Evening journal., 1904-11-29
PARDONED
forIKInaLl

Iorlginall
"Good graciousw
"What's the matter, madam7~
"My pursel It's gonep'
A lady in a trolley car held up a reti-
Cule which had been slit from top to
bottom.
Conductor" said gentleman sit
ting opposite, 'stop that man getting
of the platform. He was sitting be-
side the lady"
Several men rushed for the man re-
ferred TO and held him.
whats the matter2" he asked.
Somebody's robbed that lady. You
were sitting beside her"
Suppose l was. / didn't rob her"
"Policei' yelled the conductor. ring
ing the stop bell and beckoning to q
policeman lettering on the sidewalk.
The man OF law suddenly frightened
up at the prospect OF something to do
and hurried to the car. The suspected
man was taken 10 a police station and
searched, but nothing was found on
him. But there was nothing remark
able in that. The thieves all have
pals. to whom they can pass the
"swag."
The next morning the culprit was
brought up for examination, and the
lady who had been robbed appeared
against him.
whats your name?" asked the in
spector
"John Joslin."
The inspector looked at him with the
air Of one who was not to be thus i'm
posed upon.
"Jim Boise" he said. you're the
most impudont crook that has ever
figured in the police courts. But you're
fool TO work this town. l know of a
dozen ladies you robbed a year age
who can be brought TO swear to your
identity. Your picture is in the rogues
gallery, and yet you play your prankl
, with as much assurance as II you haS
5 never been up before"
II am not Jim Boise, I am not ,
crook, and l never robbed any one"
The inspector certainly did not ex
pect the man to acknowledge his guilt
He sent him away and forgot him th,
next moment I'm the next case.
At the trial the inspector was az
good as his word. The state produced
} nine women who testified that they
had at different times and in different
ways been robbed by the accused
Boise had been convicted before on
their testimony. had been sent to tho
penitentiary and had escaped. 1t was
: only necessary for the state attorney
to prove that he was the same man,
and, this being done conclusively by
the women he had robbed and a com.
parison Of his features with his pic
ture in the rogues' gallery, he was sent
to prison. With the added term, he
would serve twelve years. The prison
gate changed behind him, and the
! world forgot him.
Seven years passed. One morning a
man was brought in charged with pick
ing a lady's pocket. He was caught
before he could get away or get rid OF
the plumber, n pocketbOok with the la
> dy's initials on it and $50 in bills in 1t
"Who are your asked the inspector
"What'll you do for me II l save the
I state expense by owning up and plead
ing gulltyT
I'm quite sure the Judge will take
Off the usual time"
\ "All right. I'm Jim Boise"
? The prisoner was sent away, but the
y next day he was brought up again.
'Whats your gamer asked the in
spector.
g Haven't any game except to get I
short term"
: you're not Jim Boise. Jim Boise Il
serving a term now. Got a Telegram
this morning from the warden tina
he's where he was put seven year.
ago"
Cant help that I'm Jim Boise"
~ The inspector took up a photograph
: lying on the desk before him and look
s ed from 1t to the prisoner.
e "It might have been your picture
seven or eight years ago. Singular cast
5, this. / must look into IT,"
n He did look into It and found that
seven years before John Joslin, owing
J. TO his resemblance 10 Jim Boise, had
gone to serve a twelve years term IL
prison.
One morning John Joslin emerged
B. from his cell. put on the clothes he haC
e taken or seven years before and pass
ed down a corridor of cells amid {
,, shower Of congratulations.
"Pardonedw
"Good luck to you. hope you won
get caught next time"
:. These were some OF the remark
made to the man who had under a mis-
d take served a seven years sentence.
The next morning he alighted iron
a train and walked over a road he haI
often walked before. The birds wer
singing IN the trees, the dew glistenei
q in the sun. the air was laden with
fresh country odor. The man walkei
l. till he came to cottage. Its paint haC
worn away, the fence had rotted, bu
in the windows were neat white cur
tains. AS the gate clicked behind hin
a pale, overwOrked woman appeared
! at the door. With a cry she rushe'l
= forward and fell into his arms. Sew
---1 hA1S starved Iahildran fzathArad