Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-09-20
The Ex-COnyict.

three rose out of some bushes. He was
dressed In convict stripes.
Say, mister" he said, pleading with
his eyes as well as his voice, won't
you help me? Eve served three years
for crime l didn't commit. Some
young fellers I fell In with told me
one night that they were going. to
crack crib asked them what that
meant. They laughed at me and told
me they'd show me. On my word,
didn't know what they were going to
do. They started to break into a
house and were nabbed before had
time to get away. l was taken with
them, convicted and sent up for ten
years."
If ever there was truth written In a
mans face it was In this mans. am
one who believes that there are many
convictions Of innocent persons, and l
resolved to help him. At my instance
he took of his stripes, tied stone to
them, then sank them In the river.
Then he jumped In the water, came
out at once, and lent him as much Of
my clothing as could spare. At a
house near by he told the story that
he was bathing and tramp had stolen
his clothes. We readily obtained more
clothing, and, going on to stable.
hired closed vehicle, and we were
driven to railway station eighteen
miles away. There parted with my
man, first giving him what money l
had in my pocket. my name and adj
dress and asking him to communicate
with me-
He did so for eight years. l sent
him enough money to start news
paper stand, at which he was success
full. To the sale of papers he added
other articles. gradually increasing his
stock till he had quite dourishing
der. Falling in with a young woman
Of thrifty habits, he married her, first
telling her his story. Several rosy
checked children came to the pair
and there was q happy home. True,
a sword hung over them all, but the
children were ignorant Of it, and after
years had passed and the secret was
not divuI3eu the father and mother
began to think that they were immune
One day man came into the store
and asked for some tobacco. Looking,
up from the case, he fixed his gaze on
Ryder.
"Hello, mater he exclaimed. =
Ryder turned pale.
"You's the man that escaped way
back when I'd served two years of
my time. I'm Hardy. had the next
cell to yours"
The secret was out The man who
had told it, seeing Ryders prosperity,
asked for money. Ryder refused to be
blackmailed, but offered to help the
ex-convict, who had served his term,
to make an honest living. The offer
was declined. There Is reward for
Information that will lead to the cap
ture Of an escaped prisoner, and Hardy
threatened to inform and secure it..
Ryder asked for time, telling Hardy to
come to see him the next day. Then
he went home, put his arms about his
wife and told her that the sword had
fallen.
Thriftiness brings self control, and
self control brings the habit Of thrash
ing out important questions as they
arise. Ryder and his wife talked late
into the night Of this the most impor-
tant problem Of their lives. Should
they permit their savings to pass to
the rascal who would bleed them?
Should they live continually under the
harrow, with prospect Of the secret
being divulged to the authorities in
the end despite all they could do?
Seven years Of the sentence were yet
to be served. Could the wife keep the
family In condition for so long a time?
Before the couple retired for the night
they had decided. Hardy was to be
permitted to carry the information.
But before they slept Ryder wrote me
Of the facts. -. = ...~ H.. :
AS soon as l received the letter /
telegraphed Ryder to temporize with
Hardy, and l at once took train" for
Ryder's- home. l found him and his
wife together, the picture Of despair.
Meanwhile had formed a plan by
which had hope Of Tightening the
blow. On receipt Of my telegram Ry-
der had given Hardy $40, intimating
that he might get more. My plan
might require considerable time, and
I advised him to put aside 500 to be
doled out to the threatening informer
only as necessary. This done. pressed
the couple warmly by the hand and
departed for the state capital.
told the story to the governor, con-
cealing the name and residence Of Ry-
der, much more fully than l can tell
It In this limited space. He was much
impressed, but could not see bis way
clear to act. OF course Ryder. having
been duly convicted, must be treated
AZ criminal; He, had committed 9
crime In escaping. A pardon would
b to put premium on this additional
crime. However, the governor prom
ised to take the matter under advise
ment. After long interval effected
Z compromise. Ryder was to return
Voluntarily tO nrison and IN, hardened