The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-22

Almost all of Charles Reade's novels were novels with a purpose In Put Yourself in His Place" he attacked the svsr svery refG Hard cash % was S founded on ab- uses among private iunatic asyl- ums Its Never Too Late to Mend'' was such an attack on the British prison system that years after its first in the London theatre where 1t was
 Foul Play" is based on the injustice of British justice, which refuses to let half. This law stops the mouth of the hero, who is accused of forgery and makes a felon of an innocent man.
 In our day. when an accused person cannot only delay his trial month aft CT month to get neded witnesses, but can fight his convictions for months and years afterwards on all sorts of triyal technicaiities, 1t is difficult to Foul Play" But in Charles Reades time trials were summary; and a crim- tnal charge carried with 1t a strong presupposition of the accused mans was presumed to be innocent. So the case and dispatch with which Robert Penfold was hurried to the dock and thence to the prison was neither un-
 Arthur wardIaw. son of the grate London merchant John Wardlaw, was 2z years old when he was sent to OK ford to read for degree. his father having decided that the old firm would university man.
 Arthur already had served seven years as clerk In his fathers oface. He had forgotten most of his Greek and Latin and had accumulated instead preponderating amount of greed and cunning. It was lucky for him that his private tutor was the Rev. Robert Penfold, one of the most brilliant uni- versity men of his day.
 The young clergyman. intensely con- sctentious by nature. was the more jealous in the case of Arthur Ward lay because his father. old Michael PenfoId. had been cashier for the house of Wardlaw for meany years. When the Rev. MT. Penfold learned that Ar thur was to be made a member of the firm and to have the reins of govern ment as soon as he should get his de- gree he did not content himself with giving the young man merely a course of instructions. but went to his room at all hours and forced him to read.
 He went further. and did his best to curb young Wardlaw's wild courses, although he did not know what ex- travagant expenditures the young fell low was making. Finally for a worse freak than usual young Wardlaw was threatened with expulsion. This meant ruin to him. His father never would forgive him, especially as 1t would lead to . discovery of his debts, most of which he had counted on paying quiet ly out of the funds of the firm as soon as he should have them in his hands.
 In this emergency Robert Penfold threw all his influence into the case, and after days of desperate effort suc-
 a- .a~ ne- erward Wardlaw passed his examina- tions with care.
 Protesting everlasting gratitude, Ar thur Wardlaw said: You have told me that you wanted to buy that living near Oxford, but cannot do so without 500 pounds. As you know. I shall be my fathers partner at once. I have 1000 pounds, of which you will let me have 1.400 pounds to pay some very pressing bedts. The other six hundred you may have. and you can pay them back to us in easy installments."
 Robert Penfold was deeply touched Arthur Wardlaw hurried to London and asked his father to make the loan. That gentleman declined instantly say. ing that 1t was not business.
 Young Wardiaw~was hard hit by the unexpected refusal. It was not Robert Penfold's affair that bothered him, though, to do him justice, he was eager enough to repay his great obligation to the tutor in some way. There was q more serious side to the matter, The 1.400 pounds that he had expected to get out of the transaction were needed by him desperately. They were to cover debts that must be paid at all hazards before there could be any dis- closures.
 He reflected quickly. Within a few weeks at the most he would be head of the firm. If he signed his fathers name to note now he would be In power by the time 1t was presented.
 He said nothing to Robert Penfold: A few days afterward a stranger called on the young clergyman and said that he had been sent by Wardlaw. who was Ill. He produced a note signed by John Wardlaw for f2,000, got Penfold to in dorse 1t and gave him the address of bill discounter who would cash 1t.
 The young clergyman did so and locked up the money In a cupboard to wat tlli wardlaw should arrive. That evening three detectives appeared with warrant charging him with forgery. Certain that there was a mistake. Pen fold was willing to so with them at once: but when they tried to force handcuffs on him the disgrace mad dened him and he fought his captors with all the strength of a famous uni- versity athlete.
 The note broker had observed a triv- ial lrregularity in the note and had gone to Mir. Wardlaw's house to call his attention to 1t. Thus an unforeseen accident brought about the discovery of the forgery at once.
 Penfold's desperate resistance put him into a bad position. His total inc ability to explain the mystery made his defense almost absurd. He could only say that he had been promised the money and, therefore. had every req son to accept the note even though it was brought to him by total stran- ger. He could not produce any proof, for young Wardlaw, who had hidden himself away in terror when the for gerry was discovered, became danger ously i'll with a brain fever before he could make up his mind how to act.
 The elder Wardlaw appeared in court, swore that the signature was a for gerry, and swore that his son, who was not expected to live, had declared be- fore he came unconscious that he knew nothing of the note. He added that PenfoId had applied to him through young wardlaw for the loan of E2.00o, which had been refused.
 Unable to bring his only witness into court, prevented by the law from going on the stand and telling his own story, Robert Penfold was as @ man with a sealed mouth, forced to let the prose- cution pile evidence against him. All that his counsel succeeded in doing was to v.,,k a Fau,nus exnarf m fine afaud