The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-03-22

There are times Wleu WIVES ~ ttiuit
seem to sweep over a community, and
there are also times when waves Of
Justice follow. and 10 their zealousness
The courts seem determined 10 convict
at any cost The two waves happened
to be sweeping over the western city
at the time and the law made an ex.
ample OF Draytou lie was sentenced
10 state prison for Eve years, and the
Judge read him a severe moral lecture
from the bench IN addition The pris-
oner protested TO the last and his whole
community felt that the law had made
o grieyous mistake. but there was a
squirt Of reform ON, and the prosecution
would have Il that justice bad her
hands on the right man
The deputy NO r. prison had read a
fall account Of the trial but he did not
let a doubt creep into his mind Who
ever came 10 bis prison had been ad-
Judged guilty by tie courts and put
Into his keeping, and It was not for him
TO doubt or critlcise He looked for a
man who would whine and beg for
sympathy and carry himself as a mar
tyr, but he was agreeably surprised to
discover quite the contrary
Drayton was IN the prime OF life,
clear eyed and frank faced, and be had
nothing 70 say against bis sentence
lie seemed to realize that the time had
gone by for that In the department
to which be Nos assigned he made
such a record That after year he was
appointed a 'tusty" He had served
almost two years OF HIS time before the
deputy heard bis story II had the ring
Of truth, and the officer believed 1t, but
at the time he was going TO leave the
prison aud take another position, aud
be felt helpless In the matter In the
coursc Of a week he went to distant
state and took up new occupation,
and three months passed away.
Then one day the former deputy
made q days Journey by rail, and as
be sat down TO dinner in the dining car
bis amazemeut was unbounded to OBJ
serve Drayton at a nearby table. The
convict looked up Mt him without rec
oguit,ou and did not seem az all abash. /
el. Here was a man who had seen /
urayton every day for two years, talk
ell with him, noticed every peculiarly (
about him and could swear TO him o
thousand times over
There was no more doubtin his mind
hat the convict sat before him than
hat he was living ana he was present
y absorbed IN speculation II was Just
possible that the man had been par.
loned. n so, why did he not recognize
md greet his old friend? The deputy
iad been as friendly with him as the
regulations permitted, even more than
hat
II he bad not been pardoned, then he
must have escaped but that he could
81 there with such brazeu assurance
was not Ike Drayton The deputy
found his position embarrassing in
way. and yet It did not take him long
10 make mp bis mind what to do. tie
would have been glad to see Druyton
yet pardon, but II he had escaped he
must 60 back and serve the rest Of his
lime
During the meal the eyes Of the two
men met a dozen times and ofthe two
Drayton was the less confused. His
lair was yet short from the prison reg.
lations, and he had on civilians dress
v good texture His demeanor was
nat - any traveller. careless and lndif.
erent to certain degree. and II was
ertain that II addressed he 'would
rompty deny his identity and carry
he matter through with a high hand.
MS assembling aud assurance on his
art were new phases OF his character.
nd dinner had been finished half an
our before the deputy approached him
Nd said:
- have a good memory FOR faces
nd am sure have seen yours be
pre-"
ut may be so" was the careless re.
y, accompanied by smile.
maven [ ] met you in the village OF
aesWorth| naming the place where
le *. state prison was situated.
~ may have passed through the place
o train but I am sure never stop
Ed there It is possible that we have
et before while travelling"
The voice, the movement OF the
outh while speaking, the look of the !,
res everything about the man was 1
'rrectly familiar to the officer. but he E
.ddenly decided to adopt a new line j,
policy for awhile. He would meet .
Jesse with hnesse. The pair entered 4
TO general conversation for two 9
,urs, and then the deputy sent out d
'egram asking the warden Of the
i'e prison If Drayton had been par. Il
ned or had escaped. Two hours
-er' as he was nearing the end Of the