The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-27
A TWcntY-DOllar Bill
.Bv HARRIET A. NASH.
Copyright by s. S. Mcclure Coz

I, 10 saw nothing until he had time for
reflection. His daZed mind graSped
only the mere outlines of the situation.
| He Ezra Tyler, pastor of the Gimfield
Congregational Church, was under ar
rest. He tried to remember how the
| newspaper items read in such cases,
| and the first definite thought that
struggled through his brain was of the
publicity that would be given his case.
He almost smiled as he wondered how
his church would take 1.-THE church
that had been unable to bear their
pastors shabby coat. For q moment
he thought of giving an assumed name.
Then his real identity would not be
learned in time for publication to-
morrow, and before another day they
would see the mistake and let him
go. John Jones would do as well as
any name. DR.. John Jones would
convey more dignity. But when few
moments later he was called to give
his name his truth-loving nature re-
belled against the falsehood, and in a
| clear voice he answered, Ezra Ty-
| ler,'' going on, without further ques-
tioning, to explain that he was pastor
of the Gimfield Congregational Church.
| He heard the charge against MIN ana
for the first time began to realize the
| fact that the bill--tffat precious
| twenty Nbill-waS Valueless.
There could be no doubt of it. they
told him. An officer more kind heart
ed than the one who had arrested him
explained it all and assured him there
would be no trouble if he was really
/ innocent and could prove where he got
| the bill
He had a confused sense of many
people around most of them looking
misera bic and unfortunate. one Wo-
imam, carrying a baby, staggered as
she tried to cross the room. She was
| i'll beyond question. He wondered why
| they didn't do something for her. and
felt relieved when pleasant-faced
matron approached and coaxed the
baby to her arms. How pitifully the
thin little arms contrasted with the
ROSY baby at home. In one corner sat
a ragged man of middle age, from
whose stolid face crime had banlshed
every trace of a, better nature. Oppo-
site him was a we'll dressed young fell
low. his face buried in his hands. The
minister's heart throbbed with pain as
he looked at them and wondered how
/ long since the one was like the other
and what depths of degradation lay
F., between. He wished he were near en-
ough to lay his hand on the bowed
curly head-not much older than the
little heads at home. His own trou-
BILE passed from his mind. What mat
| tered it so long as he was innocent!
And an emotion akin to the divine
love and pity moved him as he gaZed
on these fellow prisoners VINO per-
haps were guilty. Life must have been
so hard for them-temptations SO
strong and wills SO weak.
He found himself after a little
conducted to cell with two
others-strangely enough the two
on whom his attention had been
fixed. The attendant-Mr. Tyler had no
idea what his exact title might me
! loosely remarked that he hoped they
didn't mind crowding, they were I'M
usually full tonight
To Mr.. Tyler's relief his elder COM
! panion dropped upon the floor in a
! half drunken sleep. The boy, as II
anxious to repel all advances, had
! retired to the opposite corner and re-
/ sumed his attitude of deep dejec
! ton. The minister watched him
! thoughtfully for a long time. At last
! he drew nearer and touched the boy $
/ arm gently. A haggard, miserable
/ face was raised to his-oh, so young.
What do you want?' was the i'm
! patient question.
INV boy" Mr.. Tyler said gently, "teil
me how it happened" The boy Shrank
away and ungraciously demanded to
be left alone Then, some gentler i'm
| pulse Selling him, he muttered half
apology, and, as if to atone for his
rudeness, added a few words of eX-
. I
for sympathy OVercame him, and he
poured forth a story of over-indul-
| gence, dissipation and debt, q pressing
| need for money, and-the use of FUNDS
not his own. Before him now was
certain disgrace, perhaps years OF
prison life.
The minister sat silent. In his con-
try parish he had never met a case
like this He could recall nothing in
his theological training that fitted it.
According to his best knowledge and
belief, he should speak words of con-
demnation and warning. But the pity
swelling in his heart choked them
back. And when he opened his lips
at last there came from them only
words of sympathy. He seemed pos
SeSSed by some power beyond himself
that tender all-absorbing love for
the guilty ones of earth for whom
too often he had felt only contempt.
He struggled with himself in vain.
| His brain told him he should have ex-
horted the young man to repentance
before it was too late. His heart
would let him speak only of heaven
ly Fathers love. When he ceased
speaking the room was very still. Even
the heavy breathing in the pther cor
ner had ceased.
Presently the boy raised his head
with a defiant gesture. See here" he
said, and slipped a little vial into the
| minister's hand. II didn't mean to go
to prison. If it came to that, there
was stuff enough in that bottle to have
taken care of me. If they'd put me
alone in a cell / should have swal-
lowed it before now. / haven't any
friends left. My relatives will all re-
fuse to speak to me after this; and
L didn't suppose there was any one in
| heaven or on earth that cared. But l
believe you. / never heard it put that
way before. And I'm going to stand
my trial, and whatever comes after
| il, because of what you say
The two clasped hands warmly. And
as they did so the ragged criminal in
the corner staggered to his feet and
stood before them. Had they but
known it, it was years since he had
stood so erect. Squire" he said, "the
youngsters right. If somebodyd said
to me twenty years ago what you've
just said to him l might have been
man today in place of what L be. oh,
| go on. Don't talk any foolishness. It's
too late to work any such racket on
me. Well, pray for me if you want
to; 'tWon't do no hurt maybe, though
/ can tell you 'twon't do no good.
tell you I don't want to be any better
| l wouldn't change if l could. But in