Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-10-23
The Ex-C0nViCt.
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was walking one morning In the
country near the bank of river when
q young man of twenty-five or twenty
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, wont
YOU help me? rye served three years
for a crime l didn't commit. Some
Young fellers | fell In with told me
one night that they were going to
track a crib l 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
10. They started to break into
house and were nabbed before hao
time to get away. | was taken with
them. convicted and sent up for ten
years"
If ever there was truth written In
mans face Il was In this mans. l am
one who believes that there are many
convictions of innocent persons, and
resolved to help him. At my instance
he took of his stripes, tied stone 10
them. then sank them In the river
Then he Jumped In the water, came
out nj once. and lent him as much OF
nv clothing as | could spare. Al
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 a stable,
hired a closed vehicle, and we were
driven to railway station eighteen
miles away. There l parted with my
man. first giving him what money
had In my pocket. my name ana au'
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 MS
stock till he had quite a fourlshlng
store under the name OF Nathan Ky
der. Falling In with young woman
of thrifty habits, he married her, nrse
telling her his story. Several rosy
checked children came to the pair
and there was happy home. true
sword hung over them all, but the
children were ignorant Of 1t, and AFTER
wears had passed and the secret was
not divulged the father and motner
began to think that they were immune.
One day a man came into the store
and asked for some tobacco. Looking
I'M 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
nv time. I'm Hardy. l had the next
cell to yours"
The secret was out. The man VINO
had told 1t, seeing Ryder's prosperity,
resolved to take advantage OF 1t ana
asked for money. Ryder refused to be
blaclmailed. but offered to help the
ex-convict, who had served his term,
to make an honest living. The oner
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 1t.
RYDER asked for time, telling Hardy to
come to see him the next day. Then
he went home, put his arms about MS
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 themf
Should they live continually under the
harrow. with a prospect Of the secret
being dlvulged to the authorities In
the end despite all they could dor
Seven years of the sentence were yet
70 be served. Could the wife keep the
family In condition for so long timer
Before the couple retired for the night
they had decided Hardy was to be
nermitted to carry the Information.
But before they slept Ryder wrote me
Of the facts.
AS soon as | received the letter |
telegraphed Ryder to temporize with
Hardy. and | at once took train for
Ryder's home. | 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 Ky
der. much more fully than | can tell
1t In this limited space. He was much
impressed. but could not see his way
clear TO act. OF course Ryder, having
been duly convicted, must be treated
as a criminal. He had committed q
crime in escaping. A pardon would
be to put q premium on this additional
crime. However, the governor prom
ised to take the matter under advise
ment. After n long interval | effected
compromise. Ryder was to return
voluntarily to prison and be pardoned
within three months. This would re-
veal Ryder's past and stamp him
, convict, but 1t was the best could do
; Ryder gave himself up and was par
, doned in thirty days. The story, In
Guiding my connection with the case
I and other details, was widely publish