The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1916-01-27
The Resurrection
Of Peter

- Ea saE=3#n, - -F. 10 t# EE
& Of Peter t
BY GEORGE HENRY ELLERToN
Copyright, Paget Newspaper Service.
The old man with the bent shout
ders hobbled through the gate of the
penitentiary, and followed the officer
into the warden's room. There he
stood staring helplessly round till the
man at the desk stopped writing and
booked up inQuiringly.
what can I do for your" he asked.
Its about my son." he murmured;
hes in here"
There was q moments silence. the
prison official evidently thinking that
his visitor would continue, but the
old man hung his head and remained
quiet.
what is his name?" asked the war
den.
The ancient Strengthened himself
up and looked squarely at his Ques-
toner.
"His real name is Peter Halsbury,"
he replied; 'but he amt in here un-
DEF his real name. Look, mister, it's
like this: Peter was the best boy that
ever lived. but he loved a girl, an
when she went back on him he jest
got a little wild. You know, mister,
q lot Of young fellers do that. But he's
asgood boy"
The warden nodded. He had heard
the same story many times, but he
had sympathy to spare for the old
man who tried to shield his son.
ut was jest that girl goin' back on
him." repeated the visitor. Pete was
q straight 'un up till then. He had a
heart bigger'n any boy around the
place, an he wasn't afraid of much
Then as I told you he went wild a bit,
an I hear as he got into this box.
Young bud Peters told he was here.
an bud knows"
The warden pulled the heavy regis
ter towards him and looked over the
pages.
There is no Peter Halsbury in
here" he said.
The old man moved closer. !
mo-, I told you he wouldn't be here
under his right NAME. But he's here,
AL right, an I jest wish I could see
him. See, mister, it's like this: I'm
lest run to the length of my chain,
! lair petered out, an I'd like to see the
boy fore I go west to die. I've come
. good way to see him, mister. He's
my only son., an he was q mighty
good son up to the time that girl
fooled i'm. I'd jest like to shake his
hand II It could be fixed. He was .
good boy, an If he knew that his old
dad wanted to speak to him he-he-"
The old mans voice died away in .
faint whisper, and the warden FUN
bled nhrvously with his papers.
Il viii make an attempt to find your
CON" he said, slowly. IF you come
back In three hours I might have news
for you. s55.s
The long lines Of convicts were
drawn up In front Of the workshops
before being marched to their cells
for their midday meal, when the war
den stepped. forward and addressed
them.
AAn old man called here this morn
ing to see his son." he said quietly.
'.H0 thinks It will be his last oppor-
tnnity Of seeing him. % he IL very
old and i now going west to die. But
his son q. here under IN assumed
nnIne. but before doing 80 ] viii give
him warning. Il hs thinks that the
fact Is his real name being known
to the authorities might lead to fur
thor prosecution he may keep quiet.
II he doesn't, he can lei his father
who viii return to the jail after din
ner. The name IL Peter Halsbury.' "
There. was = shuffling Of many feet
along the line when the name was
called. Convicts gave signs of relief
and glanced ct each. other WONDERING
u. Each man thought that Peter
Halsbury, Il he was 81 the long lines.
would be . considerable fool Il he
made himself known. and they nudged
one another to express their contempt
&C the warden's tactics.
nice idiot he'd III own M
murmured ! low-browsd man IN ~,
rear rank. and his companions snick
s1ged. sSHsSAE1
Petsr Hulsbury 4 TIE npans,s
psatsd ths warden.