The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-06-29
A Captured Bandit
[Orlginal.l

PUT aside that gun. / have no
thought of resisting you"
The man lowered his weapon, but
was ready to raise 1t again at mo-
ment's warning. The traveller contin-
ued:
CAS- sure as the sun rises and sets
you will at last be captured, and in
this country you brigands, when taken.
invariably suffer death'
death is about the common lot of
ALL"
Not death by the gibbet.'
NO An men do not rob as openly as
we bandits, but all men are more or
less robbers, and perhaps even YOU. it
your wife and children We're starving
and there was no other means of get
ting bread for them, would stop trav-
eler and demand his purse"
rs it possible! Have you wife
and children?'
II have. My wife is as good a wo-
man as ever lived. She is in daily
dread of my capture and death. have
son. He is sturdy little fellow,
frank, brave and honorable. His fu-
ture is inevitable. The son of brigand,
one who has ended his career on the
scaffold, all avenues will be closed to
him save the calling of his father"
"But why do you not adopt an hon.
est calling?"
The brigand smiled grimly. at is
amusing" he said, ito hear the imprac-
ticable suggestions made to those who
are held in vice. l might as we'll say
purse does not belong to this man. You
have no right to give it to him. Be
fore can live an honest life I must
be born anew, for must first expiate
my crimes by DEATH
The traveller sat musing. The bandit
saw that he was thinking and seemed
inclined to let him think. He swung
his gun over his shoulder and waited
"They are looking for you now, be-
lieve,' said the traveller.
"They are"
Suppose you should give yourself up
for a life sentence instead of being
captured and eNecuted?"
"My wife and child would starve."
M said the traveller and thought
again.
Suppose" he went on at last, you
could get light sentence, few years,
and some one would provide for your
wife and child while you were in pris-
on?"
What would do when l came
out?'
Suppose a place were provided for
you?'
81 would gladly surrender on those
terms. Indeed l should welcome my
punishment. What! Have this horri-
BILE load lifted? See my wife's face re-
leased from the perpetual care it
wears? Know that my child would not
be doomed to suffer as l have suffered
One who would do this for me should
worship to the end of my days"
The traveller said nothing for some
time. He was trying to work out the
problem.
Very WELL" he said at last eff you
will go with me, give yourself up and
serve your sentence l will agree that
it shall not be longer than three years.
will provide for your family during
your imprisonment and upon your re-
lease will take you into my service"
"You?"
Eyes, II
"But how can you guarantee that 1
shall NOT ba nyaantn1S
assure me of short term Of imprison-
ment?'
Il give you my word that can and
will see that both are given you.'
"And how do know that this is not
merely plan to save yourself from
robbery and to hand me over to the po-
lice?"
IL give you my word of honor"
The two stood looking into each 9th
er's eyes for time, then suddenly the
bandit threw away his gun and, adj
vancing, knelt before the traveller.
They had been talking, the bandit |
standing on the side of the road, the
traveller seated in his calash The lat
ter was large, we'll dressed, gentle
man. Will neatly
whisllers and handsome features.
Get in he said
The bandit got in beside him, and
the traveller drove him into town.
turned him over to the police, and he
was placed in cell. The next morn
ing he was brought into court, and
there, sitting on the bench, was the
man who had captured him.
Prisoner. stand up," said the Judge. |
The prisoner arose and looked won
deringly at the man into whose power
be had surrendered himself Till the
promise ha,p1een fulfilled he could not
be sure that he had not been deceived.
"The law" said the judge, requires
as an atonement for your crimes that
you be hanged, but for having surren-
dered yourself and pleading guilty,
having saved the state the expense of
a trial, sentence you to three years in
prison. Take him away"
Meanwhile the judge had sent for the
mans family, and when he went back
to prison he found them there At the
good news his wife went for low and