Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-05-07
MEDICINE LODGE BARBER co, KAS FRIDAY NAY 1886
A MERCILESS FELLOW.
How an Excellent Young Man
Was Taken to Prison.
The Perfidy OF a Friend Who Was at the
Same Time Rival-How He En-
ioyed Himself While His Dupe
Suffered Tortures.
TArkansas Traveler.l

| lArkanSaS Trayelcr.l
| Young Silas Goodman received an In
vitation to attend a character ball. He
was at perplexing loss rs to what char
] acter to assume. He wanted to startle the
people with the bold originality of his con-
ception; SO, after several days of profound
thought, after he had sunk a shaft deep
down into the mine of meditation, he de-
cided to go as convict. The idea tickled
him, and jostled by his own laughter. he
tottered across the rom and leaned on a
| corner of the mantelpiece. He spoke to a
| friend concerning the idea. The friend, a
graceless fellow known as Hayfoot, ex-
claimed:
my dear Goodman, you are a genius. It
Is mystery to me bow you can be so orig
inal. As a convict, why, it's the very
thing. Say, have a friend who is clerk
In the penitentiary. I'll ask him to get
you new suit of convict's Clothes"
'Good," exclaimed Silas. Don't forget
it,"
ooh, Iwon't. rn go out and see him
this evening""
In Hayfoot's evil mind there lurked a
dark design. Hayfoot and Goodman,
though friends, cast eyes of affection up
on the same young lady.
II think l can paralyze the young
fraud" Hayfoot mused
The night was beautiful. The "Char-
acters" danced joyously in the grand
residence of General Sodgiker. Young
Silas, as the convict, had created a sensa-
ton. His fair partner said that the stripes
became him.
Hayfoot and deputy sheriff stood on a
street corner. 81 am sure" said Hayfoot.
that saw an escaped convict go into the
Generals house. Wait until your friend
comes with the wagon and then decoy the
gentleman out. l understand that he is
dangerously insane and that he fancies
himself to be young fellow named SiIas
Goodman. The people in the house have
heard of Goodman, and are doubtless inn
posed upon by this desperate crank. Here
comes the wagon"
Young Goodman, toying with a rose,
was taking to Miss Gaddlefly, when some
one, attracting his attention, said:
"A gentleman ont at the front gate de-
sires to see you Immediately on very inn
portant business"
Goodman went out to the gate. Some
one from behind threw a coffee sack
over the young mans head, and the
deputy sheriff, with a quick movement,
fastened pair of handouts on Good
mans hands. Goodman yelled as loud as
he could. The bass violin replied with
loud grunt of sarcasm, the Italian harp
twanged in derision, and the fiddle
screaked in contempt, and on went the
dance. Goodman was placed into the
wagon and was rapidly driven away.
When his captors took him into cell
they removed the coffee sack.
What in thunder does this mean:~
Goodman exclaimed.
''Be quiet" the officer replied, cor wen
gag you"
"Where am T."
'In the penitcntiary, whero YOU be-
long"
"Penitentiary 1 am not n convict. lam
Silas Goodman, book keeper for"
"Yes, that's all right, Silas. Quiet YOUR
self down and you'll doubtless be all right
by morning."
Hayfoot entered. Silas uttered an ex-
clamation of delight. "Hayfoot, thank
Heaven you are here. See what these
wretches have done. Tell thein-v
Il don't know you" Hayfoot coldly re-
piled. 81 only know that you are an es-
capped convict and that these men have
done their duty"
Come, Hayfoot, this devilish joke has
gone far enough"
81 must say that you are a very peculiar
man." Hayfoot rejoined. ''AIy friend
jackson, who is one of the main men here,
will see that your wants are supplied.
Good might"
p Goodman spent terrible night. Early
the next morning he was taken from his
cell. He attempted to explain, but the su-
perintendent replied:
"You may be trine crazy, but guess
you are able to work. Bring him down to
brick yard, boys"
On, dear" groared Goodman. He
pleaded. ut to no purpose. He was hur-
ried along with gang of men and was
compelled to work. Once he stopped for
moment. A leather strap, athleticaIly
handled, was stretched across him. While
he was at work, almost too tired to move,
he looked up just in time to see the girl
whom he loved and Hayfoot driving past.
Goodman was released the next day.
He borrowed a gun and started out to look
for Hayfoot, but soon learned that the
merciless fellow and the young lady had
gone away on q bridal tour.