New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1922-12-14
PART ONE
The Awakening
CHAPTER i.

Inc conVlcL gang nhu pleasant
pleace to work today. Their road
building had taken them some miles
from the scattered outskirts of Walla
Walla, among fields green with grow
Ing barley.
The conyicts themselves were In a
genial mood, easily moved to wide
Erins; and with single exception
they looked much like any other road
gang. Curiously enough, whenever
the warden's thought dwelt upon the
inmates Of his prison, there was al
ways one wind-tanned, vivid face, one
trowny. towering form that seemed to
demand individual consideration. The
man who was listed on the records as
Ben Kinney was distinctly an in
dividual
That's the queerest case we ever
had here at Walla Walla," Springley
told his fellow guard, MS they watched
the mans pick swing in the air.
sometimes wonder whether he
ought to be here or not. Look at
that face-he hasn't any more of a
criminal face than have"
The other guard, Howard. scanned
his companions face with mock care.
Now let me tell you how they
happened to catch him. Maybe you
heard-he and Dago frank were la
the act of breaking into the Western
Danish bank. They were in the alley,
in the act of jimmying window, and
all at once Kinney Strengthened up
as II something had hit him and let
the jimmy fall with thump to the
pavement. He put his hands to his
head. like a man with headache.
And the next instant cop came run
ming from the mouth of the alley.
kinney was heeled, but he didn't
even pull his gun. Now let me tell
you another queer thing. You know,
the chief has started system here to
keep track of all the prisoners. He
has them all fill out a card. Well,
when this man Kinney turned in his
card, he had written Ben on it, but
the rest was absolutely blank.
mr.. Mitchell thought at first that
the man couldn't write. 1t turned
out, though, that he can write-an in
telligent hand, and spell good too.
Then Mitchell decided he was just
sulking, but I'm confident know the
answer The reason he didn't fill out
that card was because he couldn't re-
member.
He couldn't remember where or
when he was born, or who were his
folks, or where he had come from, or
how, he had spent his life. Amnesia
that's what the doctors call tam
nesia following some sort of a mental
trouble. In the end you'll see that
I'm right"
There had been quite a northern
migration lately these late spring
days. The last of the waterfowl had
passed by now, but the northern mi
grafton was not yet done.
Ben thought about them as birds
OF passage, and the thought amused
him. And at the sight of a small,
stopped figure advancing toward him
UP the railroad right-of-way ne
paused, leaning on his pick.
Because Ben had paused. for the
first time in an hour, his two guards
looked up to see what had attracted
his attention. They say what seemed
to them a white-haired old wanderer
of sixty years or more; but at first
they were wholly at a loss to explain
Ben's fascinated look Of growing in
terest.
AS he paused to scrutinize the con-
vict gang neither insolence nor fear,
one of which was certainly to be ex-
pected, became manifest in his face.
Both guards were held and amazed
by the apparent fact that at the first
scrutiny of the mans outline, his car
rage and his droll, wrinkled face, the
nrisoner Kinney was moved and
stirred as if confronted by the risen
dead.
The old man himself halted, re-
turning Kinney's stare. kinney's
mind seemed to be reaching, cropping
for some astonishing truth that eluded
him.
The old man ran. in great strides,
toward him. "My God, aren't you
Ben Darby?" he demanded.
The convict answered him as from
q great distance, his voice cool and
calm and with an infinite certainty.
'Of course" he said. "Of course
I'm Darby"
For the moment that chance meet
ing thrilled all the spectators with the
sense of monumental drama. The
conyicts stared absurdly, rather guilt
ily. when the old man whirled toward
him.
what are you doing with Ben
Darby in a convict gang?" the old
wanderer demanded.
.'What am / doih?" Towards as
fonishment gave way to righteous In
dienation. I'm guardin' convicts,
that's what I'm a-doin'."
The old man had turned his eyes
again to the tall, trembling figure OF
Ben.
"Ben. Benz" he said, evidently |
struggling with deep emotion. what
are you doing here 2"
give years--for burglary" he an
swered simply. Guilty, tool don't
know anything more, And cant
remember--who you are"
"You don't know me 2" Some OF
Ren's own bewilderment seemed to
mass to him. you know Ezra Mel
Vile"
springley stepped quickly to Mel
vilIe,s side. Hes suffering loss OF
memory" he explained swiftly This
is the first time he ever recalled his
own name"
Melville gazed at him in incredu- |
lows establishment, then turned to ,
Springley. May talk to you ABOUT
This case?" he asked quietly. II not