The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-08-02

SOuIUv OAAAOCo AGO Az y xO0O4VO ORO4
revenge. Matters eliminated in the
arrest, trial and conviction of the
frank and fearless boy for criminal
libel, and he was sentenced to the peni-
tentiary for one year. After the usual
preliminaries to which prisoners are
subjected he was ordered to work by
the officer having him in Charge
rude, stalwart, heartless ruhian, by the
way.
Hal, as I will call the prisoner, folded
his arms, looked the fellow square in
the eves, and said:
II shall not work, sir. I was con-
victed by q packed jury, perjured wit
nesses and a purchased Judd e, and I
shall not work"
He was condemned forthwith to soil
tary confinement in q damp, dark cell
and fed on bread and water:
Every morning the officer in his
rounds would loar out:
sWil you work?"
"Never! by the thunders of God,
ncver!" was the unfailing answer.
As the days lapsed into weeks the
responses came in lower and lower
tones, but always the same-always
firm, intense, unwavering.
AT last they brought him out and
placed him in a contrivance where lie
must pump water or drown in the con-
stantly rising flood.
Pump" commanded the officer.
aNever! and if you permit me to
perish my blood shall stain your soul
forever!"
The water rose higher and higher,
but he stood unmoved-higher and
higher till it was over his head. The
warden was notified. He rushed to
the scene, and my friend was dragged
out limp and seemingly lifeless, being
resuscitated with much difficulty.
"Send him to the hospital" cried the
warden, "and when we have him back
in hearty health I rather think 1 will
find u way to reduce his will"
So n week later Hal was brought be-
fore the warden.
will you work?"
sNever, sir! l am no criminal. You
may kill me, but, by Heaven, you shall
not conquer mel"
Strip him, tie him by the thumbs,
and bring the cat-o'-nine-tails!" howled
the warden.
1t was done. The poor, daring boy
strung up till his whole weight rested
on his toes, and he was dashed on the
bare back till his blood formed in hor-
.ible pools on the floor. But not q cry,
not oil appeal, not u tear.
About this time the plaintiff in the
libel suit fed to Canada with $50, 900
of the public money, and everything
that my friend had said concerning
him and his comrades in crime was
proven to be true.
Post-haste the Governor of the State
sent him a full, free pardon.
On receiving it Hal drew himself
proudly up and said:
"Never! / have done nothing for
which to be pardoned. I must be re-
leased, and the law must apologize to
me- for the awful crime it has committed
in my case," i
The Governor was thunderstruck ut
the answer. He calledto see Hal, and
was SO pleased with the boy that lie
ordered the warden to turn him out of
prison. "Kick him out if lie won't
leave" were his words, sand tell him
to call on me-"
Hal was %thereupon elected uncere-
moniously from the penitentiary. He
called on the Governor, who said:
"a great wrong has been committed
in your case. If I can do anything to
undo it, command me-"
Hal thanked him, and they were
great friends from that time on. He
returned home, and was the hero of
the hour; but the sting ranked, and he
went to Dakota to forget it, if possible,
in that wonderful country where no
msp. knows Oh cares or questions aught
concerning the previous history of a
fellow-citizen.
It is a strange story, and one unlike
any other that e came to my knowl-
edge.