Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-03-29

fered him one which he refused
then began to smoke.
"And so you are ticket-of-leave
man, are you 2. said, in a low
tone but he started and glanced
around, with a frightened, half
hunted look.
There was no one needing us,
though; and his eyes sought mine
once more.
EYES," he said, 81 was sentenced
to ten years penal servitude, and |
served five, when they let me free,
and I came back. I had better
have staid."
81 suppose it is hard to get on
without recommendations" l said.
"Hard Man, it's next to impos-
s.b'e. LooS here sir, you have led
me on to speak, or God knows l
would not have said n word. You
see here q man driven to despera-
tion-broken-hearted, dispairing-
without a friend to turn to; set
free to get an honest living, but
distrusted by everybody, and dog
ged by the police. Why, suppose
I got a decent post, am bound to
go to the police officers to have my
ticket signed at entervals, and if l
did not ! should be taken before a
magistrate.
81 will not ask you to believe me
how can expect you to, when l
say was innocent of the crime for
which / suffered. 1t is the cry
of every criminal, from the mur-
derer to the boy who pliers from
a till. You will tell me ! was tried
by jury Of my own countrymen,
before a judge and had impartial
treatment. Yes, ! grant all that (;
but was innocent, all the same.
You wish to hear more! Shall l
go"
"More Yes. Go! Why"
"You are sitting face to face with
a returned convict"
"I'm afraid I've sat face to face
with a good many respectable
members of society who ought to
be convicts unreturned. Go on,
man. We shall have the chops
here soon."
His face worked rs he looked at
me, and his voice had good deal
altered as he went on
ut was an embezzelement case
for which l was tried" he said at
last. 81 was one of the clerks in
large Lancashire cotton house and
there were defalcations discovered.
"Why then they pitched upon
me. l never knew; but one morn
1 was called into the private room
of the firm, and questioned respect
ing certain amounts, and could give
no explanation. There had been
certain amount of cooking in the
books, and in a couple of years,
by the professional accountants
showing, about three hundred were
missing.
"Fancy, being suddenly called
from your desk to go smiling into
a room, expecting words of encour-
agement-the announcement that
you are promoted, or your salary
raised-and then to be suddenly
charged with embezzlement.
81 was completely stunned. ]
know felt cold and damp, and
1 supposed I flushed, and then
looked pale--signs which those
present interpreted to mean guilt.
l faltered and grew confused, too,
in answering-in short was CON-
pletely overcome and at the end
of an hour I was being taken to the
police station, stunned, overpower-
ed by this sudden charge.
"Before we reached the police
station, though, the light had come
for, on passing newspaper office
there on large letters upon bill
were the three successful horses o.
the Doncaster st. Leger, and they
were neither of them the runner.
that John had backed.
81 saw it all in q flash he hat
been losing again. The race wa
three days before, but l took NJ
notice Of such matters, being
book-worm, while John was gay
and had sporting tastes. This wa
: it.
, 81 shivercd as / thought Of il al
! and seemed to see my mothers ag