Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-05-02

told Mr.. Flynn. | am going TO New Jer-
sey. If ! have to walk every step OF l"c
way-that is. If YOU eyer answer MS ivtter
for ! am dying IL see You,
Superintendent Flynn said l ousnt
never to be her. If those pcopi"
had paid ne :; l.t,le wages | would
have had some money saved up. like you
have, Hazel. and ii they had bought ne
some sunday clothes so could go u"
church. would rcver have RIM away. |
would have stayed there Till was Il years
old and wouldn't he in prison now.
But l can't help ii row. ana sorry.
for it will be mighty lonesoms If You never
write To NJ again. But ! have ;o!d You
the truth, Hazel. and | reckon that's best.
So | will tell you goodhy. Win best
wishes. 200 koSsTs.
The letter was a efca; shock 10 Hazel
and her amt. though beth cordoned his
fault and believed his punishment too
heavy.
Ilazci's fear OF tho comments of her fell
low-work.rS when she confcssos mat her
romantic correspondent is ii convict moved
her aunt 20 the sudden determination tosec
Sob. ani. II possible. obtain his pardon.
Sh, and Hazel journcynd to jefferson city.
There is an extended description of their
journey, including q sightseeing stop over
ia Chicago. but al last they reach the
prison.
"IIavc a seat, ladies'. He will be here
directly" said the warden. turning to at
tend to his other duties.
Aud sure enough. in Il few minutes. in
walked Bob Rogers. The poor fellow
sasprd for breath. sunk into a chair and
hid his face in his hands. So faithfully
mad he studied iiazcl's photograph that
he recognized her Immediately. and in
:-tinctively he knew that this must be the
auntie of whom she had written so affec-
n.. ,.. "
and his prison garb almost overpowrred
him. For several minutes he could not
!ooi up.
Hazel hardly knew what 10 do. but
auntie walked over and laid her hand on
Hob's shoulder.
Don't YOU know us. Bob" sire asked.
c~ncouragingly. This is Hazel, and | am
the auntie she told YOU about il: her let
ter"
YES, yes. 1 know .noancd Bob: bat
auntic. taking his cheeks in her hands.
raised his head and kissed him. Just as an
evidence OF good will. Thus encouraged. he
soon sal m straight. and then. for the first
time in his life. he looked long and earn
estly into the eyes Of Hazel Wild.
IL was so impressed by the honesty OF
your letters thar ! mad" M my mind to
come to see YOU said auntie. "and of
course" she added. smiling, y brought
Bob FLASHES we're d L, ep as Haxers
n cant tell you how glad | am that You
came said Bob. sim greatly embarrassed
but ] am sorry that YOU had 10 look mo
up in This horrible place
Yes" replied auntlc. but there is such
Il thing as a pardon. you know"
Inc keeper. FLYNN. hears from Bob Of
his visitors and takes them 10 his own
horne. promising his aid. lie is profuse
in his praises of the young convict. and
aids Mrs. Sprague in securing the par
don.
Bob goes east with Hazel. whom lie
marries. and her aunt and obtains Il po-
sition as chauffeur for John Goodrich, a
rich banker. There is y breakdown while
the banker Is touring in New Jersey and
Bod airs his views upon the employment
of convict labor in road making.
IF the state would only do its duty"
muttered Bob. no pleasure party would
ever be placed in such a fix as we are
now"
What's the state GOT to do with the
natter? growled the banker. He was
not in the habit of talking with any of his
employees, but this remark from his young
chauffeur. under the circumstances, in
tercsted him.
Everything. SIR" answered Bob. forci-
bly,. yet politely. ''lf the state. instead
of farming out it's convicts to contractors.
who become immensely wealthy off of
their work, would use them to build good
roads the year round. the whole state
would soon be full of good roads. by which
everyday would be benefited, and there
would be no convict-made goods to be sold
in opposition TO those made by free men
VINO have families TO support
But 90 You for one minutes suppose
that Il gang of convicts would labor to
make a road as good as one that could
be made by free men VINO were paid for
the job?' asked the anker.
"Certain.y. Sir" Bob. And
why rot? Convicts are human beings. lust
the same as other men, and can work JUS:
as hard and Just as faithfully"
But would they do it," asked the bank
er. wouldn't they all the time be tigur-
ing on escaping. rather than working?'
- think not replied Bob. Most con-
i victs are eager and anxious to finish their
terms. and would far rather work, no
matter how hard the task, than to take
the risk OF running away and being COM
PEELED to dodge the law for years to come.
Not every man who goes to prison is bad
at heart. There are many victims of cir
cumstances in prison today. and many a
big criminal at large who ought to be be-
hind the bars"
The rich banker WINGED at this. remem-
bering his own connection with a swind-
ing insurance ompany and with a rail
road which had repeatedly defed the gov
eminent.
Bob's earnestacss and familiarity with
his subject induced the banker to employ
u detective to look into the matter. This
man, posing as n guest of the Goodriches,
piles Fob with champagne and confesses
that he Is an English criminal with A de
sire TO be a gentleman burglar and asks
Bob to become his pal.
Bob explains his crime and reformation,
but does not learn until long afterward
that the Englishman was q detective and
that he was not only responsible for the
loss of the Goodrich position. but that his
subsequent applications for work, giving
! EGadIich aS a rafnraaaa s.asa