Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-07-16

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; at would be a
poor kindness, though think you
with all my heart for the Thought. The
greatest rufI1an in the jail would be a
better friend to me than my own re-
iections. All, see what you Think"
cried Tom MS a queer light glimmered
in the surgeons eyes. well. l have
done protesting my innocence, but
don't let them leave me by myself.
that's all ask
Mr.. Cotton entered into spiritual
matters, to which Tom listened corr
teousiy, though chiefly out Of loving
respect for his dear fathers memory.
for where was the God who would per-
NIT mn innocent man to suffer death
for another's crime? When, however,
the good chaplain closed his books he
referred discreetly rs he rose to cer-
tain efforts already being made to oh
tain n reprieye, adding that lie would
himself do what lie could; ito further
them. as a matter of course.
sW Z should you, sir asked Tom
defer. TALLY. when you are quite
convinced of my guilt?"
The chaplain colored.
Il never said was convinced he
cried. ut 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. l, 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 the last visitor. He was
In a tremendous hurry. The petition
was already receiving support aud
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 Clafre's? The thought came
for the first time. 1t 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, q
gaunt. dread figure, but they had let
him keep a slip of paper that he had
often taken out Of pocket in his own
clothes to pore over and to dream upon.
I He produced 1t now. 1t was the slip
Of paper Daintree had handed down to
him during the proceedings at Maryle-
bone, aud he had never seen the writ
Ier's face. But he had made face
unto himself: had built up 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
1900 years.
So when his last visitor had depart
I'd the condemned man was not
ashamed to kiss that furried scrawl3
with his lips nor afterwards to find 1t
smuIged 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 its origin
in the number Of offenses 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 strnightway dispatched to the pris.
man without n moments unnecessary
delay.
1t was the 18th OF May and Thurs
day night near the strokesof IL. All
was silent In the condemned cells, for
even Creasey's yoluble tongue had
ceased to wag, and Tom lay thinking
on Ills bed. His companion was a
trashy hound, ever cursing God or en-
treating him with shrieks and tears,
A.HAs -, < ] i...