Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-09-14
"a convict's suit"

"A convictS suit"
"That condemns me, doesn't it?' In
CURED Tom Lee in crushed tone.
'Do you blame me? If the woman
folks or the neighbors know what you
have been, you can imagine their
fears. Oh, I'm not going to tell on
you, Tom Lee. OF course you are an
escaped convict, but sha'n't tell any
body. / burned your old suit safely
that night. Go your way when Satur
day night comes and good luck to you,
for you are a faithful worker"
THANK you, sir" said Tom Lee
humbly.
Saturday morning early, Reuben
came around the barn to halt stock
still and stare, and then, pitchfork
In hand, start on rapid run.
There, carrying great armful of
barley straw to the pig pens was
Tom Lee. And sneaking toward him,
just emerged from behind a stack,
was lurking evil-faced fellow car.
rying big, short but heavy hickory
cudgel. He raised it and swung out
fearful blow. Tom Lee went down
like shot. His assailant drew back
to repeat the blow, when the big straw
hat, the prototype of that worn by
Reuben, fell off.
1.-THE wrong mani" shouted the ruf.
fan.
Am l the right one" announced
Reuben. "Stir an inch and 1 will
split you with the fork. Ha, Jim
Devlin, see, 1 see! March to the
house, hands up, or I'll nail yog good"
"Stay quiet, lad, you're IN good
hands," In truly genial, almost af-
fectionate tones spoke Farmer Waite
to Tom Lee an hour afterward.
The latter stared hard. He was ly-
the house. His head was bandaged.
The farmer sat beside him.
what has happened?" questioned
Tom Lee family.
you saved my life, that's what"
came the sturdy reply. "You looked
man named Jim Devlin did it. A fell
low l sent over the road five years
ago for stealing horses. He swore
then that he would have my life when
he got out. He must have escaped,
for he got twenty-year term"
"Yes, he escaped, and with him."
was the surprising statement of Tom
Lee. Il had only week to serve, but
the opportunity came and because !
knew he was aimed for you, / joined
him, slipped him and came here to
guard you against his revenge"
"Why?" uttered the bewildered Reu-
ben.
Because I loved your daughter.
Stay, do not get angry. I was sent to
the penitentiary an innocent man. The
world will yet know it. I had met
your daughter when she was visiting a
"Yes, father" broke in an impress
sive voice, and Nellie Waite appeared
at the doorway. ''He is an innocent
man. He saved you--help him. You
have wondered why have refused to
marry. 1t is because of Elston Deane,
whom you know as Tom Lee, the only
man l shall ever love-"
Elston Deane went back to prison |
to serve out the few remaining days |
of his sentence. but the law RENTED |
it. Jim Devlin had ten years added |
to his former sentence. Farmer Waite |
took up the cudgel in behalf of the
man who had saved his life and whom
his daughter so Loyalty loved.
It was no easy task digging up
the buried past, but persistence and |
money unearthed the real criminals, |
for whose misdoings Elston Deane had |
SO unjustly suffered.
"Truth will prevail" sapiently OBJ |
served old Reuben, the day that the
complete vindication of "Tom Lee"
was publicly announced.
"And love will inspire the darkest
life with hope and couragew added
Elston Deane fervently, as he wound
his arm affectionately about his wife
that was to be.