Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-09-22
The Warden's
Daughter
.. Is2l, Western newspaper onion.,
By HAZEL SMITH


disowned Richard Brewster when he
was sentenced to serve five years in
the Alabama penitentiary forsfOrgery,
he had still enough influence to have
his escape made easy for him. AT
twenty-five the second son of old Peter
Brewster, the millionaire, he suddenly
found himself bereft of everything that
meant life TO him. For three years he
clerked in the warden's office, dream
ing of the time when he would be free
once more He would obtain money
from his puritanical old father, who
had disowned him, in spite of his
threats; he knew that he could black
mail him for twenty thousand by
threatening to publish certain facts in
the old mans early history.
After three years the Brewster in
fiuence had waned with the change of
governors, and Richard was taken out
of his easy berth and shipped off to
labor in the turpentine camp at Par
sing. There the horror of his position
moved unwise friends of his father,
who, acting without the old mans
knowledge, approached the head war
den with brides. The only result was
that fifty-pound weight was attached
to Richards leg by chain. But 9TH
ers were more venal; and so it came
about that Richard Brewster found
himself alone in the woods, with two
hours grace, and only mile to travel
TO the motor boat which lay awaiting
him, hidden in the mangroves, with
five hundred dollars under the seat and
a key that would unfasten the pad
lock of the chain.
That mile meant more hard travel
ing, when one weighed fifty pounds
above his norm, but Richard made it.
Through swamps and over fallen
trunks, and plunging into rotten tim
Der, he pressed forward TO emerge at
length, bleeding and torn, at the head
of the little bay. 1t was late after
noon; cottage stood on the bank not
fifty yards distant; and the boat just
showed among the mangroves. Brew
ster crept cautiously toward it, He
pulled it from its place into the shall
low water.
Then he discovered that, with the
chain and the ball, he could not en-
ter it.
Under the seat, as he had been ad-
vised, he saw the little oilskin package
containing the money and the key. He
struggled till the sweat poured down
his face. Then, turning, he became
aware that small child was watching
him, girl about five years old, evil
IDENTIFY from the cottage.
Come here" said Brewster hoarse-
ly, and the child obeyed. "Do you see
that package under that seat? Could
you get 1t for meT'
The child stood watching him, finger
in mouth, half frightened, half inter-
ested. 1t was evident that she had no
intention of doing what the strange
man told her.
Marjorie, Marjoriem called a clear
voice from the cottage.
Then the mangroves parted and a
clear-eyed, indignant young woman,
perhaps Brewster's own age, confront
ed him.
"A convict - she said, and only half
yelled her terror.
yes" said the man. I'm make a
Richard Brewster. see you know
who / am. There is package under
that seat with key that will unlock
this paddock, and five hundred dollars.
/ can't reach il with this attachment.
Get it for me and III divide the money
with you"
I'VE don't help conviets here" an
swered the girl "Some folks can't be
bought. If they could my folks would
be richer than they are. Perhaps you
know my father, Herman Grace" she
added.
''Grace! The head warden!"
"Then you won't get that package
for me?' he demanded.
mo. nor | won't lift q finger against
you, either. Go Your own way. I've
heard of you and yUur dolngs. You
poor creature, what sort of happiness
have you found in your life, you who
think everybody is for sale?"
The thought was new to Brewster.
"Why IL haven't had much" he stam-
mered.
How long have you to server
Nearly two years"
Two years !" she echoed. $50 you
are willing to purchase two years Of
liberty by life of ignominy, hunted
everywhere, hiding from all, trusting
none, always expecting to hear the
step of a detective at your heels? You
poor fellow !"
He hung his head. II don't-know
he stammered. Nobody ever put it to
me in that way before. I've never met
a girl like you. thought they were
all out for the money.
Miss Grace" he said, IF l go back
If serve my time--if try to live
decent life afterward, and have want
ed to sometimes, only never had any
encouragement If l do all these
things, will you let me come to you the
day am set free and ask you to help
me? Just to tell me what TO do? So
that l can feel that have friend
besides money!"
yes" she answered impulsively.
"Yes. And shall tell my father what
you have told me-"
Brewster turned and plunged back
through the mangroves toward the con-
no hnI,tn1