Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-09

have surrendered myself. I am now
in possession of evidence which will
prove my innocence and that l was
unjustly punished"
"That is not the only thing for which
we want you," said. 'You are sus.
pected Of having murdered a gentle
man between Cliffe and Port Victoria"
els he dead?" he cried.
"We have reason to think so.'
He laughed lightly, but rather an
evil, unnatural laugh.
II don't think so," he said. 81 was
very near strangling him at one mo-
cowardly wretch he is. Shall tell
you all I know? See, l have here
wormed from him by threats-a writ
ten confession that he committed the
forgery and swore false evidence
against me, and he told me where 1
shall find the proofs Of all he did to
ruin me and my good name"
l took the paper-a half-sheet of
common note-paper covered in pencilled
words; and 1 readily recognized the
writing as being the same as that of
the message in the novel. 1t was, as
he said, full confession, and signed
with the name of Herbert Ryan.
81 got to London" he began, while
l was yet reading. "after my escape,
determined upon coming down here
to see Miss Duncan before l thought
Of anything else. l meant to walk all
the way, but I overestimated my
trength-impaired by 10 bitter months
in prison-and the boots l had stolen
from n rubbish heap were stiff and
heavy; had to throw them off and go
barefooted, as you see me now. So be-
fore I reached Gravesend 1 decided to
risk recapture, and steal ride. l
waited in cutting for the coming of
a chance to board train unseen,
and my luck was good enough to
bring one to standstill within few
hundred yards of me-
81 boarded it. and having found an
unoccupied compartment, got in and
scrambled under the seat. To my dis
may, at Gravesend man got into the
compartment. l feared he would no.
tice me and call the guard, but he
didn't and the train set off again. 1t
was a tortuous position l was in
cramped in every limb, not daring to
move lest the passenger should notice
me and stop the train, and l had bad
ly cut my foot on stone in walking
along the railway and the wound
caused me great pain, and bled not
little.
II could only see the legs of the pas
senger. who sat on the opposite seat.
l was dreadfully afraid that he would
stretch out his legs and kick me any
moment But he did not After
time, however, he grew restless. and
went to sit at the corner farthest from
me. l could not see what he did. but
1 could pretty well guess that after
he had changed his seat he opened the
window and tried to pull the communi-
cation-cord, and l heard low oath
as the cord ran slack in his hands.
Had / not guessed the cord was wrong
l should have slipped up and jumped
But 1 understood, and kept quiet to
consider what l should do. l twisted
my head slightly, and in this way was
able to see him take book out of his
bag; and saw his hands writing in it.
Presently the roar in front of the train
told me that we were running through
q station: and l saw him lean to the
right and fling the book out of the win
dow. His head came so low that l saw
his face and recognized him as my
traitor of a cousin. 81 wormed myself
out and confronted him. He did not
seem in the least surprised to see me
he told me later that he recognized my
hand by the tattooed anchor-but pro-
fessed the greatest pleasure at seeing
me. But all the while his face was
pale as death, and his hands shook like
those of a palsied man. l had some
difficulty in dealing with him. Once l
put my fingers around his throat. and
felt like strangling him. He told me
what l wished to know-how l could
clear myself, so l released my hold.
I made him write that confession and
duly sign it. and with it on me got on
to the fOotboard as soon as the train
slowed down, and jumped. l opened
the wound in my foot in jumping and
had to pause awhile, it panied me so.
hung about the fields for time. then
cut away to see Miss Duncan. That's
all. Herbert was going over to Hol-
land. He won't stop there now be-
cause I know how and where l can
find proof to convict him of the crime
for which he had me sentenced. He
told me that himself.
"Let me just speak to Miss Duncan
in private for one moment. sir" he con-
cluded. 81 give you my word of honor
that will not attempt to escape; and
then 1 shall be ready to accompany
you to prove my innocence"
He kept his word well, not only
about escaping. but as to proving his
innocence. And had an invitation to
his wedding, not long after.-Tit-Bits
Uncle Sanl's Vegetable Garden.