The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

.whatm shouted Meadows, furiously. Do you think I am a thief? I, Ionn Meadows who never wronged man of pennyi I take this to get his sweet heart. l am going to burn these notes and after we are married I shall send him e7000 of my own
 Levi heard Meadows stride to the fire place. Then he heard a shriek from Crawley, who fell to pleading with Mead ows not to destroy the money. but to give it to him. prayer in which he was suc- eessful at last, as his wild words Of thankfulness showed.
 A few minutes later Isaac saw the two hurry from the house and depart in diff ferent directions. He emerged almost be- hind them and followed Crawley.
 Presently the bells began to ring and Susan came out of the Merton house on Meadows arm. They had barely emerged when there came a cry "Susan!" and George stood before them
 She screamed and threw herself into his arms. The next moment she sprang from him and turned on him with. "Howdare youY You, who have been false to mel Oh. GeorGe!"
 "False?" cried Robinson, q never left his side for months and never saw him speak to a woman!'
 You thought me false" said George. Nov you know am true. Here is your ring, Susan. If you love that man bet ter than you do me, speak out" Susan looked at him, her face radiant. ''The moment I saw your face, George" said she, and truth shining in it, I for
 
 ows in the world She tore herself away from the bridesmaids and ran into the house.
 "Mr. Merton" said George, your prom ised Susan to me if I brought back f1O00. How much is my share. Tom?'
 -Four thousand pounds. Here are the notes," said Tom Robinson, opening the pocketbook. His jaw dropped, he looked stupidly into the flaps and pulled out bits of newspaper cut into the size of Bank of England notes.
 George gasped. "Robbede" whispered he.
 Robinson began to sob. We worked hard for it." good folk said he. "and risked our lives''
 The two men sat down on bench Hdnu III mana, ana turHeu lnelr HeduS away
 Susan came timidly out of the house and sat on Georges other side. Do not grieve." said she. "Ohl have been rob- bed of what was better than life since you went away, and now you grieve at mere loss of money"l
 Touch him on his pride," whispered Meadows fiercely to Merton. Get rid of
 him, and your debts shall be paid. If l not
 l At this moment man stepped up to
 him and said:
 We want you" 3
 He whistled and more men came in qui- etly. Behind them appeared a magis- trate and Isaac Levy. 'I accuse that man of robbng these two,'' said the Jew. T heard him tell Crawley about it. Bring him here. If the notes are not in his pocket let me suffer scorn'
 Meadows turned pale. Tom Robinson quickly described the notes and gave their numbers. Crawley was brought in quaking with fear The magistrate or- dered a search and in another moment the notes were taken out of his breast pocket. Isaac Levy having kept him too well watched to permit of his getting rid | of them since the moment that he had caused his arrest
 Meadows uttered a yell like tiger and pulled out a pistol. He pressed it to his temple, but it failed to explode. h. stantly dozen men were on him, and after fierce fight he was tied and drag | ged away with Crawley Susan ran to Isaac Levi and kissed him. 1 ba hair and 1 said: "Go to, you foolish child!" But his l deep voice trembled, and tenderness glis- tened in his fiery eye. John Meadows in jail fell into a deep ! depression; but after a time he shook it | off and wrote to the Jew offering him a l long lease of the old house If he would l absent himself from the trial. 1 As for George and Robinson, the lat- i ter had gone back to Australia as sool as he had seen his friend married to l Susan, and George needed no bribe to make him forgive.
 1 So it was that the two criminals were l freed for want of witnesses wh en their 1 trial came on. George was fined $1oo l for not appearing. A messenger ar rived at his farm with the money from Meadows the day after his liberation. l The same messenger brought Levi ] | note. Take the house. said Meadows l in it. "and pay me what you will for l l. me, for 1 have not known a heart at rest since you laid it on.'
 ."Three just men shall value the house." wrote Isaac Levi in answer. Put now diversity to profit Repent l and prosper. Isaac Levi wishes you no 1 i'll from this day, but rather good" l Soon afterward a vessel R1ided down ] the Thames. bound for Australia. On it's deck stood John Meadows, with al l old woman who held tightly to his 1 arm. It was his mother, who had d s- | nounced his greed for money making | long ago and hated and denounced his | sins, but now. at three score and ten, | left her native land to comfort her son
 and lead him to repentance.
 "He shallc repent" said she to her | self as she looked her last on England. | Tt is never too late to mend" And so
 at almost the same time, thought Tom Robinson, once a thief, as he looked
 again on Australia and remembered
 his first arrival there. And so thought many good men in England one day ! when, in great new prison, with the Rev. Francis Eden as chaplain, there | was instituted a new system where men were taught, instead of being cru
 cified and redeemed instead of being | scourged. <
 Next Sundays one page classic will