The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-02-20

gravel walk upon the side OF the road
SO as to allow the officials carriages free
access through the prison-yard. This
work he was ordered to have completed
1t ten o'clock. the visitors being due at
eleven. While engaged in this task
bright thought occurred to the lad which
he thought it we'll to put in practice.
| Although the keen eyes of the keeper
were upon him he managed in carrying
| the stones to place them on the hill-sids
In this order:
x.N.TbS.7S.
| ~.6l. J.
There" thought the boy, IF the
overseer understands that may spend
years in this place. II he does not it
will be strange indeed If some of the
officials do not see and comprehend it,"
He was then ordered back to his cell.
Shortly afterwards the State Prison
Inspectors and the Governors secretary,
accompanied by two or three other off,
Gals, entered the prison-yard to make
the visit of inspection required by law.
| which often consists in shaking hands
with the prison authorities, congratu-
lating the prisoners on their happy life,
advising them to be good. and just, and
fear not, etc. and eating good dinner
| at the expense of the State. While the
dinner was under discussion, the Gov
ernor's secretary. a bright-looking young
man, sauntered about the ground, enjoy
ing fragrant Havana. His attention
was attracted to the pile Of cut stones,
and while he glanced at it casually. he
noticed the order in which the stones
were placed at one end. Another glance.
lie rubbed his eyes. went closer and
looked again. Then he uttered low
whistle: Well he said. when he had
somewhat recovered, this is most re-
markable thing; il it il an accident, it is
surely singular one. But is it? ] will
see.
He was about to call the attention Of
one Of the keepers TO what he at first
thought might have been an odd coin
cidence, but he paused. The mere fact
that the stones were placed in such an
order indicated to him that if they were
placed there by design, the person who
put them SO desired secrecy, for some
reason or other. 1T can do no HARM"
thought the secretary, to carry out tho
party's intention, for the present at
least" While these thoughts were pass
ing through his mind. he re-read the
characters, slowly, carefully and without
difficulty:
"A-BoY-Is- BEISG-ILr.- TREATED IN
THIS - PLACE AND - CANNOT - COMPLAIN.
HELP. CELL-lO-JoE.'
1T spells that said the secretary.
softly, If it spells anything; and while
they are finishing dinner l will see it
through"
Taking out slip Of paper, he caro-
fully noted the number Of the cell as in
dictated bv the stones, and continued his
walk towards the rear of the prison.
The young man was wise beyond his
years, and thought it we'll to be not too
abrupt in seeking knowledge.
(Which are the even-numbered cells?"
he said to the keeper.
The latter bowed respectfully and
obsequiously, as no indicated tho tier Of
cells on the east side of the building.
"Ah,' said the secretary. ''Where is
the inmate of number So
On being informed by the keeper that
the prisoner referred to was in the hos
pital, the secretary said:
well, suppose you send number 10
this way"
Certainly" answered the keeper,
hesitatingly, 'but he's bad one.'
mo matter about that retorted the
secretary, authoritatiyely, "that is just
the kind Of a one wish to see."
4 T. a.,
out like mailman, in advance of the
keeper. and falling at the feet Of the
,, young official. began, with sobs and
tears, in q disconnected and incoherent
way to tell his sad story. BY degrees
the clever young secretary put the lad
at his ease, and got possession Of tho
essential facts of the case. which ho
promised to lay before the Governor.
On the boys suggestion, the peddler
was hunted up, by clever detectives sent
down from the metropolis, at the re-
quest of the secretary. and his state
ment, together with the lads recollec-
ton. put the case on an entirely differ
emit footing.
The secretary promised to see that
exact and even justice was done. Nor
was he slow in the fulfllment of his
promise.
From tyrannical, the prison officials
| became friendly. Joe's enemy, the
| keeper, was even fulsomely polite until
| the lad was discharged. which occurred
| in the course OF q week or SO. Friends
| turned up in the most unexpected
| places. The newspapers teemed with
/ - - he yae AZ
an Innocent Boy-BrougM to Light By the
Prison Odirias-Ctrer Ruse Of the P,is-
oaer-,Jastice I'riumphant-A Fathers
contrifion-Happy Ending Of a Sad Acri-
dent" and in this way the once friend
less boy discovered that nothing sue
ceeds like success. The friendship Of
the secretary for the lad did not end
here. Seeing that Joe was both intelli-
| gent and truthful, he aided the lad in
many ways, and the once juvenile
criminal is now high in the official
councils Of the - Railroad Company,
and an honored citizen of the great
State in which he was once stone
breaker and jail-bird. Prosperity fol-
lowed adversely. The peddler's state
ment not only satisfied the authorities,
but the father, feeling that he was hasty,
and that the boy was blameless for the
sad calamity, took him to his heart. If
this were not sufficient, distinguished
physician declared that in his positive
opinion the wound described by the wit
ncsses on the lads trial could not have
been made by the implement produced
in court, although this extra judicial
opinion was quite unnecessary. In the
same house, now enlarged and re-
modelled, with his sister, his brother
and his father, who, through tribulation,
has been reformed, living in peace and
amity, enjoying the society Of his i'm
mediate family, and the good will Of the
neighbors, is the young man who, by I'M
. controlled anger, became an outcast and
: prisoner, and by his knowledge Of a
simple art and its clever application be-