The Washington times., 1905-12-24

little one, that he might put that
Victoria cross into her tiny hand.
After that he would attend to the
man who had robbed him of their
love.
Patiently, step by step, he traced
them-his only clue the character
of his enemy, the thief Remember
ing his condition, think Of what
search that must have been-of the
difficulties, hardships, discourage
ments! Think of the patience of the
man,
He followed them until one day
he stood beside his wife's grave.
Captain Towne paused only
while. There were tremendous rea-
sons now for going on: he must
recover the little daughter; he must
prepare that thief for burial.
He traced them to America. He
searched that broad land while a
penny lasted, but the day came when
all his means were gone. Nothing
remained but his determination. He
sought work. What could he do,
crippled with such wounds, speech
less? He applied for relief at home,
though shame forbade it-he was
forgotten. Ill, outcast, he begged
in the streets. and then Captain
George Towne was committed for six
months as a vagrant, pauper And
this man, with the Victoria cross in
his pocket, was taken over the
Bridge of Signs" into the old
Tombs prison, there to await trans
portation to the workhouse.
One so committed may not remain
idle. The warden put him into a
suit of stripes and assigned him
to work in the kitchen. The cook
was disgusted; he threw Captain
George knife and pointed to a pile
of potatoes. George could have put
the knife into his own heart, but he
didn't. He was carrying certain dis
patches to certain mamie was on
duty.
Night came-night in the old
Tombs prison-and with it came to
Captain George (as to all others so
situated for the first time) every
form of mental agony He realized
as never before his degradation, his
complete failure. the hopelessness of
his undertaking. Crippled, forsaken,
helpless, what could he hope for,
even when six months were past and
they let him go again? He thought
II all over from the beginning. All,
how he hated the man who had es-
capped him. how he loved the little
daughter he could not findi
1t was only a visit from the
Prison Spirit" Of course, you do not
know her, but such a creature dwells
in every prison. and in the Tombs
there lives that wretched hag. the
mother of them all. Believe me, she
is no myth; she is very real indeed.
Entering each cell when darkness
comes, she jeers and tortures. fans
into fury every fame of hate, sneers
at repentance and incites TO fear.
She is the dread and terror of accom-
plices. whispering betrayal in each
towards heart.
And so the Prison Spirit" played
with Captain George She tortured
him TO her hearts content, and then.
taking him 20 her vile old breast.
she soothed and brooded over her
new child Of sorrow. She comforted
and consoled; she whispered hope;
she showed an opportunity. Was
not the man whom Captain George
pursued crook? Did Captain
George not know the ancient adage
that "Once a thief always a thief?"
The "call of crime" would reach the
crook. no matter what he tried TO
do or be, or where he went. and he
must answer #. Some day he would
be caught-some day he would be
caught here in New York-and then
one who cannot pursue can wait
in ambush. Captain George knew
what ambush meant; he remembered
something which had happened years
ago up in the Himalayas.
Stay and walt for him." whisp-