The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-13

Johnson who served that term in the
 penitentiary are one and the same l man."
 1 I paused and deep breath ran through the audience The multitude
 seemed to curve forward, to come | closer to me, and it's blended face grew
 more eager. But as yet l saw only
 curiosity, the fever to know more. not
 condemnation. On the stage about me | no one moved, not a garment rustled. l q was that Charlie Johnson" I con-
 tinued, "and I served my term. told ! the world once before that I had been wild and dissipated in my youth ana l that early life of mine led me into 1 trouble from which 1 did not escape. 1 But I was innocent of the crime for which I was convicted. l know all
 convicts make such a claim, kut mine | is true. Why I did not undertake to prove my innocence I shall not try to
 explain to you here. That concerns
 only me and another whom do not ! name. But you know all my pubic Life since I reappeared among you, as myself, as Harry Clarke, and it is for you to say what I shall be henceforth.' | paused again, but I still faced the audience, confident in my strength and
 now that it was out, the whole story | boiled so to speak from my lips. l felt wonderful lghtness of heart and mind It was a sensation of relief. of ! sheer joy that I cannot describe. For l the first time in years I stood forth for what was, for all that had been,
 me that I hid anything. The burden
 was gone and I stood up. erect and strong
 You've done the right thing Harry
 cried a voice in my ear. It was War
 field. How grateful were his words to
 me!
 'I have told you a1l,'' I repeated 'I concea! nothing. and I apologize for
 nothing. Now it is for to to say what
 you will do with me-
 l I saw the great curve of faces before 1 me transformed by new emotions. and | it still seemed to bend forward and to
 come vet closer to me. The stiffness
 ceased, and as I stood there facing the
 people a hum arose and fast deepeDed l into a tumult. The black figures Of
 the men and the brilliant ficures of i the women moved as if shaken by new
 emotions. The whole audience. terrace
 after terrace, seemed to be .sWaylng about. and a confused uproar filled the l hall Then with audiences absolute and far more dramatic than any thea : trical effect all the noise and all the
 noise and all the movements ceased, and a deep. intense and painful silence
 reigned again.
 1 All eyes had suddenly shifted from l me to something else, and l had not ! dreamed what it would be or could be. l Tn a box on the left, almost hidden from me where I stood woman had ! suddenly arisen and come forward un- 1 til she leaned over the low railing and l faced the audience with both hands 1 uprafsed. 1 It was Alicia. with the look of the l sheer and the prophet, the look Of | Elias on her face. Some such look
 may have been upon the face of Ju-
 dith when she went to the tent of l HOlOferneS.
 l For Gods sake stop her!' l cried
 to Warfield and Guthrie, but they paid
 me no attention. Nor did any other l I saw her figure sway and tremble | and then raise itself proudly erect.
 "He is not telling you all," she said,
 and her voice was clear and strong,
 filling the great hall. ''He is hiding
 something from you and what he hides l is the most important of all.' ] She, too paused, as I had done more
 than once in my own confession, and a most extraordinary gasping sigh came from the audience, a sigh of cur
 iosity keyed to it's last pitch.
 For Gods sake stop her!' I tried to say again, but my tongue lay dry
 in my mouth, and the words died at
 my lips.
 ssHe said that he was innocent and l he is" she continued and her voice was clear and distinct to the farthest l nerson in the hall. "He said also that his secret is known to one other whom | he does not name, but it is l. He suffered to shield me, to protect my good name. Because he was found by my husband, George Grey, in our | house at midnight he claimed to be burglar and suffered in silence. Why ! he was there you may think what you | will but he was there and he was no | burglar
 | was still standing-I do not think l | had moved an inch-and when she ut- tered the last words I saw her face suddenly .whiten. Then she sank down as if all the life had gone out of her l on the instant and the hands of those l behind her lifted her up and carried her away.
 As God is my judge I had not fore
 seen any such climax ana reVelation. | I had not known that Alicia was i'll ] the hall, nor, if knowing it, could l have thought that she would have the strength to rise and say what, she had 1 said- was overpowered, the place grew dark, and the audience spun be- l fore me. I felt my arms seized on either side and I knew afterward that | it was Guthrie and Warfield who held | me.
 1 From the front came a vast turmoil, | cheers and misses, cries of "Clarke! 1 Clarke! Clarke!" and nearby women
 were weeping The turmoil swelled and the cheers drowned the hisses-
 that I can never forget
 You've done right, Harry, old man. l Jimmy Warfield whispered again in i my ear, "andt you've done the thing l that I knew you would do.'' i I looked at him in deep astonishment
 and he smiled.
 I "I have known the whole truth these | two weeks,'' he said. 'She-Mrs. Grey,
 told it all to me. I've never been so
 proud of you in my life as I am to- | day.
 where is she?" I asked. Mrs Guthrie has taken her away l in her carriage. Don't you be afraid l for her Harry Coming at such a time and under such circumstances the pub ] lie will believe. The impression made | here today can never be effaced.' | g o- CTo be Continued.}