The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1916-03-09
My Convict
By JOHN 4. LARNED

foau Ia the country ana sloWe0 ~
even from that pace 70 turn SHARP
bend IN the road when suddenly a
heavy weight dropped from an over
hanging branch into my car directly
behind me. Turning. / saw q man In
conyiet stripes rising TO bis feet
Put on fun speed" he said IN tone
70 Indicate that he would be obeyed.
I did NOT see that he possessed any
weapon with which 20 enforce bis de-
mands. but il was evident that be was
an escaped Jaiibird aud as such was
likely 70 be desperate. As soon as
had turned the bend / obeyed bis or
der. my speed gauge registering forty
miles an hour. The man climbed over
the back OF the seat and sat down be-
side me. The road before me needed
all my attention. but ] took time to
glance aside az him. Now that he was
neeing NJ 50 rapid a gait bis whole ex-
preston was changed Despite his
stripes. / saw IA him q man OF refine
menL He met my gaze with an hon
est look and said:
MY friend. II you knew that instead
Of defeating justice you are trying 10
undo a frightful act or injustice you
wCHld he better satisfied. | have been
the victim Of a conspiracy 10 defraud
bank Of which I was cashier and
was sent 10 the penifenfiary for ten
years Sly noble wife sent me sur
reptitiously saws. with which I effect
ed my escape. Ny object Is 10 get our
Of the country. send for her and our
children and begin life anew"
While he was making this brief state
ment / kept one eye on the road and
the other on him 1 doubt n any man
can lie 70 me and Impress me that he
4 speaking the truth. did not know
that the man was sincere. but 1 felt
bis sincerity. knowledge may be de-
fective: intuition. az least with me. is
perfect
There Is nothing replied. that
would give me greater satisfaction
than 10 enable you 10 carry ont your
purpose. Where shall take Your
@FIrsi you must throw my pursuers
on my track. They are not far be
hind"
Get back there and cover yourself
% 10 the chin with the wraps.v
He did ~. and bis stripes were con-
ceaied. bur be was bareheaded-
gave him my cap. Seeing a man ahead
! stopped long enough 10 buy Il. Civ
Ing him three times IT'S yalue Then.
entering upon a long stretch o. com
paratirely straight aud level road. put
On the balance 81 my power. making
atty miles an hour.
do you know anything Of the pur
suit ! asked.
Only that my flight must have been
discovered long ago
we must have another suit OF
clothes was my next remark. I'VE /
shall have 10 stop and buy one"
My passenger gave me some idea OF
the sizes be had worn before his incar-
ceratlon. and at the first opportunity
I bought him the necessary outfit. He
spoke Of paying me for them some
day. bur I told him what | would re
quire wonid be his ylndicafion or. az
least. surety thar be was what he
purported to be- He managed to
change his clothes under the wraps
and. crossing a bridge. threw his
stripes into water towing rapidly.
After this I decreased my speed some
what. for ! believed that with the start
snd advantage we possessed my man
would not be retaken. II least for
some time
r,..s.. .t..y.....t, /. t,...... ...t,..,.. A.
business acquaintance. l procured
'nnds aud supplied him with what he
would require Then. stopping at a
station. secured time table
showing trains for New York and. by
aking a longer route than the rails.
rat him on a train without his being
lbllged to wait at station.
Meanwhile he had given me the ad-
Iress OF his wife and asked me 10 call
Ipon her TO receive confirmation OF his
tory. When he parted from me his
forts to express bis gratitude over
anne him. and he could say nothing.
IN he could do was 10 look It.
AS soon as be had left me ! began to
ealize my position ia having aided
onvict 70 make good his escape. and Il |
ras then that doubts began TO trouble d
ne / did not so 10 see his wife FOR q !
time after he and part Z
d. fearing that she might be watched
nd my visit would put the authorities
u 70 my infringement OF the law.
aw in the newspapers notices Of the
scape from prison OF bank embex- !
Ter. and after the stir had Quieted /
own ! made the call
some time after my call received q
liter written with great caution from
10 convict. mailed at an inland city
T South America lie was paving the
'ay to send for his wife aud children.
'hlch would be difficult matter with :
Ut putting the authorities on his
ack.
His plan was never carried out, for I
he OF the consnirators who had ruined 5
Inn was brought 10 trial for certain h
Irregularities. and the facts Of the 9th. l.
! matter came out The convice's
lie applied for new trial for her
but by this time the whole
after was patent instead OF new !.
a.. .... .4....l.t.l4 ~s...t.. -. - Il