Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-19
/ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The TX Convict.
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country near the bnll. ~ a river when
young rnun OF twenty-five or twenty.
three rose out of some bushes. He was
dressed In convict stripes.
Say, mister" lie said. pleading with
his eyes rs well as his voice, won't
you help me? I've served three years
for crime | didn't commit. Some
young fcllcrs fell in with told me
one night that they We're going TO
crack II crib asked them what that
meant. They laughed ut 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 Il
house and were nabbcd before had
time to get nwny. was taken with
them. convicted and sent up for ten
years"
II ever there was truth written IN II
mans face II 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 or his stripes. tied stone 10
them, then snnk them In the river
Then he jumped IN the water. came
out III once, and | lent him as much of
my clothing ~ could spare. At IL
house near by he told the story that
he was bathing and II tramp had stolen
his clothes. We readily obtained more
clothing and. going on to n stable
hired closed vehicle, and we were
driven to railway station eighteen
miles AWAY. There | parted with my
mnn. first giving him what money
had In my pocket my name and adj
dress and asking him to communicate
With me.
lie did 80 for eight years. l sent
him enough money to start news
paper stand, ut which he was success
full To the saic OF papers he ndded
other articles, gradually increasing his
stock TIL he had quite II flourishing
store under the name of Nathan l,y-
der. Failing In With II young woman
of thrifty habits, he married her, first
telling her his story. Several rosy
checked children came TO the pair.
anu there WIS II happy home. True,
n sword hung over them all. but the
children Were ignorant of It. and after
years had passed and the secret was
not dlvulgcd the father and mother
began to think that they were immune.
One day man came into the store
and asked for some tobacco. Looking
IN from the case. he fixed his gaze on
Ryder.
"IIclio. 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 10 yours
The secret was out. The man who
Ind told 1t, seeing Rydcr's prosperity,
resolved to take advantage of 1t and
nsicd for money. Ryder refused to he
blackmallcd. but offered to help the
ex-convict, who had served his term,
10 make mn honest living. The Offer
was declined. There Is reward for
Information that Will lead To the cap
turc Of MI 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 hls arms about his
wife and told her that tho sword had
fallen.
Thrlctincss brings self control, and
self control brings the habit of thrash
Ing out important questions AS they
nrise. Ryder md his wife talked late
Into the night OF this the most lmpor-
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 divulgcd TO the authorities In
the end despite all they could do?
Seven years of the sentence were yet
to he served. Could the wife keep the
family In condition for so long II 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 fuctS
AS soon ns l received the letter |
telcgrnphcd Ryder to temporize with
Hardy. and | ut once took n train for
Nydcrs home. found him and his
wife together. the picture of despair.
Meanwhile had formed n 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
advised him TO put aside 500 to be
dolcd out 10 the threatening inrormer
only ms necessary. This done. pressed
The couple warmly by the hand and
departed for the state capital.
told the story to the governor, con
ccalins the name and residence OF Ky
der much more fully than | can tell
II In this limited space. He was much
impressed. but could not see his way
clear to net. OF course Ryder. having
been duly convicted, must be treated