The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-24
FOUR HUNDRED AND ELEVEN.

- Nat NE, SIT
&c "Let me see your arm"
i "lt's all right, sir"
5 "All right, is it 4? In my humble
Il opinion, it's about as wrong as wrong
: can be-"
All looked down at the bruised
2 flesh and broken bones he bad af-
! frmed to be all right with a hail
: contemptuous smile, and then resign
Z Z ing himself to the inevitable, laid
; quietly watching the white bands Of
j the young doctor as be prepared
; splints, bandages, etc, and COM
menced the work of setting the bone
? now rendered doubly difficult by the
e swelling Of the bruised flesh.
Tire light of the setting sun stole
into the room, Illuminating with
sudden glory the bare walls and
comfortless surroundings and throw
lug into strong relief the two figures
which gave life to the picture. The
! doctors frank, good humored face,
slight, easy figure, and an air of good
breeding could not have been out Of
place under any circumstances but
the other seemed strangely in unison
with and yet contradictory to his
, surroundings. His muscular frame
might have served as a model for
strength and beauty Hercules in
a prison dress His hands roughen-
ed and hardened by toll, had been
as slender and well shaped as the
Doctors own. His face, bronzed by
exposure to all weatbers, was still
high bred and refned-cquiine
features, clear, brave eyes; and
above all, the close-cropped hair of
convict. He had the air of reserve
totally distinct from rudeness which
only well bred people possess, and
which impress the NEST vulgar and
obtuse.
Though ,As sqnsitige mouth be-
Itrayed bis delicate, nervous organi.
cation, nothing could be more stoical
than the composure with which be
bore the toFtures be was suffering.
"Why on earth, man, don't you say
something or cry out ?" exclaimed the
doctor, half impatieutly.
Noticing the gathering whlteness
round his patients lips the doctor
hastily poured something in glass,
and bidding him drink il, went quick
ly on with his work. After a few
minutes silence he looked up sudden,
~.
What's tpat r. pointing to =
small blue figure on the brawny
wrist.
That? OH my crest ! did il
when ! was s boy" said the man in-
differently.
"Your crest?n
did | say that ?" and a flush
crept over his face. 81 must have
been dreaming; people do dream
sometimes, don't they :"
The doctor did not answer, but
looking keenly at him, turned away
his head with a short embarrassed /
laugh
What's your name 2"
"NO. ALL"
IL don't mean that; | moan your
name, PERSISTED the doctor
Jim BrowD?'
DR.. Harris laughed. "Jim Brown
Why don't you say Bill Scroggins
One name would suit as we'll az the |
other.n p ''
All fgowned slightly. why
should | tell you my name n
I'm sure dou't know was the
answer, "pnless because | want you
to. That crest on your arm is very
much like my own. ! thought per-
haps We were related"
And if We were, you wouldn't
own me-"
"Wby not? Pm not bad fellow
in my way, neither do | think you
are. Why shouldn't | own you?"
The man raised himself on his
arm and looked searchingly in the
doctors face.
"A convict p be said slowly.
well" said the doctor, dryly, 81
don't see much society except con-
victs, at present, and | can't say but
what ] like them as well as | do
those who think themselves a good
deal better I've found out it isn't
always the worst that are caught,
by any means. I'm radical you
must know" he added, quantity,
land very much GisapproYe9 Of bSt
the family - Z" % . :"
III looked out into the gathering
darkness for some minutes, aud then
said quietlyi
"Well, sir, ifyou care to hear
convict's story, sit down awhile.
I've never told it to any one, aud !
don't know why should tell it to
you; but the moods on me, and ]
might as we'll talk as think and
then you have guessed my secret
partly-at least, you know I'm not
Jim Brown" and q smile flashed
across bis face. How old do you
think ] am ?" he continued.
Dr. Harris looked at the powerful
frame Of the map-st the strong, !
hard lines 10 his face.
Between forty and City, should
say"
"Thirty-six yesterday. was
the day was sentenced;
a pleasant way of celebrating a
birthday, wasn't itl There was q ,
lot Of stuff in the papers about my
youth and my being so hardened.
Did they think was going to beg
for mercy mot II I've been out {
here twelve years nov, escaped twice
and have been caught again but |
will try once more, some time"
you ought not to tell me that"
said the doctor smiling.
why not? They watch me all I
the time, anyway. Just give me some