The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-04-27
Sandeman's Return
From Prison

HIIIIIlIIIIiIIIIIIIIIiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
90. 1917. Western NsMspaper Unionl


90. 1919. Western Newspaper Union.)
Sandeman came out Of the peniten-
tiary exactly four years to the day
after entering 1t. He had had one
year of his sentence RENTED for good
conduct.
He had gone In at thlrty-six, bluff,
jovial, imposing, financier who had
got caught in the meshes Of others
He came out at forty, bent, STOPPING,
with the peculiar pallor of the prison,
and with iron-gray hair.
Sandeman's parents had been farm
Ing people in Otsego. His mother still
survived; frail, elderly woman, liv-
Ing In the fine house which Sandman
had built for his bride, who had been
one Of the Floyds. Old Mrs. Sandman
was an illiterate old lady and Sande-
man had treated her In sort Of con-
temptuous way-she really was hard
ship, especially when the Sandemans
entertained their friends. But at bot
tom Sandman was good fellow, and
he could not leave his mother to live
alone.
His wife, proud, naughty, cold, had
resisted vehemently, and there had
been good deal of trouble over the
old woman; but Sandman had had
his way.
Nancy had never been to see him at
the penitentiary; Of course a woman
OF her breeding could not go there.
Sandman had felt 1t rather deeply,
but he had just taken his medicine and
said nothing.
Oh, those gruelling years In prison.
The torture of the loneliness The
suffering the sense Of failure Sande-
man meant to build up his life again
in the West. OF course Nancy would
never live in Otsego now. In fact, she
had spent nearly all her time with her
married sister in Detroit since her
husbands conviction.
Sandman got off the train at Otse-
go. group Of loafers was waiting
for him. They surveyed him with cold |
sneers. No one was sorry for the rich
man who had been brought down.
They muttered as he slouched by.
up, soldier fashion, and passed with
dignified mien. They cackled.
Outside the station q motor car was
coming down the hill. In 1t sat Sande-
mans old lawyer, Bates, and q warm
glow shot through Sandeman's heart
ut the sight Of him. Bates had done
more for him than anyone else. He had
put up hard fight for him-.he had
believed In him.
SORRY I'm late. Jump in, old man ~
said Bates.
On the way up the hill he turned
toward him. bad news for you,
he said. ut happened
three months ago. I thought It best
not to let you know till you we're
I'LL you came home. No use worry
ng you in--where you were"
Sandman turned haggard face
IN him. He knew already by instinct.
You mean my-myi"
Bates nodded. "SheSs gone West 70 h
ret divorce" he said. III
Curse herl" said Sandeman.
"She waited till the end Had sort n
# idea 1t was her duty. Don't take It i
90 hard old man." r
"Hard?" echoed Sandman. And v
uddenly all the bitterness of their o
1arried life stood revealed in its true
olors for the first time. Under the Il
uockery, the shallow pretenses. he
ealized how his wife and he had al
'ays hated each other
I'm glad, Bates" he said. "By the Il
'ay, my reception here wasn't exactly Il
cordial" II
"Oh, these folk" said Bates con- |.
.mptuously. Il guess it's human ma
Ire to knock q man when he's down.
onli come out on top again, old man.
Il thinking people here know that you "
ere morally blameless BY the way. &c
eve been hoping that you'd stay with p'
day or two-sort of lonely at your g
ace, l guess" 10
mo, I'll go home" said Sandman o!
'onouncins the word with bitter re