The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1883-09-22
CHAPTER II.

~Ns>At N1ka6No MN.
CHAPTER II.
About month from the time Maloy
had been employed by old man Megson,
sensation was created on the little farm.
One day while they were picking cotton,
young Maloy suddenly remarked:
Il wonder what that fellow wants
down there: have been noticing him
for the last hour
Lets go down and see," the old man
replied.
mo, don't care TO go. Halo, he is
coming this way"
The man approached, and when within
few yards of young Maloy, said !:
William Henderson, you are my pris-
oner."
"What does this mean = exclaimed
old Megson.
|, means that this fellow is an escaped
convict said the man.
1t is lie.' shrieked Amalda, throw
ing herself between the young man and
the intruder.
No, my dear girl" said the young
man, it is net lie. am an escaped
convict. was sentenced to the Detroit
house of correction for three years,
charged with completely in illicit distill-
ing. served three months" and he re-
moved his hat and passed his hand
over his head. and then succeeded in
making my escape. am innocent of the
charge. stopped at distillery one
night and innooently threw chip on the
fire. Afterwards was arrested and sem
fenced
"l'll have TO take you,' the officer
said.
I'll go too" exclaimed Amalda.
What" the old man vociierated.
"Yes," continued the girl, "if he is
taken away | must go, for we love each
other" The young man hung his head
but the girl approached him and put her
arms around him.
"Well," said the old man, "we'll all
60
The prisoner was taken to Little Rock
influential friends interposed and he was,
instead of being sent direct to prison,
again taken before the United States
Judge.
You are the young man | sentenced
some time ago. said the kind-hearted
Judge. None OF US can blame you for
making your escape, yet the remaining
part of your sentence is likely to go harder
with you. You do not look like guilty
man, and am sorry that can do moth
ing to save YOU
Your HONOR said an officer who had
Just entered the courtroom, this young
man is not guilty of even throwing chip
on the fire of an illicit distillery. We
have just discovered that the FIRE where
he threw the chip was not built by the
Illicit distillers, but by the drivers of a
market wagon who happened to camp
near the wild cat still-house. am Just
from Detroit and have pardon for this
young man, or rather certificate from
high authority showing that he is not
guilty.
| The next evening when the old man,
his daughter and Mr.. Henderson, who
was no longer called Rufus, regardless Of
hair, were sitting near the door of hum
bic log house, Henderson said:
.Old gentleman, you are satisfied with
my innocence. are you not ?"
Perfectly so, and in fact did not at
first see how you could be guilty, and let
me tell you that even had you thrown
chips on dissillery FIRE, doing it uncon-
scious of any wrong, | would have oonsid-
cred you innocent, even though you had
been compelled to serve ten years in the
penitentiary."
"You are willing, then, that ! should
marry your daughter p
Perfectly. Are you willing, Amalda?"
but she had nestled close to young Hen
derson. 81 don't suppose that further
argument is necessary" continued the
old man. IAN we want new is land
enough for US all to work."
1--WE have more than enough land
young Henderson said.
NO." rejoined the old man, /" for
failing to make the payments have lost
ten acres"
"That's nothing" replied Henderson,
for the great estate which you once
thought was owned by your father be-
longs to me and here is the deed.n