The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-03-31

have become immensely interested In
him.
"All right" nodded the superintend-
emit, resignedly.
His story as l know it is this: His
employer, man named Hodges, a
stock broker, sold widow woman, a
Mrs. Percival, some worthless mining
stock, taking her last five hundred dol
lars. She became seriously i'll later
and was told that an expensive surgi-
cal operation only could save her life.
Moody, indignant at the fraud his en-
ployer had perpetrated, bought back
the securities, paying out the money
of Hodges to do it. Then he handed
his resignation to the knave. The life
of Mrs. Percival was saved and Moody
became acquainted with her daughter,
Nina. Hodges manipulated the old ac-
counts of his business ar1 had Moody
arrested for embezzlement. He man.
aged to convict him. Then Hodges
took fancy to the girl. Since Moody
has been in prison he has prosecuted
Nina Percival with his unwelcome at
tentions, but to no avail. She says she
will remain true to the lover who gave
up his good name and liberty for her
mothers sake. If she has to wait q
lifetime for his release"
Send in 4" was the only com
ment the superintendent made, and
within few minutes a young man en-
tered the room. His convict dress
could not hide the nobility of his face
and manner,
"a A." said the superintendent.
in his hard, decisive way, Il have
chosen you as one Of the forty honor
convicts.'
81 thank you." spoke Moody. quietly
enough, but drawing in his breath as
come.
THE state has decided to send out
an experimental squad to make q park
at o town fifty miles away. Its mem
bers will not wear the prison uniform,
nor will an armed guard be put over
them. They will be placed on their
honor, have a camp of their own and
if, at the end of ninety days, they re-
turn to the prison with no attempt to
escape. the experiment will be con-
sidered success and the system
adopted for other prisoners. Think
what it means for thousands Of con-
victs pining for air and sunshine and
a free life, if you forty men are true
to your promise"
II shall not attempt to escape"
pledged fervently.
IF any of you do" continued the
superintendent gravely. you crush
out system that might mean life and
hope to thousands, you would be
cursed to all time by those whose f.
ture you have blasted. II you return,
every man In the squad will be given
six months credit That. with your
good time credit, would release you
from the prison before the end Of Ike
year"
That was all; the superintendent
skeptical of the good faith of Convict
4, the deputy warden speaking a
last encouraging word to the man in
whose welfare he was 80 earnestly
interested.
1t was like a transition to Para
disc, the new life of the honor squad.
Not man among them worked as did
4444. He became the director OF the
public work under construction, he
encouraged the others to work out
| their chance for liberty with earnest
ness and hope.
Once Nina visited the camp. Fol
the first time in three years the happy
lovers we're allowed to sit apart by
themselves under a tree and discuss
their hopes, their plans for the future
their imperishable love-
And then, at the end OF two months
there came a terrible blow to the
trustful Nina, q vivid shock to the
deputy warden; was missing
had disappeared from the convicl
camp. The curses of twelve hundred
convicts were registered against hin
and double sentence marked agains
him on the prison books II he wa!
ever recaptured.
Not a word was heard concerning
the fugitive for over month. One
dark. stormy night q man, closely
mufied up. appeared at the great iror
e.