The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-07-16

LET me see your arm"
'It's all right, sir"
"All right, is it? In my humble
opinion, it's about as wrong as wrong
can be-"
All looked down at the bruised flesh
and broken bones he had affirmed to
''all right" with half-contemptuous
smile, and then, resigning himself to
the inevitable, laid quietly watching
the white hands of the young doctor
as he prepared splints, bandages,: etc,
and commenced the work of setting
the bone, now rendered doubly diff
cult by the swelling of the bruised
flesh.
The light of the setting sun stole in
to the room, Illuminating with q sud-
den glory the bare walls and comfort
less surroundings, and throwing into
strong relief the two figures which
frank, good-humOred face, slight, easy
figure, and air of careless good-breed-
ing could not have been out of place
under any circumstances but the
other seemed strangely in unison
with, and yet in contradiction to, his
surroundings. His muscular frame
might have served as a model for
strength and beauty-a Hercules in a
prison dress His hands, roughened
and hardened by toll, had been as
slender and well shaped as the doc
tors own. His face, bronzed by ex-
posure to all weathers, was still high
bred and refined-aquiline features
clear, brave eyes and, above all the
close-cropped hair of q convict. He
had that air OF reserve, totally distinct
from rudeness, which only well-bred
people possess, and which impresses
even the most vulgar and obtuse.
Though the sensitive mouth betray-
ed his delicate, nervous organization,
nothing could be more stoIcal than
the composure with which he bore the
torture he was suffering. -
"Why on earth, man, don't you say
something, or cry out ?' exclaimed
the doctor, half impatiently.
Noticing the gathering whiteness
ronnd his patients lips, the doctor
hastily poured something in glass,
and, bidding him drink it, went
quickly OF with his work. After a
few minutes silence, he glanced up
suddenly. aa
"Whats that ?p pointing to small
blue figure on the brawny wrist.
"That? o! my crest. 1 did it
when l was boy" said the man, in
differently.
"Your crest ?" EEt ftItl Tfl
"Did L say that ?" and a flush crept
over his face. al must have been
dreaming; people do dream, some
times, don't they ?' 7
The doctor did not answer, but
looked keenly at him, as he turned
away his head with short, embsr-
rassed laugh.
"What is your name ?"
"No. ALL"
81 don't mean that mean your
name" persisted the doctor.
"Jim Brown"
DIR. Harris laughed. "Jim Brown
Why don't you say, Bill Scroggins
One name would suit about as well as
the other"
All frowned slightly. "Why should
1 tell you my name ?" .t...sF .:
"I'm sure L don't know" was the
answer; ''unless because L want you,
to. That crest on your arm is very
like my own. thought perhaps we
were related.n
Sand if we were? You wouldn't
own me-"
"Why not? I'm not a bad fellow
in my way, neither do l think you
are ?p Why shouldn't own you 2''
The man raised himself on his arm,
and looked searchingly in the DOCTORS
face.
"a conUict?" he said, slowly.
"Well," said the doctor, dryly, 81
don't see much society except con-
victs, at present, and can't say but
what 1 like them IS well as l do
those who think themselves a good
deal better. I've found out 1t isn't
always the worst that are caught, by
any means. Pm a radical you
must know,n he added, quantity,
'and very much disapproved of by
the family"
All looked out into the gathering
darkness for some minutes, and then
said quietly:
"WeIl, sir, if you care to hear a
convict's story, sit down awhile. Pve
never told it to any oRe, and Il don't
know why should tell it to you; but
the moods on me, and L might as
well talk as think, maybe; and then
you've guessed my secret partly-at
least, you know Pm not Jim Brown"
and smile flashed across his face.
''How old do you think I am" he
continued.
DIR. Harris looked at the powerful
frame of the man-at the strong, hard
lines in his face. --.,.-s -.-tt .-
"Between forty and fifty, 1 should
say.n r-,..
aThirty-six, yesterday. 1 was
twenty-four the day / was sentenced;
a pleasant way of celebrating ones
birthday, wasn't it?s There was lot
of stuff in the papers about my youth,
and my being so 'hardened.' Did
they think L was going to beg for
mercy ?-nOt I. pve been out here
twelve years now, and escaped twice
and been caught again; but I'll try it
once more, some time"
"You ought not tell me that" said
the doctor smiling.
"Why rot? They watch me all the
time, anyway. Just give me some
water, will you? Thanks. Well, 1
ought to commence with my name, l
suppose. It is Edward Tracy. 1 was
the second son of a Northumberland
squire, who had just enough money to
keep up the place for my brother, and
no more. A fine old place it was, and
the only happy days 1 can look back
to were spent there. That was when
was a boy-hOme for the holiday,
eager ABOUT cricket and football, and
to whom gun and the range of the
rabbit-wsrren were perfect happiness.
After awhile, it was unpleasant
enough. My brother-a lazy, good
looking fellow, who knew how to ride
and to shoot, and only that-was the
idol of my mother and sisters. Ali de-
ferred to him except little Mary, my
pet, who used to follow me round like
8 kitten. Poor little girl! ] wonder
if she ever thinks of me Low. Young
er sons in q poor family have a hard
time of it. only wonder more don't
go to the bad than do. Brought up as
| Uanflemo0 they ara then throWn on