Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-06-17
A BLACK SHEEP.

lIiiOuSH tHe DdiS.
The visitor CRASHED the prisoners
hands and exclaimed: oh, James,
james,"
Sorrow was written in every line OF the
visitors face; the countenance of the one
in the cell was sullen.
Hello Alb" said the prisoner.
The men eyed each other a moment
The iailer felt that he must say some
thing
ANY one would know you were broth
ers," said he. You are enough alike to
be twins"
The prisoner seemed embarrassed,
coughed and replied; YES, we do re-
-emble; the whole family does, but"
He looked at the floor But reckon I'm
the black one of the flock Then, turn
ing to his brother, he asked: How did
you leave everybody at home, Abr"
The Rev. Abner Pitts was so overcome
that he could not reply at first. He
pressed handkerchief to his eyes and
leaned against the bar. sobbing. The
lailer moved away.
They are all heartbroken, but mother,
and ohe-she doesn't-know, James" said
the preacher, trying to suppress his emo
tion.
Tiger-fke, Jim Pitts began to pace his
cell. There was no sign of remorse ON
his face. Once he glanced at his brother
with an expression of disdain, then he
stopped and said:
What did you come for?'
II came to look after your souls saliva
tion, James" replied the other, 81 came
to pray with you and offer you the con-
ISOLATION Of my religion"
why didn't you 90 to see the governor
and ask him to commute my sentence
That's what | wrote you for; that's
what | wanted you to do
That would have done no good,
James" SAID the brother ''Your crime
has put You beyond the pale of earthly
clemeney. James you can only look to
heaven now, and think of your immortal
soul"
you might have got respite for me;
that would have given me some chance
TO think about religion. It's only eight
days now. Tomorrow night they will
put on the-the death watch!'
The word caused his brother to shud-
der; he lifted the handkerchief to his
eyes again
The jailer came and let Abner into the
cell. 1t was night. The brothers. who
had not seen each other before in years
sat close together talking in undertones
BY the light that shone in from the cor
rider Abner read from his Bible. He
sought out passages of Scripture that
might have borne upon his hayward
brothers life
But if any man walk in the night, he
~
him.
Hours went by as they sat together.
The Jail was as quiet as a tomb Abner
knelt to pray, his brother beside him.
The preacher poured out his anguish in
an inspiring plea for the one who was in
the shadow of the gallows. He prayed
with a fervor that he had never felt be-
fore. He was led on by the force of his
own eloquence; his mind transcribed his
surroundings; his voice fell to a whisper,
and he pleaded ON.
Suddenly Abner felt a rough hand on
his shoulder. He opened his eyes, the
prayer still on his lips. Jim was bending
over him with tiendish look on his face.
Keep quiet OF III strange you!" NUT
tered the prisoner.
Abner Pitts sank back speeches., his
lace ueatnlN white.
Jim leaned close to him and said: DO
You want to save my soulY"
The preachers lips were quivering, but
he made no reply.
I'm going out of this Jail tonight
dead or alive" said jim Il don't want |
10 Kill you and | don't want to kill any |
of the guards if | can help it; but I'm |
gong out, dead or alive. Alb. if Won |
mean any Of the things YOU have said to |
We tonight, and YOU want to save nv /
soul this is Your chance. I've cot two
Of those bars sawed nearly in two. and /
y Won't take me ten minutes to finish /
the loh I'm going out. say, and if Won /
want me to 20 free and start life over !
AGAIN You 20 on praying and keep
Iuiet,"
\ thousand things passed through the /
preachers mind. but he was helpless He |
tel forward. burying his face in his
onds, and went ON praying.
Jim crawled across the floor. and tax,
ing wire saw from his shoe began tb,
task that he had labored at SO hard for
many nights, First the saw passe,1
through the soap that hid the tiny crack
IN the bar then with a stealthv sound
IKE the gnawing of a mouse, it ate into
the hard metal. The desperate mans
hand flew back and forth almost with
the rapidity of lightning, while the sweat
that streamed from his face glittered ON
the iron. With click the saw passed
through the bar, and the sound aroused
the white faced man who was kneerno
IN the corner of the cell.
Abner raised his head and the rare
OF the brothers met. The preacher started
to get on his feet. but the murderer was
at his side in an instant.
"Ab. I'll kill you like dog if Won
move or make noise!" Jim srowled in
hoarse whisper DO YOU want them ~