The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-05-11

I'm not young enough to be q recruit
and you wouldn't go alone without me,
would youT'-that this way to a live
lihood was not open to him.
His faithful companions remark
had fixed Dyck's mind against enter
ing the army, and then, toward the
end of the winter, q fateful thing hap
pened. His purse containing what was
left Of the ninety pOunds-twO-ffths
or it-disappeared. 1t n been stolen,
and In all the bitter days to come,
when poverty and misery ground
them down, no hint OF the thief, no
sign Of the robber was ever revealed.
Then. at last, a day when a letter
came from Ireland. 1t was from the
firm In which Bryan Llyn Of Virginia
had been interested, for the letter had
been sent to their care, and Dyck had
given them his address I'm London on
this very chance. 1t reached Dyck's
hand on the day after the last penny
had been paid u for their lodgings
and they faced the streets penniless,
foodless-one was going to say friend
less. The handwriting was that OF
Sheila Llyn.
At a street corner, by a chemists
shop where a red light burned, Dyck
opened and read the letter. This Is
what Sheila had written to him:
"My Dear Friend:
1.-THE time Is near q understand by
a late letter to my mother from an
Officially when you will be freed from
prison and will face the world again.
I have not written you since your trial,
but / have never forgotten and never
shall. | have been forbidden to write
to you or think of you, but | will take
my own way about you. ! have known
oil that has happened since we left
Ireland, through the letters my mother
has received. | know that Playmore
has been sold, and l an sorry.
"Now that your day Of release Is
near, and you are to be again a free
man, have you decided about your fu-
ture? Is II to be I'm Ireland? No, l
think not. Ireland Is no place for a
sane and level man to fight his fight
for honor, fame and name. l hear that
things are worse there in every way
than they have been In III lifetime.
after what has happened in any
case, 1t Is not a field that Offers you a
chance. Listen to me. Ireland and
England are not the only places In the
world. My uncle came here to Vir-
ginia a poor man. He Is now immense
ly rich. He had little to begin with,
but he was young like you-indeed,
a little older than you-when he first
came. He invested wisely, worked
bravely, and his wealth grew fast. No
man needs a fortune to start the busi-
ness Of life In this country. He can
get plenty Of land for almost nothing;
he can get credit for planting and fur
nlshing his land, and, II he has friends,
the credit is sure.
"All America is ready for the likes
Of you Think 1t over, and mean
while please know there has been
placed with the Arm In Dublin money
enough to bring you here with COM
fort. You must not refuse II. Take
1t Is a loan, for I know you will not
take It as a gift.
81 do not know the story Of the kill
Ing, even as 1t was told In court. Well,
some one killed the man, but not you,
and the truth will come out In time.
II one should come to me out Of the
courts Of heaven and say that there 1t
was declared you were a rogue, !
should say heaven was no place for
me-. No, Of one thing I am sure-you
never killed an undefended man. Way
ward. wanton, reckless, dissipated you
may have been, but you were never
depraved-neveri
when you are free, lift up your
shoulders to all the threats of time.
then 60 straight to the old firm where
the money is, draw 1t, take ship and
come here. II you let me know you
are coming, l will be there to meet
you when you step ashore, to give you
a firm hand-clasp; to tell you hat in
this land there Is a good place for you,
II you will win 1t.
VI beg you take ship for the Virginia
coast. Enter upon the new life here
with faith and courage. Have no fear.
Heaven that has thus far helped you
Will guide you to the end.
II write without my mothers per-
mission. but my uncle knows, and
though he does not approve. he does
not condemn.
"Once more good-by, my dear friend.
and God be with you.
"SHEILA LLYN.
Up. ST. wonder where you will
read this letter. / hope II will find
you before your release. Please re-
member that she who writes It sum-
IONS you from the darkness where you
are, to light and freedom here"
Slowly Dyck folded up the letter,
IN -