Ellsworth American., 1922-12-20

Huh! car guess how" snarleA
the prisoner. "The Doodle Is going to
l'c divided. What will he my share?
] can't understand how you got track
Of it,"
"Now, the first thing is to pronounce
sentence" said the judge. rising slow
~ and putting on his judicial face.
"Af,er that We can talk
lie stood, looking down Mt the pris-
"For the crimes Of which you stand
convicted, John Battey, / sentence you
to twenty years In our state peni.
teutlary."
lie paused. and the prisoner col
lapsed in ludicrOus heap, his eyes
hulging.
'Tw-twenty years." he suffered
IL thought"
But, In view Of certain things in
my mind" the Judge went on, calmly,
II will suspend this sentence indefi-
nitely, the length depending wholly on
yourself. II you violate or fail to meet
In. any particular the terms am about
to propose. the sentence will immedi-
ately go into effect. and there will be
n" later mitigation. Now, I pronounce,
as provisional sentence, that. you ex-
pend $1,000 cf the money in doing
Christmas work the coming week, com.
mcncIng tomorrow. There are hun
dreds OF ways Of doing this, but, as
you are rev to the business, I might
suggest going through department and
other stores and studying the Christ
mas shoppers. There will he many
with anxious faces. counting the few
dimes or dollars they have to spend.
Get in touch with the clerks so that
by a nod or look. You can make them
understand they are to cut prices in
half. or put in extra goods, and you
meet the difference. Let the children
shuffling through the stores, with
eager. hungry eyes. who appear to
have no money. select something and
yon pay for It. DO the same for those
whose faces are pressed against the
windows outside. Talk with market
men and have them send turkeys to
homes that can't afford one II
doesn't matter whether the father o,
mother may he unworthy. 1t Is
Christmas. and taste Of turkey and
cranberry sauce would not hurt them
And. besides. there are the children '
Yon can find ways enough. and each
one you meet will open others
"And after this week, Jack. you will
expend $1,000 each month in such
work. until the whole Is gone It will
take you nearly four years. We Will
allow you $50 from 1t each week for
your personal neeIs--nO more, The
very last $50ONthe dirty $500 left by
your uncle and which may have. start
ed you into that way Of money get
ting. you will give to some poor wOnl-
an In memory Of your wife. Because
1t Is bad money, 1t should e1piate IT.
self in good work.
The prisoner had been straight ening
up. There was sulien defiance in his
eyes.
Suppose ! don't do 1t to the letter,
judge?' he queried. Suppose ! save
out some? You never could know It's
too much to ask me to give up every
cent How could | live afterwards?' 2
"There is the suspended twenty
years sentence, Jack" significantly.
"If you deviate Il hairs breadth from
this work the sentence will he en-.
forced. II would take the rest Of your
life. and the money Is not worth n
thought in comparison. Besides. you
must he purged of the money for your
own good. As to not knowing. we shall
keep close watch "f all your money.
II you draw more. nr take more than
the sum allowed each month, the
original sentence will go into effect.