Pagina 370 di 416

But, regardless of watching eyes and public opinion, she walked

all the way to the jail with him and went inside; and the two

were absolutely oblivious to their surroundings, so overjoyed

were they to see each other and so intimate was their

companionship.

Along the edge of the crowd great Pete Ellinwood slouched,

looking with dimmed eyes at mother and son.

"Ain't she the mother, though?" he said to himself. "Just like a

girl she is--not a day past thirty by her looks!"

The jailer, who was regularly employed as janitor of the Free

Baptist Church, opened the little house for his unexpected guest.

It consisted of a room, fitted for sleeping, and a cell. These

were not connected, but were side by side, facing the passage

that ran through from front to back of the building.