El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-17

O ONE years ago, when I was sta
toned in Chicago as an operative
of the United States secret ser
vice. L met a young man whose name,
FOR the purposes of this narrative, was
Alfred Richardson. We are not intimate
friends, and when Richardson invited
me to take luncheon with him, i Went
first as matter of politeness, and
then as a matter of curiosity
We'll what's the matter, Alp asked
him at last. what do you want to
tell me2'
Richardson looked gIoomily across
the table Pm in trouble, he SAID.
What sort OF trOubleE
Blackmall."
How sou
in his boyhood, when he had been
attending school In a small town dDout
a hundred miles from Chicago, ne nad
made a bicycle trip, during ms SUM
mer vacation. with another hoy WuO
was also stun IN MS teens lhey He a.
SOt into an IunOcenLy gullLy D2y ISM
scrape together, at some distance from
home and they had been arrested
They gave false names and addresses
and obviously lied about themSelT yes
a thing which the magistrate LoUno
more reprehensible in the eyes of tins
court than the larceny OF when Lhe5
were guilty, and he sent them 10 jan
TO teach them to tell the truth
They served out their brief sentence
and were discharged without any one
being any the wiser When Jney
reached home again no one StSpeCteu
them. and they said nothlng-
Richardson Takes n False Data
Soon afterWard the other boy, whose
name Get us say was MOTIFS WeLL 70
St Louis. and Richardson lost track o.
him. He himself came to chicago Win
his parents. and forgot about the MD
den disgrace OF his term In jail
He was reminded of IL when ne
found that his criminal record. pre-
vented him from entering the civil ser
vice. unless he made a false arm ma
ton. He was practically assured OF a
place in the pOstOffice, and, II ne re-
FUSED to make his affirmation, ne
would disappOint his parents, and OF
fend his fathers political rrlendS, anu
deuv himself better opportunity OF
employment than he could see for him
SELF elsewhere. He felt that that ne
had not been guilty OF anything put
bOvish thOughLessneSS and high splr-
it's that he had no criminal record
in any right sense Of the words 80 ne
took a false oath and got MS appoint
ment-
Then, one day, on state street. he e
met Norris who had newly arrived
from St. Louis to set up IN business LOT
himself He had learned his trade as a
watch maker. and he had come 70 IN
cagO TO invest his savings IN d Llstle
shOu OF his own. He was glaQ 70 see
Richardson, and recalled the mlsao-
venture of their bicycle trip as one OF
the happy memories Of their youth
OF ii 10 anyone. and Morris laughed
Richardson. to make him appreciate
tbe necessity Of secrecy, had to explain
what q serious matter IL had become
for him. Norris promised 10 be num-
Besfnning Of the BInclzmEil.
But Norris was having money trou-
bIes. Ills savings had not gone lar RI. IN
Chicago as he had hoped lie was oes-
71ersfsl- I'm need of $500. He struck
Richardson for il, and Richardson old
not dare refuse him.
That was the beginning. 1t was al
done in the way of friendship. and
good naturedly; but Morris continued
n difficulties financially, and he came
regularly to Richardson for aid.
II was one Of the perpleNiues OF
Richardson's situation that Norris bled
him with smile cordially HOu know,
Al" he would say, I'd do as much for
YOU. anv day. You've got a good place
here. and YOU can trust me 10 see tnat
nothing happens to upset your apple
cart I'm for you, Al Old friends
onght to stand together that way, don't
you think2 -.
'Its been a rotten year in my bust