Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-03-18

He Was Free!
course. but he could still win chevrons
and turn them into stars of honor with
each five years of exemplary behavior
In the cutting room The Butcher"
still kept a good record and received
the benefits thereof In letters and news
papers. The message finally came. and
| Bill was signaled by The Butcher" to
stand by to receive ii. He quickly
comprehended the use of the numbers
, and knew that he would find Montgou<-
cry in Greenville. :. c.
| AS il fate had determined to make
| up for all the bad luck Of the past with
one happy surprise. Bill was sum-
moned before the probate board that
very day.
Bits old thatch was now as white as
snow. Ten years after the mid-century
mark leave heavy traces. The ex-
preston of cunning and craftiness was
J gone from his features. The jaw was
still heavy and low set and the brow
sloped. but there was the faint light of
regeneration in his face.
| mo. G0.1l0," he heard the warden
say has been splendid prisoner for
the last four years. He is getting old.
and it looks as if he might straighten
out if given chance"
| If you are released on probation.
will you try to be worthy Of the chance
given you and will you report to the
board once every month by letter." the
chairman asked
"Yes, sir" he replied, his voice trem-
bling as he began to realize that the
prison garb was about to drop from
him.
I'VE have studied your case and
think it worth while to give you a
trial." the chairman told him. THAT
is ALL"
He was Free 1t was hard for him
TO understand. A miracle had been
wrought. il seemed to him. Kindness.
mercy, compassion, had been offered
him. thief Dazed and spiritually
troubled the old man walked to his
cell
He had not asked for mercy. and vet
il was given him. What would he lind
outside? No one was interested In him.
Yes. the boy Jim was
Did the boy bring about his deliver
ance? Surely with life term hanging
over his head he could not have reach
ed out from his hiding place and open.
ed the gates OF Sing Sing.
Perhaps il was the God the boy used
to pray to morning and night Per
haps Jim had been praying for him
and he had heard his prayers.
The awakening soul of Bill Hawkins
leaped to the beautiful thought. His
them beside his iron cot. His head fpll
in his hands. and he prayed. Indeed.
he prayed. for his eyes we're wet with
the tears OF gratitude.
Hawkins had come TO Sing Sing with
nothing but his sins and his sentence
OF fifteen years. He carried away
\ with him sense of thankfulness "A
thing he had never experienced before.
and the intention of living the life of Il
decent man.
The warden shook his hand and made
n pretense OF beaming upon him. He
little knew what good had come from
his base share in the plan OF Detective
Michael Kearney to use one friend Ia
betray another.
The prObationcr's gray suit was
changed for new black one. and a
felt hat was pulled over his forehead.
hiding the defective formation. In his
pocket was enough money to take him
whence he came-the morass OF hui
mainly, the underworld of New York.
He would return there because no
other world would have him. but he
would return a different man.
He was not going forth to evangelize.
He was going to seek the woman who
had been pretty girl once. the woman
who had suffered ten thousand times
| what he had suffered.
At the Ossining station he bought n
ticket to New York and boarded the
FIRST train. Two men OF all the crowd
seemed to notice him. One Of these
got aboard the train directly behind
him. while the other entered the coach
he had chosen by the opposite door.
The train was an express and they
were soon at Forty-second street.
where, in the swarm OF thousands OF
men and women. many coaches were