aney held the child's feet before the father's eyes, while the
woman threw her arms around his neck, and the two older children crept
up to the prisoner, and laid their faces against his legs.

"They're a-talkin' to yer, Bill," resumed Caney, of Texas, "an' they're
the convincenist talkers _I_ ever seed."

The desperado turned his eyes away; but Caney moved the child so its
bleeding feet were still before its father's eyes.

The remaining men all retired beneath the shadow of the tree, for the
tender little feet were talking to them, too, and they were ashamed of
the results.

Suddenly Bowney uttered a deep groan.

"'Tain't no use a-tryin'," said he, in a resigned tone. "Everybody'll be
down on me, an' after all I've done, too! But yer ken hev their names,
curse yer!"

The woman went into hysterics; the children cried; Caney, of Texas,
ejaculated, "Bully!" and then kissed the poor little bruised feet.

The New Englander fervently exclaimed, "Thank God!"

"I'll answer fur him till we get 'em," said Caney, after the major had
written down the names Bowney gave him; "an'," continued Caney,
"somebody git the rest of these young uns an' ther mother to my cabin
powerful quick. Good Lord, don't I jist wish they wuz boys! I'd adopt
the hull family."

The court informally adjourned _sine die_, but had so many meetings
afterward at the same place to dispose of Bowney's accomplices, that his
freedom was considered fairly purchased, and he and his family were
located a good way from the scenes of his most noted exploits.

[Illustration]

MR. PUTCHETT'S LOVE.

Just after two o'clock, on a July afternoon, Mr. Putchett mounted
several steps of the Sub-Treasury in Wall Street, and gazed inquiringly
up and down the street.

To the sentimental observer Mr. Putchett's action, in taking the
position we have indicated, may have seemed to signify that Mr. Putchett
was of an aspiring disposition, and that in ascending the steps he
exemplified his desire to get above the curbstone whose name was used as
a qualifying adjective whenever Mr. Putchett was mentioned as a broker.
Those persons, however, who enjoyed the honor of Mr. Putchett's
acquaintance immediately understood that the operator in question was in
funds that day, and that he had taken the position from which he could
most easily announce his moneyed condition to all who might desire
assistance from him.

It was rather late in the day for business, and certa