Middletown transcript., 1895-02-23

l
ward related, the man Was ravenously
hungry, but his table manners were
faultless. When he had taken the
edge of his appetite he complimented
her on her coffee, asked about the alb
sent daughter and politely inquired as
to the amount of her income and the
length of her widowhood. When he
had about finished his meal, he queried: /:
"Madam, you doubtless have some
wearing apparal belonging to your late
husbandp Ii may outrage your feeling
of the eternal fitness Of things TO cluthe
an escaped convict in his garb, but
circumstances must be considered.
81 think l can fit you out" replied
Aunt Jane, who was now much easier
in her mini.
| "Tbanks. | am reluctant to ment ion
money mat ers, but you see how | am
| placed. To get safe away l must make
long jump by railroad. l want TO go
West. Ii can get as far as Detroit or
Toledo without being recaptuIed |
shall be safe. How much Can you lend
me?o
"'Do you intend t. pay it back?"
"Ctittilily. A man who would bur-
ioa MONEY of IA woman and not repay
II would be base indeed You can
.ately count nn the return of your
nnney inside of four weeks. Spare
ne y hat you conveniently can"
81 CAN let you have S25." replied
Aunt Jane, aitrr mentally figuring up
ia sre lad about $40 III The house.
flai ulli d., ma'am. | would
y tahe more ii You offered it. Now,
So. abrul he clulhts."
SIR lew h,ut picking his lie. t., ard
t les 4ii~ ard luftrd up a fnil
a.toi w . EaA hern Mr. Williams
src"nd b. 81. lie Was sent up to put
hem on, and when he came down
Aunt Jane was secretly roud Of he
Improvement wrought. The convicl
, AS fairly good lonking fellow, with
nothing desperate i'll his looks, and
when his scarecrow rags had been re-
placed by fair suit he might have
passed anywhere for highly respecla-
BILE man.
"Ab, madaml'' he said as he sur
veyed himself in the glass with sat-
isfied air, but it is such a relief to get
back into clothes again! There must
be prison clothes for prisoners, but the
zebra suit degrades man more than
the sentence. Thanks for the money
but let me ask if you can spare it as
well as not?'
81 can if you will return it,"
"You shall heve it back within a
month with good interest. Please look
me over MAIN, and tt II me if you would
suspect me of being a fugitive from
justice?'
"You look very decent and respect
able." replied Aunt Jane, Though
your hair is pretty short and you need
a shave. Ought you not to have some
baggage?"
"Truly had. If you could lend me
a valise or some thing Of the sort [
should look more like a traveller"
She hunted up All old valise, put a
shilt and pair of socks in it and
then added a luncheon. From being
in mortal terror of the man she had
become interested iD his present and
future welfare. When she had the
valise ready, she sat down and mo-
TONED him to take chair and said:
IF you succeed in getting away are
you going 10 be better maH?"
II cou d say yes and make you feel
happier, but it is better TO speak the
truth. To be honest with you l shall
not try. l have no trade or profession.
Should set out t. be good man I'd
bring up in the poor house. When
man OF my age, Who has been crooked
all his life, talks of reform, he becomes
more dangerous to society than BEFORE"
''But what will You do?" persisted
Aunt Jane.
"Make a new start at counterfeit
ing, madam" he promptly replied. l
had time to hide the plates and big
sum of the queer before being arrested
and after the hue and cry over my es-
cape dies out shall resume business
at the old stand. You look disap-
pointed, and you feel that such con-
duct IS poor reward"
Eyes, do"
II am sorry, madam, but you will
not be blamed for the evil | do. No
one is his brothers. keeper. AS for
your kindness tC-night, | shall make
tia matter of busibess. You have
acted the part of sensible womnn,
and am under many bliga.ion to you
| wish to ask yet another favor.
Will you keep my secret for three or
four days?"
"Yes, for year." replied Aunt
Jane.
ga thousand thanks, but in a
month, if you desire, narrate the
whole adventure. Now, madam, where
is the depo ?"
/ tStraight through the village and
on the far side.n
Ills there an early morning train
going Westl"
/ "Yes. One passes about 6 o'clock.
! That is well. 1t is now O'Clock. l