The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-04-26
WHY HE HAD REFORMED
EVEN HUNGER COULD NOT
TEMPT
The Ex-Convict to Break Promise 10
His Wife.

His wife.
There was but one unoccupied seat in
the car and in the coarse looking, put
we'll dressed, man took it, lie stafeo
down at his great, red hands ana sfnii-
ed He was an Unlocking man When
his face was in repose, but When ne
smiled he seemed like a demon. A little
badly dressed man alongside OF him
hacked a dry subdued cough. Inc
| sound of it seemed to wake old assoc
Citations in the mind Of the coarse look
| ing man. He turned his head in
stealthy sort of way and whispered
| Hello" he said, ARE you alive YETI?
A look of horror came over the
CHASTITY face of the little man and ne
| hacked several times before he said:
Eyes, it seems hard to kill me"
"What are you doing?" inquired the
big man, as he rubbed his giant fingers
across his well-groomed mustache.
Nothing. / am too weak to work
ITO what?" asked the coarse man in
evident amazement
Il am honest now" meekly said the
feeble voice.
"And hungry, too, should Judge
said the bass voice, looking his COM
panion all over.
Hungry, but honest" returned the
little man as the ghost of smile came
upon his face.
You are a fool. I have the finest
game in all America. If they ever see
me up at Auburn again it will surprise
me, you just bet. / might give you
show at this graft but, pshaw, you're
going to die in a few days anyhow. and
besides you're a blamed ass"
II was fool once said the little
man # paid for my folly too
''Let me see. You served three years,
did you not?"
Hush" whispered the little man.
You may be heard"
my, but you have changed! Now
listen to me. Don't be clamdigger
any longer I haven't got any respect
for pocketpicker as you know, but IL
/ hadn't good game like I have I'd do
even that for living. / wouldn't go
hungry, you just bet, with SO many fat
pocket books bullying out of the pockets
of half-witted owners. Look at that
crowd there! Why. If I stopped to it
/ could turn pretty penny in q. few
minutes. But I have a dead sure thing
little risk and big profits. My, won't
the police open their eyes if they ever
find me out! Ha! ha! 1t is to good to
laugh. Why did you reform?"
IT promised my wife to lead an hon
est life. She is dead now"
You ought to be thankful for that |
Wives are luxuries and husbands are
fools. I'd like to be a widower myself"
A look of shame came over the thin
mans wan countenance, and he said |
quietly as his lip trembled:
But I loved my wife,
''How did you happen to go to Au- |
burn, them"
IT didn't take her advice My eyes
opened too late"
you are an ass"
II know It,"
"Let me tell you You haven't long
to last at best. I'll give you chance
of lifetime. Let us get off at the next !
corner and I'll tell you how we can fool |
the cops, Come"
II have not had square meal in
several days said the little man. 'I I
made few cents Tuesday, but my lit
tie boy has to live, and I'll feed him
first always. I want money oh, so bad
ly-for him. But TIL not go back, John.
Never! I'll see that lad die from hun
ger first She made me promise that
for him and her. Good-by."
you are a fool, an insane fool. Good
by"
And the coarse man left by the rear
door and as he stepped to the sidewalk
he laughed.-From the New York Mail
and Express.