Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-20

| scaffold, all avenues will be closed to
him save the calling Of his father"
But why do you not adopt an hon
est callingT'
The brigand smiled grimly. "It is
amusing" he said, Ito hear the imprac-
! ticable suggestions made to those who
! are held in n vice. l might as well say
| to you. unarmed as you are: Your
purse does not belong to this m;tn. You
have no right TO give it to him Be
| fore | can live an honest life l must
be born anew, for l 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 life sentence instead of being
captured and executedf"
"My wife and child would starve."
HIN" said the traveller and thought
again.
Suppose he went on at last, you
could get light sentence, n few years,
and some one would provide for your
wife and child while you were i'll pris-
on?"
What would do when 1 came
outT'
Suppose a place were provided for
your?
81 would gladly surrender on those
terms. Indeed l should welcome my
punishment. What! Have this hOrri-
bic 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 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.
every WELL" he said at last. eff you
will go with me, give yourself up and
serve your sentence l will agree that
II shall not be longer than three years.
I will provide for your family during
your Imprisonment and upon your re-
lease will take you into my service"
"You?"
Eyes, l."
but how can you guarantee that l
shall not be executed? How can you
assure me OF a short term of imprison-
ment?"
Il give you my word that 1 can and
will see that both are given you"
"And how do know that this is not
merely Il 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 n time. then suddenly the
bandit threw away his gun and, ad-
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 a large, well dressed. gentle
man-like man, with neatly trimmed
whiskers 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 I'm Il 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
he had surrendered himself. Till the
promise had been fulfillAI 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, I sentence you To three years in |
prison. Take him away
Meanwhile the judge had sent for the |
mans family, and when he went back |
10 prison he found them there. At the |
good news his wife wept for joy. and |
somehow the boy seemed 10 under
stand that the terrible suspense he had |
known from a time when he was old /
enough TO comprehend IT would be
lifted.
Now. my boy" said the father. tax
ing his son into his arms, "you will be
able 10 lead an honest life"
For three years the wife and children
lived near the prison, visiting the hus-
band and father daily. He had numer-
ous chances for escape. but declined to
avail himself Of them, so that at last
his TALLER often neglected TO lock him
In at night When his term expired
the Judge made him the keeper of his
0dge and caretaker Of his place.
IEAYTACE TT nVn YTN-nT 1