Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-03-11

deluded himself into the idea that
treachery among a gang of criminals
was much worse than the unlawful
deeds performed by them
learned from the prisoner that he
had a family. When this was men
toned he shuddered little Coming
to the conclusion that 1 could learn
nothing from him 1 was ready to lock
him up. Before doing this I suggested
the idea of taking him to see his wife
and children Early in the morning
procured a carriage, and after
20 minutes drive we stopped in front
of a large tenement house which we
entered, ascending the stairs to the
second floor.
Knocking at a door to our right we
were after some delay admitted by
woman wearing a calico wrapper, and
we entered the room which was dark
and dismal as a tomb Two or three
broken chairs, a rickety table and
mattress spread upon the floor and
covered with ragged quilts, consti-
tuted the furnishings. Peeping from
beneath the tattered covering I saw
the bright eyes and curly heads of
two young children.
rs this your home, Mr. Hartz?" 1
inquired
''This is where 1 stay he replied.
saw at once that I was up against
a species of affection for which had
no ready-made speech of coincidence,
and 1 was just a little embarrassed
There was a depth of seriousness in
the affair that l had rarely met with
was confronted with the genuine
woes of humanity and at a loss for
the moment to know just what to do
or say. After celebrating a short
time l came to the conclusion that it
was best to explain all to his wife.
She looked like an intelligent woman
and l proceeded to acQuaint her with
the facts concerning her husbands ar
rest and the punishment that was sure
to follow. 1 likewise pointed out the
door through which he might escape
l demanded clean breast without
reserve. 1 was to know all the partic-
ulars in regard to the conspiracy, and
he was to act in good faith and to as
sist the detectives in plans to cap
ture the engraver and all others con-
nected with the affair; besides, he
was, if it became necessary, to go up
on the witness stand and testify
against his confederates- Counterfeit
ers as a general thing are treacherous
place; it is anything to save them
selves. With John Hartz it was diff
ferent; he preferred to sacrifice him
self rather than to give away his con-
federates.
When the wife was made acquaint-
ed with the proposition that had been
made to her husband she appealed to
him in language that seemed irresist-
ible.
He hung his head There was an
expression on his face that was in
definable. A fresh link in misery's
chain had now reached his heart
| The scene was absolutely painful and
I soon saw that he was weakening
| A mans character varies in accord
ance with the position in which he is
pIaced. Criminals are human, like
| our selves, and if we would learn the
| dangers lurking in our pathway, we
| should know how they chance to
stumble and fall. Some men are
| weaker and more prone to vice than
/ others. There is a never-end1ng pat
| tie between right and wrong l never
| vet found a man SO bad that there
I was not something in his character
| upon which to base a hope. L never
| vet saw man that was so good as TO
| be free from danger There Is
| thread of gold running through the
| character of the worst or men; the
| difficulty is to reach it
The prisoners eyes fell and were
| filed with tears. We have no pity Tor
| the tears shed by criminals They
| are deserved, but they are tears Just
| the same. and sometimes come from a
heart unjustly pierced. His wife now
approached him and said, Where is
| the money to come from to pay the
| rent for this miserable room we are
living in? How am I to Obtain food
and clothing for our children when
YOU are in the penitentiary
Accustomed as 1 was to scenes OF
/ this kind my heart was deeply touched
| and nv hand went almost involuntar1-
" to my pocket / pulled out roll OF
hills. 1t was the governments money
Peeling off five twenties, | handed
them to the woman. Take this, my
good woman. / cannot save your hus
hand. but 1 viii give you something
with which to supply your imm eesate
wants. Buy these children some
clothes
handed her an additional twenty
The counterfeiter and his wife stood
looking earnestly into each other
! faces Both seemed well nigh broken
hearted. He stepped towards me as
he said: You are the only decen
man / have ever seen in the defective
business and 1 am going to tell yoI