The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-02-01
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Pardoned Convict Breaks HIS
Good Resolutions, but Is
Saved by Dying Woman.
BY FRANK FILsoN.

Gus hand upon the young mans shout
der. 1.-The chief wants to say good
bye to YOU
The convict stepped out of his cell
and followed the head warder obed
iently. Three years Of discipline had
taught him to ask no questions. to
demand no reasons He hardly dared
to hope that the pardon board had
granted his petition.
Tention! Eyes 'front.'" said the
head warder mechanically, and the
convict mechanically obeyed. But the
governor stretched out his hand and
took the convfct's in a hearty clasp.
The board of pardons has granted
you your freedom, Graves" he said
Il strongly recommended 1t at the
last monthly meeting. know that
you will run straight In future. II you
shouldn't, remember that the dishonor
and shame will be mine, and it will
be just so much harder for the rest of
US. Here's letter from your mother
In Mapleton,'' he added, handing the
ntfssive to the prisoner.
Graves read it and the governor
watched him curiously. The young
fellow had impressed him favorably
ever since he had entered the peniten-
tiary three years before to serve first
sentence for forgery. He had been a
model prisoner; but he seemed curl
ously hard. Even now he seemed
unaffected either by the letter or by
his release. He folded the missive
and put it in the handkerchief pocket
OF his serge tunic.
Yes, sir, I'll run straight in future =
he answered.
Good" answered the governor.
And my advice to you is, go home to
your mother. You have about thirty
seven dollars coming to you. Go
home, face the world in your home
town, be man and begin your life
anew. You will find people kinder
than you imagine. Good morning"
He grasped the prisoners hand
again and dismissed him. Graves
went out. Subdued and deferential
though he seemed, he remained total
" unmoved. The governor shook his
head as he watched him pass through
the doorway.
As matter Of fact, Philip Graves
was deeply moved, but for all that he
had not the least intention Of return
ing home. During his period Of i'm
prisonment he had been thoroughly
initiated into the poaalhi lit iea os
crime BY his fall LOW convic1s He
would have liked to re-establiah hir n-
self In the favor Of his fellow citizens,
but the idea seemed laughable. His
old mother in Mapleton was doubtless
able to exist without him; his sisters
held good positions and could take
care Of her. He took the train to the
capital and spent his money in two
days Of riotous living.
The second evening found him pen
niless. 1t was cold and dismally wet,
and the long tramp through the dismal
suburbs had not raised his spirits. He
sat down on the sidewalk and buried
his head in his hands That was the
first time he had ever seriously consid-
cred the future.
"Forging's NUTS game" one of
the other prisoners had told him soon
after he was brought to the Jail.
Take my tip, lad, cracking a cribs
the only thing worth while. Why. all
you've got to do Is to walk in after
the lights are out, take your pick, and
walk out again. But say, don't carry
a gun, for that don't pay. Just trust
to your legs IL you have to get away
quick
A middie-aged man In a well-made
suit, and bearing all the marks of
prosperity, hurried by, not casting
glance at the ex-convict at his feet.
Graves rose and followed him. At the
end Of the street was long country
lane, with finely-built, scattered houses
lining it, each in it's garden. The man
turned into one and let himself into
the home with key. Graves watched
him. Then he felt In his pockets. At
the bottom Of one, hitherto overlooked
by him, was dime. Graves knew
where he could get all the whisky he
wanted for a dime-if he chose the
time when the bartender was not
looking his way. He went there.
Take your I'LL. boy" said the bar
tender good-naturedly, looking round
just at the least appropriate time. II
guess you need it on a night like this.
Graves tossed OF the fiery liquid,
set down the glass, and went out.
He walked the streets until his head
swan from the liquor. It was very
dark and the rain fell steadily. Graves
was wet to the skin. :. He walked an
time, until at last, look
ing up, he saw the house into which
the prosperous man had entered.
A fame Of anger burned In his
heart, hotter than the fire In his brains.
Good resolutions! What were they
for such as he? They were for the
rich, for those who could afford to
keep the laws! He was no fool to be
bound by such a code.
He crept up the garden. felt lower
window, and found that he could raise
i. A minute later he was cropping In
side a dining room.
Cautiously he struck and LIT