Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-05-03
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
. .YfNfF
The Pledge Of.
"4l14"
By wINIFRED DUNBAR

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 be the fortieth?''
Gravely the other passed over
strip of cardboard upon which he had
hurriedly pencied the numerals:
"4444."
I'll take 1t on your say so,' OBJ
served the superinle ndent sympathy
doesn't pay in our line, but l think
you know your man."
II do, indeed. know him." replied
the deputy with warmth and feeling.
He is a patient hero, 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, eh?"
questioned the superintendent. 81 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 II
have become immensely interested In
him."
"All right" nodded the superlntend-
ent, resignedly.
"His story as l know 1t is this: His
employer, man named Hodges,
stock broker, sold widow woman,
Mrs. Percival, some worthless mining
stock, taking her last five hundred dol
lars. She became seriously i'll 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 ac-
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, If she has to wait a
lifetime for his release"
Send in 4444," was the only COM
ment the superintendent made, and
within few minutes young man en-
tered the room.
"4444," said the superintendent, 81
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
I'M experimental squad to make park
at town fifty miles away Its men,
bers will not wear the prison uniform,
nor will an armed guard be put over
them. Think what it means for thou
Gands of convicts pining for air and
sunshine and free life, If you forty
men are true to yori promise"
II shall not attempt to escape"
pledged 4444 fervently.
"If you return, every man in the
squad will be given six months
credit"
1t was like transition to Paradise,
the new life Of the honor squad. Not
a man among them worked as did
A444. He became the director of the
public work under construction.
Once Nina visited the camp. For
the first time in three years the happy
o1I 10 I'll L.
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 the
trustful Nina, a vivid shock to the
deputy warden; 4444 was missing,
had disappeared from the convict
camp.
Not a word was heard concerning
the fugitive for over month. One
night man appeared at the great
iron gate'of the prison and asked for
the deputy warden. AS the latter ap-
peared, the enveloping cloak and hat
were thrust aside. Pale, emaciated
there stood revealed-Convict 4444.
"You-yOu fairly shouted the as
founded deputy, in amazement, and
then the clear ring of JOY and relief
in his startled tones.
Yes it is l." responded Moody
weakly. II have come back at the
first moment of my liberty"
"Why, you ran away"
"Never. l was drugged while |
slept in the convict camp, carried
away and locked up In the hands of
enemies, beaten and half starved until
this very day"
"Enemies-you E'nan-w
1.-THE man who sent me to the peni
tentiary-Ariel HODGES and his accom-
plices. See, some papers l got hold of
when ! escaped. They are written in
structions of Hodges to his confed
crates. They outline his plans"
The documents did just that The
prison rang with cheers of delight
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