nAC III the Stove 10 keep LICK COM
Portable and walked to Amity Dam.
II guess I'd be more cOmf'table to
home but ! might as well know, first
as last, what the People think O.
Brown" Bumpy said as they started.
They found in the little village
chilly atmosphere in no way related
to the weather The children on their
way to school followed them toward
the store, whispering and staring curl
ously at the old man. A little snow,
now melting. had fallen in the night.
Two small boys across the street be
gan to jeer and pelt him with snow
balls. Shad and Bumpy mounted the
steps in front of Smithers' store and
entered. Mr.. Smithers stood behind
the desk at the end of the ives. coun-
ter. He shook hands with the boy.
saying:
"Shad, I'm glad to see you. but I'd
rather you wouldn't bring this man
here"
why not?' Shad asked. Hes been
released. l think that the district at
torney has concluded that he isn't
guilty"
THAT may be-" said the mild Mr..
Smithers in a gentle tone. II don't
want to argue with you. We have our
own opinions here We who live near
the scene Of the murder ought to know
something about it."
eve who have been working on the
case ought to know something about
It," Shad answered. But 1 see that
this is no place for Mr.. Brown to be
in. II you'll let him sit down cellar
q little while. till this crowd of boys
and girls have gone to school, I'll take
him away"
"All right, take Mr.. Brown down to
the cellar" said Smithers in a lady
like tone as he wrung his hands.
There was a note of irony in the
words, "Mr. Brown" He added:
"When you go please take him out by
the hatchway."
There was stern look in Bumpy's
face when Shad led him down the
dusty stairs to sit by the kerosene
tdnh III the SluoiiiN CetidT.
"It's putty bad, amt it?" said the
old man as he wiped his eyes and
blew his nose with his red handker-
chief. Them children are kind of
q weather-vane. Cd I guess
there's nobody that loves children as
l do"
"It's bad but don't worry. There's
a God in Heaven" the hoy answered
''Tll come for you SOON"
He returned to the store and bought
his provisions and hurried up to Miss
Spenlow's. They sat down together
in the parlor. He told her of Bumpy's
release and of what had happened on
the street and in Smithers' store.
ats an outrage" she declared.
"You don't think he's guilty, do your"
st know he isn't guilty"
"Poor mani Everybody here will
have it that he's guilty except Doctor
Gorse and me. We have our own
ideas. What will Bumpy Brown do?
I have always been sorry for him in
spite Of his being such drunkard."
"He doesn't drink any more"
$50 BOny says. and I'm dreadful
glad to hear you say it. He can't earn
q living. There's such feeling around
here. There's almost nobody that
would have him in the house. Poor
creature! Perhaps | could get him
into the Home for the Friendless."
cit will not be necessary. He'll he
cared for. We snail know the truth
before long and these fools will all be
ashamed Of themselves"
81 wish that I had time to tell Won
Of the wonderful work that the Home
for the Friendless is doing. Did you
hear that Lydia Benson had asked me
to be chairman of the infant com.
mittee?"
"Yes, l forgot to congratulate you."
'Tt's q wicked world" said Miss
gpenlow. T never dreamed how per.
feetly dreadful it was until got into
this work"
Shad smiled. He began to suspect
that the great Miss Lydia Benson had
had 4 somewhat humorous motive in
making the appointment.
II want you to go an take that poor
old man out of that horrid cellar and
bring him here" said Miss Spenlow.
"I'll 60 over and tell Doctor GOrse
that you'll be here soon. He wants TO
see you"
The beloved doctor was at the little
boarding house when Shad returned
with Bumpy. The doctor greeted them
with the grave, dignified and gentle
courtesy for which he was famous.
He turned to Miss Spenlow and said:
Il would like to talk privately with
young Mr.. Morryson. Perhaps you
will take Brown into the dining room
and close the door for a few minutes"
When he and Shad were alone the
doctor said:
THE district attorney is not yet in
the central current of the singular
stream Of events which has engaged
his attention. There is one episode of
which he may not have learned.
ION the fifth of November stranger
arrived in Ashfield. He was brawnv