Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-05-30
Reprieving
Steinie
BY MORRIS SCHULTZ


STEINIE, happily unconscious Of the
great events in his life that were
impending, was watering the flowers
in the wardens garden. The warden's
little granddaughter, child Of seven,
watched him.
"Steinie, don't forget the fairy rose
bush," she said. That's the bush l
saw the fairies in
Steinie took up the watering can.
1.-The fairies must be awful thirsty
this hot weather." said Dot.
"We'll give em drink" said Stelnie.
Steinie had been a model prisoner
for twenty-soven years. Twenty-Five
years before, when he was sent up for
life for killing man, he had been
wild beast, incorrigible.
He had been put in the silent cell,
he had had every punishment on the
prison category. Then a new warden
had come, old methods had changed.
now he was trusty, and his
life had nodded itself upon the peni-
Tertiary. He had no one outside the
walls.
At that moment the governor was
saying: "Steinie! Hum That fell
lows certainly had his spell Of punish
ment, and he appears to have been a
model prisoner All right, Mrs. Arm
strong, We'll get him out by Septem-
ber."
The ladies' delegation meant we'll.
But when the news reached Steinie he
was in despair.
For Gawd's sake let me stay, war
den," he pleaded. "I'll work for you
for nothing l can't leave you and Dot.
Why, wouldn't know what to do with
meself, things has changed so. And
I amt got no trade except gardening"
+ Sorry, Steinie." The warden
clapped a hand on his shoulder. 'But
we can't employ outside labor. The
only way you can get back into the
pen is to commit another offense.
Come, be a !" he added. The So
ciety's going to try to get you work"
But Steinie was not to be encour-
aged. The tears were in his eyes as he
shook the warden's hand In farewell.
Dot was crying, so was the warden's
wife, who was very fond Of old
Steinie.
Steinie cast q last glance around
the flower garden and walked out of
the gates, a free man. He had his rail-
road ticket to the nearest city, and
few dollars in his pocket. He put up
at cheap lodging house, but he didn't
go near the society. Prisoners-ex-
prisoners seldom do.
And everything was changed. He
did not recognize the town of his birth
at all, and he was scared to death of
the sky-scrapers and trolleys. And he
needed money pretty soon. What was
he to do?
Two weeks later he was haunting the
little town in which was the penlten-
tiary. Nobody knew him, Of course.
He was sleeping in a disused barn, and
wondering who was looking after the
rose garden. He wondered If Dot
missed him.
Then he remembered that it was
Friday morning. On Fridays the war
den came back from the post Office
with the government check in payment
for the various expenses Of the peni-
Tertiary.
He should be passing the bend of the
road at eleven o'clock. Steinie had
often been to get the mail himself; he
knew the routine.
He pulled a thick stick from the
hedge
Twenty minutes later the warden,
driving the pony trap, was suddenly
confronted by a figure which leaped
upon him from the roadside one hand
upon his shoulder, the other brandish-
ing stick.
Hand 1t over!'
The wardens automatic was n';eady
pointing at the others head. ts.' 10
dropped il:
"Steinie!"
Steinie let the stick fall. II guess
you got me, warden" he muttered
The warden looked the picture Of
dismay. "My God, Steinie, I'd rather
well, you got me, so can the spiel"
growled Steinie.
"Steinie, run away. I've forgotten
this. Anyway, guess it was just
joke, wasn't it?"
Steinie looked the picture Of dismay.
Say, it's attempted robbery with vio-
lence, and don't you forget it, neither"
he growled. You got to pinch me,
you jest got to"
A light began to shine in the war
den's eyes. "Steinie you-you want
me to-you old rascal !" he exclaimed.
S"Sure, you got me with the goods,
and got no kick coming" said Steinie,
climbing into the trap. 81 guess you'll
take me to the station, eh, warden?"
The warden turned the pony's head.
After q while Steinie said:
Gosh, it sure will be fine to see Dot