his cigar. The retired saloon-keeper spat once and sat up straighter. The prosecutor reëntered, closing the door after him and, motioning the new-comer to the witness chair, took his accustomed place at the table. "Well, madam, what can we do for you? "But, madam, 'Harry' who?" interrupted the prosecutor, with just a suspicion of impatience in his voice. He was tired and wanted to get home and play with "the boy" a little while before supper. A great rest that, and Billy needed the rest. Then, too, there had been a good ing the session and they weren't always just relevant in what they had to say. "Why, Harry-my boy-Harry wrote me all about it, and I knew if I came down and saw you and explained it to you,for I was quite sure you didn't understand about it that it would be all right. Harry wrote me the whole thing the day after he was arrested; and it was so perfectly foolish." She laughed at the thought. "The idea of their arresting Harry and for-Harry sent me a clipping from one of the papers-just think of it—for stealing, gentlemen, my Harry stealing! And what do you think they said he stole? You wouldn't believe it! But they really accused my Harry of stealing a razor—a razor, mind you and"-conclusively"Harry has a razor of his own! I sent it to him last Christmas. Did you ever hear of such a foolish thing? When my train came in this morning I went right over to the jail and saw the gentleman in charge and explained it all to him and he said that he would like to let Harry out, if he could, but that I would have to see you and explain to you. I know he'd have done it if he could, because he seemed a real kind-hearted man. He said that he had a son about Harry's age and knew just how I must feel and he was sure there was some mistake, and-" "But, madam, what is your son's name?" asked Billy, his tone somewhat mollified. "Why, Harry Ainsworth. And now that I've made it clear to you gentlemen you'll have him let out right away, won't you?-because I want to start back home to-night and take him with me. I had a pretty hard time to get away. I work, you know, and must be back to-morrow. Harry's father died a year ago, and since then Harry and I have both had to work. Harry has worked at a great many hotels before in different parts of the country. The boy he worked under here was a "Well-a-he does not seem charged with stealing a razor." to be "Oh! I'm so glad, and then you'll—” "Bowers was arrested for stealing the razor and," continued Billy, not feeling just right about the throat, "and-aHarry Ainsworth, I see, is charged with stealing a purse containing fifty dollars from one of the guests of the hotel." "Not at all! Not at all, sir. I saw the newspaper myself-or the clipping rather -and it said that Harry was accused of stealing a razor-and when he had a razor, too. Wasn't it silly?" She smiled. "I'll just show you the clipping. Here is -Oh! pshaw! I came away in such a hurry that I forgot it. Anyhow, Harry wrote me and said—” "But," commenced Billy, then he paused; the going was getting pretty heavy for him by this time; he looked at the other men. The foreman was looking out of the window, the manufacturer had picked up his cigar, which had gone out, and, after putting the wrong end of it in his mouth, laid it down again; there was no hope for Billy in the others, so he lunged ahead. "But," he resumed, "the man from whom the purse was taken positively identified it when it was found in your son's possession." "Fifty dollars, did you say? My Harry -take-No, sir! He didn't need it!" triumphantly. She was beginning not to like Billy. Women never like prosecutors when they're prosecuting. "Harry made five dollars a week and his board and that was ample, for sometimes he sent me money. Why, only last month he sent me his whole month's salary. Oh! No, sir, me" She faltered, then stopped. The confident smile began to die. cars were clanging their strident warnings to the hurrying home-goers on the streets below. She arose. The smile was dead. "In any event," said Billy kindly, "we couldn't settle the matter to-night. If he should be indicted, he would then have to "I'll I'll stay until they let Harry be tried and it would be a matter of weeks out. You'll excuse me-won't you-for before that." taking so much of your time-but I-I "Oh! but I must get back because I don't know much about law. I-” could only get one day away, they are so busy at the store," said Harry's mother. "I much fear you'll have to stay longer, Mrs. Ainsworth, if you want to see this matter through." The gloom of approaching darkness She straightened up, turned and walked with strained erectness toward the door. The foreman wondered why he didn't hear the door open. He looked around toward it. She was standing quite still. No sound came from her. Her head was bowed in The manufacturer coughed a little and said: "There's no use talking, if a fellow wants to be sure he's rid of the hay fever he must stay away until after the fifteenth of October." In another minute the room was vacant. Billy reached home just in time to help "tuck the boy in." While he was reading the paper after supper he looked up at the sweet-faced woman on the other side of the table and said: "Don't think I'll run for another term as prosecutor, Mary." A moment or two later he added: “And, dear, we must be very careful to know with whom the boy plays." |