The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-09-17
The Ex-COnviCt.
[orIgInal.l


was walking one morning in the
country near the bank os-a river when
young man of twenty-five or tweI&y-
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? I've served three years
for a crime / didn't commit Some
young fellers / 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 aud were nabbed before had
time to get away. | was taken with
them, convicted and sent up for ten
years"
If ever there was truth written in
mans face it was in this mans ] 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 a 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 a tramp had stolen
his clothes. We readily obtained more
clothing, and, going on to a stable. |
hired closed vehicle, and we were
driven to q railway station eighteen
miles away There | parted with my
man, first giving him what money
had in my pocket my name and adj
dress and asking him TO communicate
with me.
He did GO for eight years. sent
bin enough money to start a news
paper stand, at which ne was success
full. To the sale of papers he added
other articles, gradually increasing his
stock till he had quite nourishlng
store under the name Of Nathan Ry-
der. Falling In with young woman
OF thrifty habits, he married her, first
telling her his story. Several rosy
checked children came TO the pair.
and there was happy home. True,
d ssYord hung over them all but the
children wcro ignorant of it, and after
years had passed and the secret was
not dlvulged the father and mother
began to think that they wore Immune.
one day man came. into the store
ana asked for some tobacco. Looking
up from the case, he fixed his gaze on
Ryder
"Hello. mater he exclaimed.
Ryder turned pale.
aYou'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
Ind told Il, aeeIng Ryders prosperity,
resolved to take advantage Of It and
asked for money. Ryder refused to be
blaci,mailed. but offered 70 help the
ex-convlct, who bad served bis term,
10 make IN honest living. The otter
was declined. There i reward for
Information that viii lead to the cap
tare Of nm escaped prisoner, and IIar5'
threatened TO Inform and eecure 1t,
RYDER asked FOR ting, telling Hardy 70
come to see him the next day. Then
be went home, put bis arms about bis
Nlfe and told her that the sword bad
fallen
Tnriftiness brings self control, and
Aelf control brings the habit Of thrash.
h. out importan6 questions as they
aflse. Ryder and his wife talked late
lnto the night Of this the most impor-
tant problem Of their lives Should
tiiey permit their savings to pass to
lie rascal who would bleed themi
gh0uld they live continually under the
harrow, with a prospect Of the secret
being dlvulgcd to the authorities in
the end despite all they could dol
Seven years OF the sentence were yet
Ia he served. Could the wife keep the
bmiiy III condition for SO long a timei
Before the couple retired for the night
they ina decided Hardy was 70 be
nernitted to carry the Information
Bnt hefore they slept Ryder wrote nc
Of the factg.
Az soon ns / received the letter
taleqraphcd Ryder 70 temporize Will
aor3v. aid at once took train fol-
uvlers homo. found him and his
riro togalher, the picture Of despair
Meanwhile had formed plan By
,rblcb Ind n hope OF tightening the
Nov On receipt Of my telegram Ity
sor had given Hardy $40 lntimatine
got No night get more. Ny plan
.,,gbt resuire considerable time, ant
odyiscl Mn to put aside 500 to b'
sa,od out % the threatening infornel
WIN y necessary. This done, pressed
~ comic warmly by Che hand anc
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