The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1905-05-05
PARDONED

Several men rushed for the man re
ferred to and held him.
whats the matterf' he asked.
Somebody's robbed that lady. You
were sitting beside her"
Suppose | was. | didn't rob her."
Police" yelled the conductor, ring
ing the stop bell and reckoning to n
policeman lettering on the sidewalk
The man of law suddenly frightened
up at the prospect of something TO do
and hurried to the ear. The suspected
man was taken TO a police station and
searched. but nothing was found on
him. But there was nothing remark
able in that. These thieves all have
pals, 10 whom they can pass the
"sEpg."
The next morning the culprit was
brought up for examination, and the
lady who had been robbed appeared
against him.
WHAT'S your namef' asked the in
spector.
"John JOsin."
The inspector looked Mt him with the
air of one who was not to be thus i'm
posed upon.
Jim Boise" he said. you're tn.
most impudent crook that has ever
figured in the police courts But you're
Il fool to work this town. l know of &
dozen Indies you robbed a year ago
who can he brought TO swear 10 yom
identity. Your picture is in the rogues'
gallery and yet you play your pranks
with rs much assurance as II you had
never been up before"
Il am not I'm Boise, | am not
crook. and | never robbed any one"
The inspector certainly did not ex-
poet the man to acknowledge his guilt
He sent him away and forgot him the
next moment In the next case.
At the trial the inspector was as
good as his word. The state produced
nine women who testified that they
had Mt different times and in different
Ways been robbed by the accused.
Boise mad been convicted before on
their testimony, had been sent to the
Denitentary and had escaped. 1t was
only necessary for the state attorney
to prove that he was the same man,
'iANf 'hi' ptihS hOit 1OhNluslNtlf ny ]
the women he had robbed and Il 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 |
larottubf Ia, no .fni,
ing lady's pocket. He was caught
before he could get away or get rid of
the plumber, a pocketbook with the la
dy's initials on it and 500 in bills In it. |
"Who are your" asked the inspector. /
"What'll you do for me if save the
state expense by owning up and plead |
ing guilty?'
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
next day he was brought up again.
whats your game?" asked the in
spector
Haven't any game except to get q
short term"
serving term now Got a telegram
this morning from the warden that
he's where he was put seven years
ago."
Cant help that. I'm Jim Boise"
The inspector took up photograph
lying on the desk before him and look
ed from it to the prisoner.
ssTt mipht bora hoou xoup ,;a+,,ra
seven or eight years ago Singular case
this. ! must look into it."
He did look into it and found that
seven years before John Joslin, owing
to his resemblance to Jim Boise, had
gone to serve twelve years term In
prison.
One morning John Joslin emerged
from his cell, put on the clothes he had
taken off SEVEN years before and pass.
ed down corridor of cells amid a
shower of congratulations
"Pardonedr'
Good luck to you. hope you won't
get caught next time"
These were some of the remarks
made TO the man who had under mis-
The next morning he alighted from
n train and walked over Il road he had
often walled before. The birds were
singing In the trees. the dew glistened
in the sun, the air was laden with n
fresh country odor. The man walked
till he came to a cottage. Its paint had
worn away. the fence had rotted, b-+
in the windows were neat white Gun
tains. As the gate clicked behind him
a pale, oyerworked woman appeared
at the door. With a cry she rushed
forward and fell into his arms. Ssy-
eral half starved children gatherea
found, looking up at the man and WON
tering who he was.
Courage, sweetheart he said; then,
cooking at the Children: Thank God.
we are all here. Well begin again. |
Gft stu