The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1904-01-07

"Will 1t be State PRISON." asked a
solemn-faced old lady, with a bundle
Of papers under her arm. Because. If
1t is, young man, will give thee a
tract to read and profit by"
And she handed me leaf of paper
with the somewhat startling title. "The
Road to Help
l remarked that | had no wish to
learn anything in regard to that route,
and that brought up a clerical gentle.
man In white choker, who inquired:
Young friend, hast thou mother ?"
u hast" said |; likewise a grand
mother, two aunts, sixteen cousins. and
a father-in-laww
Beware" said he, "of sitting in the
seat of the scornfulp
He was just going to read me his last
sermon on total depravity, when we ar
rived at Rochester, and l was taken
to the lookup.
l did not like my quarters. 1t was
impossible for any decent white man
to like them, Dirty and ill-smelling,
and would have been glad to change
the bed for any clean pine plank.
1t seemed that was charged with
appropriating the funds Of one Mr..
Junius b. Sheeter, of Syracuse. who
was represented as my coniding en-
ployer, but had never heard Of him
before, and certainly had not the pleas
ure Of being possessed of any Of his
funds.
l tried to impress this fact upon by
captors, but they only laughed, and as
sured me that Mr.. Pelham and Mr..
Ball, the detectives who had seized me,
had very accurate description Of the
rascally clerk, from Mr.. Streeter him
self, and my appearance tailed with it
perfectly.
l was to have my examination next
morning, and then, If could prove
that I was anybody but John Smith,
| was at liberty to do so.
Just as had finished my breakfast
next morning, the keeper came in to
say that a young lady wished to see
me.
A young lady! l was Mortified, for
| had neither combs, brushes, or clean
collars. l smoothed down my refrac-
tory locks with my fingers, hirted the
dirty towel across my face, rubbed
my boots with my handkerchief, and
my toilet being thus completed, was
ready to receive my visitor.
Shades of Hebe and Venus! The
morning star itself was no comparison
to her! Blue dress, blue ribbons, blue
eyes, blond tresses, and a voice sweeter
than fifty.dollar music box!
She rushed toward me, flung her
arms around my neck, put her soft
cheek against mine, hunted under my
mustache for my lips, and planted
there such a regiment of kisses as to
take my breath away. / was quite
willing to have her take 1t away, and
did not care a picayune IL she kept
up this sort of thing till Christmas.
Dearest cousin Johnw cried she; ut
is such shame for you to be here!
But II is just like those laundering Of
fcers! They fancy themselves Won
derful in the detective business! They'd
arrest their own grandmother If they
had one, darlingW
"Yes," said /, seeing that she paused
for breath, II have no doubt Of itw
Il read about your arrest in the
paper last night 1t gave your name as
j. Smith, but J. stands for John, and
/ knew it was youl 1 told papa so,
but he said 'Pshawv But l always
have my way, and so l came down to
see you, without even stopping to
dress. Dear me! expect l am iust
horrid In this old wrapperg'
"Horridp' said 1. "Why, thought
gour dress was divinew
She laughed, and kissed me again.
] hoped she would keep on doing so.
1t seemed to me the incest thing she
could do.
Papa is coming down in an hour
or two to bail you out for, Of course,
you are innocent, and old Streeter is
mistaken about your taking his dirty
money!"
"Of course he is" said I.
sand you'll come up with papa to
dinner, dear JohnP
ayes, darling"
"Then. Goodbye said she. 0I rnust IN