The Washington times., 1911-01-28

I HE said you were the cleverest mar
\ in your line"
is still boy; II he has spirit and anima
| energy he doesn't begin to think til
later. ] was twenty-seven. / had beer
two years in Sing Sing and had three
more years to serve. II wasn't the war.
denis words that started me thinking
nor the chaplain's sermons. Chaplains
I-bah!-frocked Photographs! 1t was
| two old men ! happened to see there
mere cinders OF men. The thought shot
into me. There's what you're going to
be be at stIty-five!"
Il couldn't get away from that
thought. My mind forced me to study
my friends: there was not one old man
among them who was living a peaceful
comfortable life. That burned-ou
hunted old age-I revolted from it. /
did lot of thinking. l decided that
when | got out prison gates should
never have reason to close upon ME
again.
Finally. I was discharged. knew
1t was hard for an ex-convict to get
work. but I thought 1t would be easy
for me. l was clever, adaptable. But
Aldrich"'
'I do" said David
Rogers was on his feet now, his eyes
once more glowing. He began to pace
the floor, excitedly.
I'll skip it-you know what the fights
like. It's enough to say that 1 found
the world would not receive me as my
old self. I changed my name; l grew
beard; I began to wear glasses: 1
dyed my red hair brown; I smothered
down my spirit. I became John
Rogers.
"A friend of mine in a Chicago real
estate office in which I once worked
for a couple of weeks as a clerk sent
Of the firm. On the paper I wrote a
letter of recommendation from the firm
/ had told my story to the mayor of
Avenue Ait was because he knew
would sympathize with you that he
brought you to me-and he helped me-
I got my first job.
Think of that. Aldrich!" He held a
trembling fist in David's face, and
laughed harshly. "I had to become a
disguise, I had to lie. had to commit
forgery, to get a chance to be honesti
oh, ism this sweet world we're liv-
ing in!
And ever since, my life has been one
great lie: A lie for honesty! But the
lie has done for me what truth could
not do. TSm respected in a small way,
But, man, how that smallness chafes
me! How 1 am shackled! 1 should be
not do. Pm respected in a small way,
am cleverer than most of the men in
my line. / have brains. / see big busi-
ness opportunities. But I dare not take
them. 1 must always be pulling back
at the reins. If 1 let myself out, 1
should become prominent. Men would
begin to ask. Who Is that fellow Rog-
ers?' and pretty soon some one would
be sure to find out. And down I'd goi
must keep myself so small that I'll
not be noticed-that's may only safety"
He paused. David could say nothing.
And always the lie that saved me is
threatening to destroy me- Rogers
went on, in a lower voice. "Godi how
I've worked to get to this poor placei
How want to live peacefully, honestlyi
But some day some one will find out
that I'm an ex-convict! A breath, and
rhis poor house of cards I've worked so
hard to build and protect will go fiat.
cannot! l haven't the strength. This
is going to happen-I feel 1t! And how
fear It! How I've feared 1t for ten
long years! Man, man, how fear itI'
He dropped exhausted into a chair.
and almost at once a cough began to
shake him by the shoulders.
And this diseases hand press
I'd itself upon his chest-"it's another
prison gift" he gasped. bitterly.
There was not a word in David. He
cached out and gathered one of
gathered 1t in the clasp of his soul.
rhe cough ceased its shaking, and |
Rogers looked up. He gazed at the |
ears. at the quiyering brothership, |
n David's face. He sat thus, silent, |
gripping David's hands; then, slowly, |
lis own tears started.
Man, dear" he whispered, broken |
y. II think I'm going to be glad you |
ound me out"