Evening star., 1909-06-13
CHAPTER X-Continued.
CHICAGO, lRIsuNE

He tried to work. resumed Conover,
but younger, smarter folks with steadier
business trainin' was grabbin all the
good jobs. Yet he Got what he could
an for awhile he did the hest he knew
how. Then he saw chance to make
things easier for my mother an me
He'd been used to seein' his officers in
the army paddin' expense accounts an
Gettin' graft on fodder bills an such.
He'd seen contractors grow rich by sell
in the gov'mcnt shoddy blankets an
rotten food. Was il any worse for him to
scamp weights on the coal scales? That's
what he done. Not in big quantities as
il he was tinancier; but few cents Il
day he got the chance
That was his mistake. If he'd stole
million he'd been big man in Granite
But he hadn't the brain 10 do more'n fol-
Ter. u long way off. the example of the
men he'd been taught 20 obey for four
years. Because he stole so little an so
stoopidly, they found him out. They
didn't stop 10 ask If he'd used the mis-
or Die little sums of pilfered money to
make his home happier an buy things
for his sick wife. Those arguments don't
cut much ice in law. He was just a
common thief. An they sent him TO
states prison. Me an my mother could
starve. for all tho law cared The bread
winner locked UP. That was all
hunger If We wanted 70, that the
law had taken away The man who lad
stole 10 keep US alive.
Il guess YOU folks has read Of the way
men get treated in those places where the
state gives EN- chance to repent of
their sins. For five years my father lived
in a stone cubbyhple an had for chums
choice election of the devils own bri-
Eade. Not soul in all that time To
Speak a decent word 10 him-to say
please, in givin' him his orders II
sounds like a small thing 10 have no one
say please 10 You. But try i Some time
After five years OF her6in with beasts
only hein' treated worse'n the s F.
{. A. would let any beast be treated
they turned my father loose. They'd set
the prison mark on him. they'd taught
him TO keep comp'ny with black guards ):
. they'd made him Callous to everything
decent and taken away his citizenship
Havin' done which. they GENEROUSLY sets
him free an gives him a chance to he a
godfearin upright man in future Who'll
hire a convict" Who'll give him a show :?
No one. You know that as well as / do
How can lie hold up his head among the
men WHO haven't had the bad luck to
be caught? What was left for my father
10 do" To soCIatc with the only class
tha;d take him as an equal 10 turn
TO the drink that made him forget they d
branded nun as an oatCast That's what
ne did amt saNin' is right. l amt
sayin' that Saul Conovcr's i noble lookin
work Of God as he sinks against that
post there. The drink that comforted
him 50 long has knocked out his man
hood. The hard luck an starvin has
turned linn old and ugly an bad shaped
In short, he's what s'ciety an d lovin'
pa'erral gov'mcnt has made him An
hes my father, God help him An the
man who says I'm ashamed of him. lies
Amid the oppressed silence. Caleb Con-
over crossed over to where his father
stood Cowsd and haIf-Sobered As gem
tly woman. he put his arm about
the old mans twisted shoulders and
drew him toward the door. \ lane WAS
made for their passage. From some
where in the crowd came the sound Of
a woman's stifled sob. Jack Hawarden
impulsively elapped his hands together
There was an inStants shocked silence
Then-no one could afterward explain
why-the lads example was followed
from all quarters of the dining hall. and
a rattle of homogeneous applause re-
echoed through the place.
AS Conover. half leading, half support
ing the wiZened form. neared the door,
young Ha awarden barred his path. With
boyish hero-worship shining in his eyes
Jack thrust out his hand. Caleb gripped
il in silence and passed on our into the
darkness None followed the strange pair
as they left the clubhouse.
Neither father nor son spoke a word
until they were alone in the starlit road