The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-03-23

IF had the money. maam." said
the man, I'D gladly give 1t to help
the child Or IL had friends I'd get
! 1t from them. But I'm wanderer,
ma'am. and every mans hand is
against me-" lie suddenly paused
And there's the making OF a splen.
did man in the little chap" he added
and abruptly walked away
He had attacks OF melancholy from
time to time, when he would hide
away. even from the boy. He had one
that evening as he stood in the barn
doorway looking up at the darkened
sky.
Pm tired OF IT all" he muttered.
/ What chance is there for me? They
are sure to hunt me down. may
have to run again at any moment"
He drew the little handbill from his
pocket and stared at the one word
that was visible in the darkness. It
was the word "REWARD!" He
crumpled it in his hand. stephen
Ridge" he slowly said you've never
had much of a chance in the world
You've never even had the chance to
show that there was some good in
you after all. You've got such a
chance now"
The next morning he was about his
work whistling in his CHEEKY way.
Presently he asked the woman for pen
and ink and paper.
Are you going to write home?" she
asked.
He suddenly laughed
"To the only home I know he an
swered.
The boy gave the letter to a pass
ing farmer to mail and the man went
about his work in his usual brisk fash
ion. He was even more cheerful than
usual. With the sending of the letter
a load had been lifted from his mind.
Two days later, in the morning. a
light wagon stopped at the gate and
two men alighted. The man was on
the lookout for them He stepped to
the house.
Come" he said to the woman. 81
want you to meet some friends of
mine. Hush-where is the boy?"
"He is in the parlor reading"
Don't let him hear you. Come"
She followed him wondering
Here" he said, take this" And
he hastily thrust the handbll into
her hands. you will show it when I
call for it."
The men We're coming through the
gateway At the sight of the man
with the woman they both started and
sprang forward. The man held up
his hand.
TITS all right Jim Raynor," he
called. "1'm cornered. | give up"
lawfully glad to see you. Steve"
said the man he had called Rayror.
"No 'possum tricks" He advanced
warily as he spoke.
81 tell you, l give up, Jim the man
replied, she wrote to you. dida't
she?" And he nodded towards the
woman.
"Yes."
Recognized me by the handbill
there, no doubt" And he pointed to
the sheet of paper in the woman's
grasp. Rewards $500. amt it,"
Yes, Steve"
And she gets it?"
Yes, Steve"
The woman had been staring con-
fusedly from one to another. Now
she tried to speak. The man held
up his hand.
Excuse me, ma'am," he said, II
want to have a word in private with
my friends here" And he stepped a
little aside with the man called Ray
nor.
"As mark of good faith, jim" he
murmured and slipped the loaded re-
volver into his hand.
They talked earnestly for several
minutes, and then rejoined the wom-
an.
Madam" said the man called Ray.
nor, II am the warden of the Eastern
penitentiary. This man is Stephen
Ridge. burglar, with a long list of
crimes to his discredit and twenty
year sentence before him. Six weeks
ago he escaped from US and has elud-
ed pursuit until now. | want to say
that the reward for the information
that has led to his capture is $500,
which belongs to you. | will personal
ly see that the warrant for the reward
is placed in your hands. Jim here"
and he gently touched the man on the
shoulder, says you will know what
to do with the money"
The woman tried to speak, but the
man again interrupted her.
Say goodby to the little chap for
me" he quickly said. Il wish him
the best of luck"
And he waved his hand cheerily as
he moved away with the two men.
The woman was crying.-W. r. Rose.
in Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Bovine information.