The herald., 1922-06-08
The Pledge of
"4444"
Bv WINIFRED DUNBAR
IIIlIIIIIlIIIIIlIlIlIIIlIIIIIIIIIlIIIll

before him. Each number Indicated q
human being under the ban of the law
and in his official charge.
"Thirty-nine," he observed to the
deputy warden seated opposite to him.
"Who shall he the fortiethF
Gravely the other passed over
strip of cardboard upon which he had
hurriedly penciled the numerals:
"4444"
I'll take II on your say So OBJ
served the superintendent. sympathy
doesn't pay in our line, but think
you know your man
IL do, indeed, know him." replied
the deputy with warmth and feeling.
'He is n patient hero, Il martyr, and
the modest, pretty girl, his fiancee,
who has visited him regularly each
month since he came here is Jewel
of loyalty and love"
Sentiment in the case, too, chr
questioned the superintendent. II don't
know how far prisoner can be trust
ed with his freedom with love in the
question"
( Let me tell you briefly about this
! Robert Moody" urged the deputy. Il
have become Immensely interested In
him."
"All right" nodded the superintend-
ent. resigsedly.
His story as l know it is this: His
employer, a man named Hodges, a
stock broker, sold a widow woman, a
/ Doretvol xr-nrthlaSS mining
stock, taking her last five hundred dol
lars. She became seriously III later
and was told that an expensive surgi-
cal operation only could save her life.
Moody, indignant at the fraud his EN-
ployer had perpetrated, bought back
the securities, paying out the money
Of Hodges to do It. Then he handed
his resignation to the knave. The life
OF Mrs. Percival was saved and Moody
became acquainted with her daughter,
Nina. Hodges manipulated the old az
counts Of his business and had Moody
arrested for embezzlement. He man.
aged TO convict him. Then Hodges
took fancy to the girl. She says she
will remain true to the lover who gave
up his good name and liberty for her
mothers sake, II she has to wait
lifetime for his release"
"Send in 4444," was the only COM
ment the superintendent made, and
within few minutes a young man en-
tered the room.
"4444." said the superintendent, II
have chosen you as one of the forty
honor convicts."
81 thank YOU" spoke Moody, quietly
enough, but drawing in his breath as
though the first CLEAN of freedom had
come.
THE state has decided to send out
an experimental squad to make park
at a town fifty miles away. Its mem
bers will not wear the prison uniform
nor will an armed guard be put over
them. Think what It means for thou
sands Of convicts pning for air and
sunshine and a free life. II you forty
men are true to your promise"
II shall not attempt to escape,
pledged 4444 fervently.
eff you return, every man in the
squad will be given six months
credit"
It was like transition to Paradise
the new life Of the honor squad. Not
a man among them worked as die
4444. He became the director Of thu
public work under construction.
Once Nina visited the camp. Fol
the frs. time in three years the happ!
lovers were allowed to sit apart b!
themselves under a tree and discuss
their hopes, their plans for the future
their imperishable love.
And then, at the end Of two months
there came a terrible blow to tn
trustful Nina, vivid shock to tn
deputy warden: 4444 was missing
had disappeared from the convfc
camp.
Not a word was heard concernin
the fugitive for over a month. On
night a man appeared at the grea
iron gate Of the prison and asked TO
the deputy warden. AS the latter ar
peared, the enveloping cloak and ha
we're thrust aside. Pale. emaciatet
there stood revealed-Convict 4444.
"You-you fairly shouted the al
founded deputy, In amazement, an
then the clear ring Of Joy and relic
In his startled tones.
"Yes, 1t is l." responded Mood!
weakly. II have come back at III
first moment Of my liberty"
"why, you ran away"
! "Never. was drugged while
slept In the convict camp, carrie
! away and locked up In the hands q
. enemies, beaten and half starved unit
this very day"
} "Enemies-you mean-T
"The man who sent me to the pen
tentiary-Ariel Hodges and his accon
) plices. See, some papers / got hold
when l escaped. They are written II
structions Of Hodges to his confe
crates. They outline his plans"
The documents did just that. IT
prison rang with cheers Of deligl
when II was known that 4444 had n
betrayed his trust and doomed the I
ture of the honor squad movement.
At once the energetic deputy wa
den placed the case before the 60
ernor of the state with all Its detail
One Of the accomplices Of Ar
rIodoae vas arrested and confess,