The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-05
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Ge
Rogue's
March,.

| Mr.. Macmurdo. the surgeon. and Nh
| Cotton. the ordinary of Neweate. hat
both shown Tom the kindest atten
tons. He could see. however. tina
| each regarded him az a man only too
! justly sentenced to death. The sur
geon offered to use his influence in the
! matter Of a separate cell at nights
| Tom would not hear of it.
'No. no." said he; sit would be q
| poor kindness. though I thank yor
| with all my heart for the thought. The
| greatest ruf1lan In the jail would be 9
| better friend to me than my own re
I fections. All. I see what you think"
cried Tom as a queer light glimmereo
in the surgeons eyes. well. l have
done protesting my innocence. but
don't let them leave me by myself
that's all I ask"
Mr. Cotton entered into spiritual
matters. to which Tom listened cour-
teously. though chiefly out of loving
respect for his dear fathers memory,
for where was the God who would per
NIT an innocent man to suffer death
for anothers crime? When. however
the good chaplain closed his books he
referred discreetly as he rose to GER
tain efforts already being made to OBJ
tain a reprieye. adding that he would
himself do what he could to further
them. as a matter Of course.
'Why should you, sir" asked Tom
deferentially. when you are quite
convinced OF my guilt?'
The chaplain colored.
"I never said I was convinced" he
cried. at is no part Of my duty to be
convinced IN such matters either way.
No. my poor fellow, your guilt or your
innocence is matter between your
own heart and God Almighty. 1. his
servant. am only concerned with your
immortal soul, and the longer you live
the more time will be yours for re-
pentance of all your sins and the
greater your chances of immortal life.
But build upon nothing Of the kind"
And with a parting exhortation the
ordinary went his way.
Bassett was the1last visitor He was
in a tremendous hurry. The petition
was already receiving support and
signatures on every hand. The news
papers were full of It. And he who
had furnished the sinews Of defense
was now working heart and soul for
the respite. for which there was still
every reason to hope. So said Bassett
in breath and was gone next minute.
1t was the last piece of news that
heartened Tom most the news that the
noble unknown believed in him still.
against judge and jury. and was still
heroically striving to save his miser-
able life. Who could he be? Some
friend of Claire's? The thought came
for the first time. It never came again.
Claire was with the judge, the jury
and the world. She had not written
him one word.
Tom was now in prison dress, a
gaunt. dread figure. but they had let
him keep slip of paper that he had
often taken out OF poalet in his own
clothes to pore over and to dream upon.
He produced it now. 1t was the slip
of paper Daintree had handed down to
him during the proceedings at Maryle-
bone. and he had never seen the writ
er's face. But he had made a face
unto himself: had built no a character
from those few scrubbed words. and
both face and character were the
sweetest the kindest and the best that
had existed upon earth during the last
/. 800 years.
So when his last visitor had depart
ed the condemned man was not
ashamed to kiss that flurried scrawl
with his lips nor afterwards to find 1t
smudged with his tears.
Those were the days when the cap
ital convict was first found guilty.
next brought up for sentence and next
reported to the king" The two lat
ter functions rested with the recorder
Of London. the last having it's origin
In the number of odenses for which a
man might be condemned to death
without the least risk OF being exc
cuted. The recorder would wait upon
his majesty in council and make his
report of the prisoners lying in New
gate under sentence of death. where
upon the king would be graciously
pleased to respite, say, all but the will
full murderers. The amended report
was straightway dispatched to the pris
On and his final fate broken to each /
man without a moments unnecessary
delay.
1t was the 18th Of May and Thurs |
day night near the stroke Of u. All !
was silent in the condemned cells. for |
even Creasey's voluble tongue had |
ceased to wag. and Tom lay thinking /
on his bed. His companion was a I
trashy hound. ever eursing God or en-
treating him with shrieks and tears, |
his sordid soul to Tom
half the night. venting covert spite
md enmity upon him day after day.
Tonight he had been alternately pro-
esting his innocence. abusing his dead
wife and mocking heaven and hell by
he hour together. Tom lay awaiting
he reaction which would follow as
urely as the morning and tonight it
vas before its time The silence had
'een dead indeed. but not long go. !
When the creature leaped from his pal
ct with q scream. Next instant be !
vas kneeling by it's neighbor, fawning
yer Tom with trembling arms and
fingers
II done it. / done itr' be whisper
d hoarsely. There, I had to tell
omebody, and I have. Ia got TO tell
n burst I feel better now No. no.
lie was yelling next moment What
lave / said2 was Joking. YOU fat