Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-06


And, Judge, this man must have tried
10 warp and twist the mind Of my
child or put her through frightful ex.
periences, for he has taught her to
swear horribly and last night at bed
time. when told her the story Of
Elisha and the bears ana the children.
sbe burst out into the most uncontrol-
l!ble screaming and sobbing."
Here her testimony ended in break
down Of Mysteries. between sobs of
which were frequent admonitions to
he child not to say that bad word.
for Myra had caught sight Of Row.
lnnd and was calling his nickname.
What shipwreck was this-where
was TT" asked the puzzled magistrate
of nobody in particular.
1.-THE Titan" called out half q dozen
newspaper men across the room.
The Titan" repeated the magis.
trnte. Then this offense was commit
ted on the high seas under the English
dag. cannot Imagine why it is
brought into this court. Prisoner, have
you anything to say?'
Nothing, your honor" The answer
came in kind Of dry sob.
The magistrate scanned the ashen
faced man In rags and said to the clerk
Of the court, Change this charge to
vagrancy, eh"-
The clerk, instigated by the newspa.
per men, was at his elbow. He laid
morning paper before him, pointed to
certain big letters and retired. Then
the business of the court suspended
while the court read the news. After
a moment or two the magistrate look.
ed up
Prisoner" he said sharply: take
your left sleeve out of your breast"
Rowland obeyed mechanically, and it
dangled at his side. The magistrate
noticed and read on. Then he folded
the paper and said:
You are the man who was rescued
from an iceberg, are you not?" The
prisoner bowed his head.
"Dischargedw The word came forth
in an unjudicial roar. Madam" add.
ed the magistrate, with kindling light
In his eye, this man has merely saved
your child's life. If you will read Of
his defending it from a polar bear
when you go home, doubt that yon
will tell 1t any more bear stories.
Sharp ntrument-umph." Which was
equally unjudicial on the part Of the
court.
Mrs. Selfridge. with a mystified and
rather aggrieved expression of face,
left the courtroom with her indignant
father and friends. while Myra shout
ed profanely for Rowland, who had
fallen into the hands Of the reporters.
They would have entertained him aft.
er the manner Of the craft, but he
would not be entertained, neither
would he talk
he escaped and was very speedily
swallowed up In the world without.
and when the evening papers appeared
that day the events Of the trial were
all that could be added to the story
Of the morning.
On the morning Of the next day a
one armed dock lounger found an old
hshhook and some pieces Of string
which he knotted together: then he
Dug some bait and caught fish. Be.
Ing hungry and without FIRE, he traded
With coasters cook for a meal. and
before night caught two more, one Of
which he traded. the other sold. He
slept under the docks-paying no rent
flshed. traded and sold for month;
then paid for a secondhand suit of
clothes and the services of barber
His changed appearance induced
boss stevedore to hire him tallying
cargo. which was more lucrative than
fishing, and furnished In time a hat,
pair OF shoes and an overcoat. He
then rented a room and slept in bed.
Before long he found employment ad-
dressing envelopes for a mailing firm,
at which his fine and rapid penman-
ship secured him steady work. and in
a few months he asked his employers
to indorse his application for civil
service examination. The favor was
granted. the examination easily pass
ed. and he addressed envelopes while
he waited.
Meanwhile Rowland purchased new
ana better clothing and seemed to
have NO difficulty In impressing those
whom he met with the fact that he
was a gentleman. Two years from the
time Of his examination he was APP
pointed to a lucrative position under
the government and as he seated him
self at the desk In his Office could
have been heard to remark: Nov,
John Rowland, your future is your
own. You have merely suffered in
the past from a mistaken estimate of
the importance OF women and whisky"
But he was wrong. for in six months
he received letter which In part read
as follows:
Do not think me Indifferent or ungrate-
full have watched from distance
while you made your wonderful hsht foI
your old standards You have won, and
am glad. and l congratulate you. But
Myra will not let me rest She asks FOR
you continually and cries At times. I can
bear It no longer, Will you not come and
see Myra?
And the man went to see-Myra.
THE END.