Willmar tribune., 1908-04-29
The Ex-Convict.
[Original.]

[Original.]
was walking one morning in the
country near the bank OF Il river when
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 we'll as his voice, won't
you help me? I've served three years
for crime l didn't commit Some
young felers ! fell in with told NE
one night that they were going to
crack Il crib asked them what that
meant Tlev 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
house and 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 III a
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
be took off his stripes. tied a stone to
them. then sank them In the river.
Then he jumped iii the water. came
out ut once. and l lent him as much OF
my clothing as l could spare. At a
house near by he told the story that
he was bathing and il tramp had stolen
his clothes We readily obtained more
clothing, and going on to stable,
hired closed vehicle. and we were
driven to railway station eighteen
miles away. There l parted with my
man. first giving him what money l
had in my pocket. my name and ad-
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 his
stock till he had quite tourishing
store under the name Of Nathan Ry-
der Falling in with IL young woman
Of thrifty habits, he married her, first
telling her his story. Several ros!
checked children came to the pair.
and there was happy home. True,
sword hung over them all. but tho
children were ignorant Of it. and after
years had passed and the secret was
not divulged the father and mother
began to think that they were immune
One day Il man came into the store
and asked for some tobacco. Looking
uD from the case. he fixed his gaze on
Ryder.
Hello, mate" he exclaimed.
Ryder turned pale.
"Yous the man that escaped way
back when ia served two years OF
my time. I'm Hardy. l had the next
cell to yours"
The secret was out. The man who
had told it. seeing Ryder's prosperity.
resolved to take advantage of 1t and
asked for money. Ryder refused to be
biackmailed, but offered to help the
ex-convict, who had served his term,
to make an honest living. The offer
was declined. There is a reward for
information that will lead to the cap
ture of an escaped prisoner, and Hardy
threatened to inform and secure It..
Ryder asked for time, telling Hardy to
come to see him the next day. Then
he went home, put his arms about his
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 them I?
Should they live continually under the
harrow, with prospect of the secret
being divulged to the authorities in
the end despite all they could do:
Seven years of the sentence were yet
to be served. Could the wife keep the
family in condition for so long time I?
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 facts.
AS soon as l received the letter
telegraphed Ryder to temporize with
Hardy. and at once took train for
Ryder's home. I found him and his
wife together, the picture of despair.
Meanwhile l had formed plan by
which | had hope OF tightening the
blow. On receipt of my telegram Ry-
der had given Hardy $40. !ntimating
that he might get more. My plan
might require considerable time, and
l 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.
l told the story to the governor, con
cealing the name and residence Of Ky-
der. much more fully than l can tell
1t In this limited space. He was much
impressed. but could not see his way
clear to act. or course Ryder, having
been duly convicted, must he treated
as criminal. He had committed a
crime in escaping. \ pardon would
be to put a premium on this additional
crime. However, the governor prom
1sed to take the matter under advise
ment. After Il long interval l effected
a compromise. Ryder was to return
voluntarily to prison and be pardOned
within three months. This would re-
veal Ryder's past and stamp him a
convict but it was the best could do.
Ryder gave himself up and was par
doned in thirty days. The story, i'll.
Guiding my connection with the case
and other details, was widely publish