Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-24

GOOD night, he said When you
hear OF my decision it will likely be
through the newspapers"
He departed with the conviction that
IL he decided against the proposed plan
no blame was to be attached to him.
If he decided to save her father at his
own expense she would idolize him.
He was young and man Of noble
impulses. That means that his judg.
ment would be warped.
The next afternoons newspapers con.
tanned an announcement OF the dishon.
esty, the base ingratitude, Of James
Cummings, who had been taken up by
Ehrlich as a boy and placed in con-
fidential position and had been arrested
as mainly responsible for the recent
frauds in the custom house. The ar.
ticle went on to state that now the
government had got on the right track
the rascality would be speedily IN.
earthed.
James Cummings was tried, convict
ed and sentenced to a term OF four
years in prison. The man for whom
he made the sacrifice worked hard to
save him and doubtless was influential
III HeCuElIS 80 SAOlI u NSi III tAoNeA SAS
weak point in the case against Cum
mings was that 1t could not be shown
that his corruption had made him
rich, and this initiated In his favor in
the matter OF his sentence. Ehrlick
as soon as his substitute had entered
upon his term of imprisonment began
to put into operation plans to get him
put.
Having means at his command and
considerable influence, there was ev.
cry probability that he would have
been able to reduce Cummings term
| by one-half. But before, that time he
redeemed his promise to exonorate his
protege. After the affair had blown
over another stool pigeon-this time
for q consideration-was hired to con-
| fess himself the arch culprit. Ehrlick
saw that Cummings vindication was
published broadcast throughout the
land and secured a pardon for him.
Cummings left the jail with but one
pleasing emotion. That was to he
again united with Marion Ehrlick. He
had not seen her since the night he
had left her with the momentous de
cision before him, for II he was to
stand In her fathers place it was i'm
portant that there should be no sus-
picion that the matter was a family
put up game. AS was to be expected,
the girl received him, worshiping him
as an idol.
THANK heaven" she exclaimed,
you are eXonoratedi"
Cummings made no response to this
for awhile, but finally said
my exonoration would stand-that
is, with those who have seen It pub
lished or otherwise heard Of it-but
there is another decision before me of
more importance than the one l made
with reference to your father. 1t Is
a question whether l take back the
obllquy that l voluntarily took upon
! myself to save him"
What do you mean"
"As soon as our engagement Is an
nounced the public will suspect what
was to be feared in the first place. IL
will be said that the family, of which
l was at that time virtually connected.
having got into difficulty I consented
to be the scapegoat and that l shall
now enter into the enjoyment OF my
part OF the i'll gotten gains. The only
way in which my vindication will
stand Is for me to leave you forever"
az had not thought of that" she
said despondently. Then, looking up.
she asked:
And your decision is
THAT you are worth far more to me
than a vindication that Will not stand
the test Of public opinion"
He took her in his arms and felt re-
paid for all he had suffered.
When Cummings met Ehrlich again
he said, "And now, my boy. what can
do to show my appreciation of your
splendid sacrifice"
Nothing"
''Nothing? The word was spoken
in broken voice.
81 have done this thing, as / told
you in the first place, on account of
your kindness to me and because l
, loved your daughter. l receive my
reward in the consciousness that have
repaid that kindness and shall possess
the girl l love. Though there is moth
ing more that you can do for me,
there is something you can do for your
self-restore the money you have taken
: dishonesty"
There Is a government secret that
has been well kept. 1t is that large
sum Of conscience money was turned
into the treasury Of the United States.
/, | Cummings married Marian Enrich.
! and since both were young and would
be under a cloud where they had lived
they went TO distant country, where
, they re-establshed themselves Cum
. | mings has again and again been solic-
: tied to enter public life. but he has al
!, ways declined. knowing that sooner OF
later he would be attacked as a swim
dler of the government and an ex-jail-
Z bird.
AS for his father-in-law, Influenced by
the Cummings example he turned In
. his profits anonymously and found re-
: lief by working for his daily bread
! like any other laborer.
July "a in American
q History