The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-03-01
Pringle shook his head.

write full account of it, now at once
or shall l send for poliscemane"
"Spare me.n cried the abject crimi.
nal. Mr.. Wybrow, what business is
it ofyours? Young lady, what have
you to do with an old story eight years
ago? 1t all happened when l was a
boy-yery little more than boy.
have never been happy since, not one
single day. Is not my misery enough
punishment? Other clerks can go about
and be cheerful, and enjoy their Wet
uals. But this thing never lets me
alone, not one single day. Why
should suffer more"
| 1, I9Sver occurred to his disordered
brain that they really had no proofs OF
his guilt. He assumed at once that all
was known, and they had the power
of giving him into custody on the
charge of forgery, aggravated by the
fact that he had allowed another to be
convicted OF his own crime.
1--WE shall not spare you," said John.
1--WE know now the reason Of your
nervousness and hesitation. Spare
you? Samuel Pringle, of all men liv-
| ing on this earth, there is not one who
is not worthy to be spared before you.
In all the prisons in the world there
is not criminal so black-hearted as
yourself They have done the things
for which they are in prison; you
have not only done the things, but
you have deliberately sent an innocent
man to Jail for your crime
Samuel buried his face in his hands.
1.-THE conyict's dress you have made
George Warneford wear, YOU shall
wear yourself; the misery you have
brought on him, you shall feel your
self, and worse the disgrace which
lies upon him and his shall be trans
ferred to you and yours. Your name
shall be by-word of execration and
reproach. People who bear it shall be
ashamed to have such name"
Then Samuel Pringle cried and
wept; he rolled his head upon the
pillow, and wished he was dead; he
moaned and whined; he declared that
he repented, that he always had re-
pented, that there was no man in the
world more repantant than himself;
and then, because no answer came,
but every time that he raised his eyes
he met the relentless gaze of John
Wybrow and the steady look Of Helen
Elwood, he crawled on his knees to
the latter, and seizing her hand, inn
plored her to forgive him and to let
him go.
"You are a woman, he said "Wo-
men are tendersand pitiful. They al
ways forgive. What good will it do
George Warneford if the story does
come out? lie is out of prison. |
learned that from my brother some
three years ago. Tom saw him at
Melbourne, walking about. 1t won't
do him any good; and, oh. think of
what it will be for me.p
Helen drew her hand away but made
no response. What, indeed, could
she say?
''Mr. Wybrow is hard and cruel.
Oh, much harder than | should be IL
Mr.. Wybrow was in my place He
looked up furtively at his enemy, who
stood motionlcss, with the pen in his
hand. Many a time have done Mr..
Wybrow's work for him in the Office,
and said nothing about it. Speak TO
him for me. Tell him that will go
straight away ont of London, and he
shall never see me again, since he
hates me SO. Straight away at once |
will 20; and rs for George Warneford,
if he has got out of prison, what more
does he want? Putting me in won't
do him any good. Besidcsn-he threw
this out as a last shot, partly, perhaps,
as besides, he's dead, I'm
sure he's dead. Don't persecute a poor
repentant sinner-don't he unchris-
tian. Think of your own sins-not
that you've got any, but perhaps Mr..
Wybrow has-little ones, not big ones
like mine-and then think how you'd
feel if you had such crime as ! have
weighing on your mind, and taking
the taste out of every thing you put
into your mouth. =
Now, Pringle," interrupted John
Wybrow, I'VE have had enough whin-
ing. Stand up and write at this ta-
ble.n
Samuel obeyed, so far as standing
up went. 1t was groggy sort of
standing at the best, and he felt, if he
felt anything al all, that he hardly
looked his best, for his long legs bent
beneath him, his thin and sandy hair
was hanging over his forehead, his
lean arms hung helplessly at his sides,
and his eyes were red and swoolen.
He looked at his portmanteau and at
himself stood the stalwart form of
John Wybrow. Samuel Pringle was
neither strong man nor brave man.
If the thought Of fsrcible departure
entered his head, it was dismissed at
once.
"Sit down. said John, psremptori-
ly.
Samuel sat down.
Take the pen"
Samuel took the pen, and mechan-
icaliy drew the paper before him.
Now wFite.n
''What am | to write?n he asked.
"Write the truth said Helen.
write what dictate" said John.
Samuel made last effort.
"If write,n he said imploringly,
"give me chance of escape after
ward.n
Helen looked at John Wybrow, The
criminal caught the glance.
"Only single chance; give me
day to get away if cam" Pringle
pleaded.
Write first" said John Wybrow
II will make no conditions till have
got confession"
Pringle dipped the pen in the ink.
John began to dictate:
II, Samuel Pringle-'