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

of Peter +
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
looked 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 manner" asked the war
den.
The ancient Strengthened himself
up and looked sQuarely at his ques-
toner.
Ills real name is Peter Halsbury,"
he replied; ''but he amt in here IN
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,
. lot Of young fellers do that. But he's
. good 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
4 straight 'un up till then. He had q
heart bigger'n any boy around the
place, an he wasn't afraid of much
Then as / told you he went wild a bit,
an I hear as he got into this box.
Young bud Peters told he was here.
an Dud 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,
all right, an I jest wish I could see
him. See, mister, it's like this: I'm
Jest run to the length Of my chain.
!, 1air petered out, an I'd like to see the
boy fore I go west to die. I've com
: 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 1t could be fixed. He was .
good boy, an IL he knew that his old
dad wanted to speak to him he-he-~
The old mans voice died away In =
1aint whisper, and the warden fun
bled nervously with his papers.
r viii make an attempt to. find your
con. he said, slowly. 'If you come
back IN three hours might have news
for YOU.
The long lines Of convicts were
drawn up Ia front Of the workshops
before being marched to their, cells
Tor their midday meal, when the war
den stepped. forward and addressed
them.
IAN old man called here this morn
ing to see his son." he said quietly.
He thinks it will be his last oppor-
tnnity of seeing him. - he Ii very
old and - . going west to die. But
htD non s. here under an assumed
name, but before doing 20 I VIII give
him warning. Il 10 thinks that the
fact of his real name being known
70 the authorities might lead to fur.
thsr prosecution he may keep quiet.
II no doesn't, he can see his father
who viii .rsturn TO the jail after din
ner. The name h Peter Halsbury."
There was ! shufrling Of many feet
along the line whom the name VA
called. Convicts gave sighs OF relief
md glanced at each, other wondering
u. Each man thought that Peter
Halsbury. II Az was III the long lines,
would BE = considerable fool II he
made himself known. and they nudged
one another to express their contempt
o3 the warden's tacttce.
nice Idiot he'd ~ u own u 4
murmured j low-browed man in ~
rsar rank. and bis companions snick
s0rod. gSsS esEa
Peter Hulsbufy q the name
psatsd ths