The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-08-02

honest Ben Coop TO himself "I was right
10 have picked him out from the rest.
Whatever brought him TO this, hes not fit
20 be wasting his life out in a prison
yard, that's pretty sure J"
And then Ben awoke to the gravity of
the situation. He looked about him for
the lad that generally helped him; but at
the first sound of the struggle this boy
had disappeared. There was no one but
himself and the convict to give aid to
the two warders till the train arrived.
1t took him a very little time to drag
the warder from the ground to the bench,
and the other man sat and looked at him
as he moistened the lips and the brows of
the injured man. The prisoner recovered
his strength and his calmness. He swal-
.owei a mouthful or two of food that had
been given to him, not because he cared
in the least to eat il, but because he had
been touched by the kindness shown him.
and it was a natural instinct with him to
rerurn courtesy for courtesy. After few
minutes Ben turned to him again.
"He is come to-" he said; ''but / don't
think he will be fit for much this day or
two. 1t was pretty quick work, and
am sorry for this bit of land, with all
those scoundrels loose upon it."
Where will they go?" asked the con-
vict, in low voice.
His eyes wandered around the land
scape, that lay 50 placid and beautiful in
the sunshine.
II expect" Ben said, thoughtfully, "this
was a put-up thing. There must have
been one of them as knows their ways
about here. The town, as they call it. lies
good three miles away; but they will
mike their way 70 it. You didn't go with
them," Ben said. suddenly. "Why?'
The faintest of faint smiles passed over
the face of the convict.
"My path is not with them," he said
Besides" he added. with terrible bitter
ness, II am content to be what am, TO
stay where l am. Freedom is a dead
void TO me-"
"Ay, man." exclaimed Ben Coop, not
without emotion, .but that is a terrible
thing TO say"
He felt his heart moved more and more
ty this strange man. AS the time drew
H,ar for the train TO approach Ben went
up to the prisoner and stretched out his
hand.
Il feel oil the better for having known
you," he said. II hope some day I'll see
ycu in different straits to this. If ever
you need friend, lad, make your way
acre: there will always be bite and sup
for you wherever Ben Coop is"
For an instant a great change passed
over the face of the convict; the cold de-
spsir dropped from IL. the eyes seemed
20 shine and the lips to smile.
Thank you, friend" he said. 'And
Col bless you! 1t does me good to hear
you speak. for / believe you come from
she same part af the old country as do"
Il am Lancashire, sir" Ben hurried to
say. II was a pit lad, working since /
can remember in the mines of the Mill
Gloss estate"
The light all went out of the other
mans eyes, and the lips grew cold and
white. He paused moment, and then he
spoke. deliberately and most bitterly.
There is name struck out of the an
mails Of the Mill Cross family; there is
one missing who is not mourned, one who
~ U6du IN nouOr, tnOugn uving SIlIl. III
ever you 90 back to the old country, ask
them to tell you the story of that lost
man. Ben Coop. and when you hear it
think of me-"
The train whizzed up to the little plat
form the young warder ranged himself
beside his prisoner. In an instant there
was { group of car men clustered around
him, listening TO what had happened.
Ben was called upon to give his testi-
mony, and half dozen hands were put
forward to carry the wounded warden to
a berth in the train.
There was no more time or opportu-
nifty for Ben Coop to snatch word with
his fellow countryman. He watched the
prisoner pushed into kind of van, and
heard the bolt of the lock with a cold
sensation at his heart.
He performed his usual duties in q
far-off, dazed manner: and then the train
moved slowly out of the station, and Ben
was left alone, with only the memory of
tha: pale, sorrowful face to remain with
him.