The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-03-16
My Convict
By JOHN Y. HARMED

Twas running my auto leisurely along
road in the country and slowed up
even from that pace to turn a 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
convict stripes rising to his feet
Put on full speed" he said in tone
to indicate that he would be obeyed.
l did not see that he possessed any
weapon with which to enforce his de.
mands, but 1t was evident that he was
an escaped jailbird and as such was
likely to be desperate. As soon as
had turned the bend l obeyed his or
der. my speed gauge registering forty
miles an hour. The man climbed over
the back Of the seat apd sat down be-
side me. The road before me needed
all my attention. but l took time to
glance aside at him. Now that he was
fleeing at SO rapid a gait his whole ex.
preston was changed. Despite his
stripes, saw In him a man Of refine
ment. He met my gaze with an hon.
est look and said:
"My friend. If you knew that instead
Of defeating justice you are trying to
undo a frightful act Of injustice you
would he better satisfied. have been
the victim of conspiracy to defraud
a bank Of which was cashier and
was sent to the penitentiary for ten
years. My noble wife sent me sur
reptitiously saws. with which I effect
ed my escape. My object is to get out
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. doubt If any man
can lie to me and impress me that he
IL speaking the truth. l did not know
that the man was sincere. but I felt
his sincerity. knowledge may be de.
fective; intuition. at least with me, In
perfect.
There is nothing" replied. ''that
would give me greater satisfaction
than to enable you to carry out your
purpose Where shall>l take your
"First you must throw my pursuers
OF my track. They are not tar be.
hind"
"Get back there and cover yourself
up to the chin with the wraps."
He did %. aud bis stripes were con-
sealed, but he was bareheaded.
gave him my cap. Seeing q man ahead
Of me wearing q common wooden hat,
I stopped long enough to buy It, CIV
ing him three times its value Then.
entering upon long stretch Of com.
paratively straight and level road, put
on the balance Of my power. making
'6fty miles an hour.
T. do you know anything Of the pur.
suit1' I asked.
"Only that my flight must have been
discovered long ago."
I'VE must have another suit OF
Clothes" was my next remark. I'VE
shall have to stop and buy one"
My passenger gave me some idea of
the sizes be had worn before bis incar-
ceration. and at the first opportunity
I bought him the necessary outfit He
spoke Of paying me for them some
day. but I told him what l would re-
Quire would be his vindication or, at
least. surety that he was what he
purported to be. He managed to
change his clothes under the wraps
and. crossing bridge. threw his
stripes into water flowing rapidly
After this I decreased my speed some.
what. for | believed that with the start
and advantage we possessed my man
would not be retaken. at least for
some time.
Passing through town where had
business acqualntances, procured
funds and supplied him with what he
would require. Then. stopping at a
railway station. | secured time table
showing trains for New York and. by
taking a longer route than the rails.
put him on train without his being
obliged to wait ut station.
Meanwhile he had given me the ad-
dress of his wife and asked me to call
upon her to receive confirmation of his
story. When he parted from me his
efforts to express his gratitude over.
came him. and he could say nothing.
All he could do was to look it.
AS soon as he had left me | began to
realize my position in having aided a
convict to make good his escape. and it
was then that doubts began to trouble
me- | did not go to see his wifi. for a
considerable time after he and | part.
ed. fearing that she might be watched
and my visit would put the authorities
on to my infringement of tha law.
saw in the newspapers notices Of the
escape from prison Of a bank embez-
zler, and after the stir had quoted
down ! made the call.
Some time after my cali | received q
letter written with great caution from
the convict, mailed at an inland city
Df South America. He was aving tho
way to send for his wife and children.
which would he difficlIt matter with.
out putting the authorities ON bis
track.
His plan was never carried out, for
one of the conspirators who had ruined
him was brought to trial for certain