Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-01-07
THE CONVICT
GUARDIAN
Love For His Ward ImpelIed
Him to Crime.

InlS prison anu may ~ NuchS yOu itAc-
hope you'll live an honest life and
not have to come back here again"
AS the warden spoke the prisoner
stared al as though his mind were
upon other matters. then. without re-
ply, fastened out into the world.
Several years before this Henry
Tracy was a young business man OF
such marked ability that when Man
ming Brightman. an intimate friend.
though fifteen years his senior. died II
was found that Tracy had been named
sole executor of his estate and guard
ian OF the only heir, Edith Brighlman.
seventeen years old. One day Abel
Barnicourt. who had once been Bright
mans attorney. produced papers trans
ferring the whole estate to Sarah Par
ton, who claimed TO be the second wife
of the deceased. These papers djsap-
peared, and there was such strong evil
dence that Tracy had stolen them that
his Incarceration followed. While he
was In prison the estate remained In
litigation. and Edith Brightman. being
deprived of her Income. was forced to
earn her own living.
On the evening OF his discharge he
stood on street corner waiting for
the clocks to strike 10. At the FIRST
stroke a man crossed the street and
Joined him.
"The shovels?' asked Tracy.
"On the place"
"All right. You go ahead. and I'll
follow"
Tracy followed the man out of town
to a deserted house standing beside
the road. and the two entered the
grounds. A pick and shovel were
found under porch. and Tracy. lead
ing the way to a large tree In corner
of the lot, began to dig. Coming to
small sheet iron box. they removed II
and returned with it TO the city.
"well go TO your room. Brown" said
Tracy. you've got the documents
there. believe"
rYes.''
A few minutes later Brown scratched
a match In his room, lit the gas. locked
the door. pulled down the shades, and
the two opened the iron box. taking
out bundle of papers. Brown mean
while unlocked desk and brought
forth an envelope containing docp-
ments.- Tracy seized them eagerly aud
scanned them one after another till he
came to one at which he inferred o cry
of joy.
"This is the key to the situationT' he
exclaimed. without this the others
are worthless. I'll take care Of this
myself, You look out for the OF
II was II O'Clock az night = Aen
Tracy left the detective and walked
rapidly to house where there was but
one light burning. He rang the bell
and when servant came asked for
Miss Brightman.
10ape to bed"
''NeFer mind that. must see her
tonight"
@who shall ! tell her wishes 70 see
herr
Never mind that either. She'll APP
prove OF your calling her up"
When Edith Brightman entered the
room and saw her guardian. the ex-
conrict. she caught NJ the doorknob-
His Imprisonment and the mystery NJ
tending it, together with the loss of her
property, had not only been puzzle
but q horror to her.
edith" said Tracy, sFour estate Is
saved to YOU"
She stared at him woHderiaglF as
he proceeded:
when your father asked me TO be
his akerntor he told me of the woman
who claimed to he bis wife and that
he also suspected BaFniceurt; When
I die he said 'there'll be some Fas-
cality practieed on my little girl:
PvssjSp me you will see that she is
not robbed
~ promise on my hotioy and my
like,' replied.
.tyviep the blow fell knew the pa
pers were fraudulent, but could not
prove It. The court was abont 70 turn
over fine estate to this woman. who
would at once tsr4 II into cash and
leave the country. ( deliberately stole
their papers and buried them in rv
yard. While serving my term ! ensr
ployed a detective, who has only re-
eeafly unrayeIed the case. Here Is
contract betwsfH Abel Barnicourt and
Sarah Parton. whcFeil she agrees to
divide the estate with him In case be
secures II for her. and below her con-
fession thai shc was never married to
your father and the documents are all
forged. the signatures being copied
from letters of your father which bad
fallen into Der possession. This cob
fession BarnicosH was to bold over
her In case she refused to divide with
him after tine estate was acquired"
While Tracy was giving his ward
this brief summary Of case which
could only be written Ia volumes her
face wore the expression not OF one de-
lighted at hearing how she had regain
ed her property. but an engrossing pity
mingled with wonder. admiration.
gratitude. for one who had suffered
disgrace and imprisonment that 1t
might pass to Its legitimate owner.
''And you did this to fulfilI prom
lseY'
..No. I loved the little girl for whom
did IT."
re was long while before Edith
Brightmaa. reversing the conventional
order Of matrimonial occurrences.
could persuade Henry FFacy to be-
come her husband. The pair went
abroad and have never returned to
America