The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-03-04
A CONVlCT'S STORY.

That's me, SIT"
"Let me see your arm. It's all right,
is it? In my humble opinion it's as
wrong as wrong can be-"
All looked down at the bruised flesh
and broken bones he had affirmed to be
call 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 bandages, splints, ETC., and COM
menced the work of setting the bone,
now rendered doubly difficult by the
swelling of the bruised flesh.
The light of the setting sun stole into
the room, illuminating with sudden
glory the bare walls and comfortless sur
roundings, and throwing into strong re-
lief the two figures that gave life to the
picture. The doctors frank, good
humored face, slight, easy figure, and air
of careless good breeding, could not have
been out of place under any circum-
stances; but the other seemed strangely
in unison with, and yet in contradiction
to, his surroundings. His muscular frame
might have served as model for strength
and beauty-a Hercules in prison dress !!
His hands, rsughened and hardened by
toll, had been as slender and well-shaped
rs the doctors own. His face, bronzcd
by exposure to all weathers, was still
high-bred and refine l-aquiline features,
clear, brave eyes, and, above all, the
close-cropped hair of a 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 betrayed
hisdelicate, 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 OutT exclaimed the
doctor, half impatiently.
Noticing the gathering whiteness round
his patients lips, the doctor hastily
poured something in glass, and bidding
him drink it, went quickly on with his
work. After a few minutes of silence,
he glanced up suddenly.
"What's thatw pointing to small
blue figure on the brawny wrist.
"What? Oh, my crest. l did it when
was boy" said the man, indifferently
"Your crest?"
"Did 1 say thatg' and a flush crept
over his face. 81 must have been dream.
ing; people do dream sometimes, don'i
they~
The doctor did not say anything, but
looked keenly at him as he turned away
his head with short, embarrassed laugh
What is your nameT'
"No. ALL"
Tdon't mean that, mean your name, u
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 I tell you my nameT
"Pm sure don't know" was the an
swer-" unless because l want you to
The crest on your arm is very like my
own. l thought maybe we were re-
lated"
Sand five were? You wouldn't own
me-"
"Why not? I'm not bad fellow, in
my own way, neither do think you are
Why shouldn't own your
The man raised himself on his arm
and looked searchingly in the doctor
face.
IA convict" he said, slowly.
"Well," said the doctor, dryly, ."
don't see much society except convicts
at present, and / can't say but what
like them about as well as do those tha
think themselves great deal better
I've found out it isn't always the wors
that are caught, by any means. I'm
radical you must know" he added
quantity, "and very much disapprove'
Of by the family"
All looked out upon the gatherin
darkness for some minutes, and then said
quietly:
"Well, sir, il you care to hear a cor
vict's story, sit down while. Pve neve
told it to any one, and don't know VIII
j should tell you, but the moods on me
and might as well talk as think, maybe
and then, you've guessed my secret par
ly-at least, you know I'm not Jir
Brown" and a smile flashed across hi
face. How old do you think l am ?
he continued.
DR.. Harris looked at the powerfr
frame of the man-at the strong, har
lines in his face.
Between forty and fifty, / shoul
say"
"Thirty-six yesterday. Twas twent,
four the day was sentenced-a pleasan
way of celebrating ones birthday, WASH
It? There was lot of stuff in the paper
about my YOUTH and being 70 hare
ened.' Did they think I was going [
beg for mercy? Not II I've been OF
here twelve years, now, and escape
twice and been caught again. But T.
try IL once more, some time"
You ought not TO tell me that" sal
the doctor, smiling.
"Why not7 They watch me all ii
time anyway. Just give me some VI