The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-09-03

Principle Warder. Rouse. Of Moor
lands Gaol. walked down the long cor
ridor Of Hall B. stopped opposite cell
81. and. selecting . key from the
bunch which dangled at his side.
opened the door.
A small. elderly man in the blue.
stripped outdoor 0ess was sitting on
the stool in the centre OF the tiny.
but scrupulously clean. cell. On the
bed lay q neat suit Of dark cloth, to-
gether with . print shirt, . white col
lar, and the other ESSENTIALS Of civilian
attire.
"what. Marley. not changed YETI"
exclaimed the warder. you will be
late for your train II you don't hurry
up"
The convict raised his head. show
ing . shrewd and not ill-looking face.
tanned to the colour Of old leather.
mo. Mr.. Rouse. I'm not changed
and I'm not going to change" he said
obstinately. II don't want to catch
no train"
Don't want to catch the train!"
echoed the warder. But don't you
know your time is up? You're free
man."
Begging your pardon, sir. I don't
want my freedom. prefer to stay on
here an lood after the sheep as has
been doin' for the last ten years"
Rouse's expression was almost CO
mic in it's bewilderment. In all his
lengthy experience Of convict prisons
he had never yet known a man to re-
fuse his liberty. ... .....
But look here, Marley" he ex-
planned. you don't seem to under.
stand that you've got to go. You're
the best shepherd we ever had. But
the law says that you've got to leave
Moorlands. and the law has got to be
obeyed.
Marley got up and followed ODE.
diently down the corridor to the door
of the governors office. Grim old
Colonel Peyton raised his griggled eye.
brows in surprise at sight of Marley.
man ought to have left the prison hall
an hour ago."
Eyes, sir; but he wont co." blurted
out the warder HE says he wants
to stay and look after the sheep az
he has been doing for the past ten
years"
''Is this true?" said Colonel Peyton.
bending q searching glance upon the
old man.
cts quite right sir" said Marley
eagerly.
Haven't you got any friends or re
lations who will give you a home OF
look after you?" asked the governor
and his tone of voice was now more
stern than before.
mo. sir. / haven't got no friends
at least not outside Moorland prison.
Marley added, with a touch Of uncon'
scious pathos.
I'm very sorry for you, Marley
said the governor. but for the present
you must change your clothes and
leave the prison"
what, you're going to send me
away!" exclaimed Marley. in tones
of bitter resentment. Then the old
obstinate expression came back into
his face. "Very we'll. sir: all ! can
tell you IL. that it won't be long be
fore you see me here again. A chap
can always get back in prison IL he
wants to-"
So saying. he touched his cap Re
spectfully and marched briskly out
Of the office.
An hour later Colonel Peyton. cross
ing the prison. yard. met Rouse.
There's . man wishes to see you
sir" said the chief warder. Says his
names Marley. He's waiting in the
office"
Marley! What a strange coinci
denc!" said the Colonel. hurrying off
An upright, sQuare-shouldered mar
Of forty stood up as the Colonel en-
tered.
my names Marley, sir-John Mar
ley" he said. I'm son Of Reuben
Marley
The governor started slightly.
81 had no idea that Marley had q
son." he said.
HE told me only this morning thai
he had no relatives"
"very likely, cir. You see. cir.
went to Canada when I was still q
lad. Now I've made q lot of money
and I've como back to England II
find the old man. It was the Home
Office told me where to look for him,
he added. with . touch of sadness