Then he held out his hands and looked at the constable.
"May I--before I go--take him in my arms--and kiss him ?" he asked.
The chief officer nodded.

He could not speak, but he unfastened Tom's manacles and threw them on the floor.

Then Tom himself moved feebly and unsteadily to where the women knelt beside his dead child.

They rose as he approached, but did not turn away.
"You have hearts, you women!" he said faintly.

"You know what it is to love a child! And Kiddie,--Kiddie was such a happy little fellow!--so strong and hearty!--so full of life! And now--now he's stiff and cold! Only this morning he was jumping and laughing in my arms----" He broke off, trembling violently, then with an effort he raised his head and turned his eyes with a wild stare upon all around him.