Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1895 — Queer Gratitude. [ARTICLE]

Queer Gratitude.

Among the free laborers who worked side by side with the French convicts at Toulon was an Italian, who brought them extra food and addressed them, like human beings, talking of his family, wife and home. But the Italian’s gayety suddenly left him, and it came out that he was sorely pressed for money. One of the convicts who had heard this presently announced his intention of makipg his escape: He confided his plan to the Italian, and got him to promise to visit him in a hiding-place he knew of, well beyond, the town. Tho convict escaped in due course and the Italian came to him, when to the latter’s - astonishment, the convict said: “Now, I give myself up to you. My capture pill'' bring you the reward--500 francs—and that will help you out of your difficulties” jFor a long time the Italian stoutly refused to take advantage of the fugitive’s self-sacrifice, but at last yielded to fho other’s persuasion and took back the prisoner. Some time afterward this became known to the prison authorities, and the punishment for escape was remitted.