Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 293, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1912 — Beginning Anew [ARTICLE]

Beginning Anew

Pickert pulled his slouch .hat sell further down over his eyes, and look ed stealthily at the store as he shuf fled past. But in that glance he had seen all that he needed to finish his report. He had walked this way before. «. The captain was a strict man, anu if a-report did not-please him, ■ Pickert weh knew that Ire was not the one to show any leniency in his dealings with the offender. But he*waa ■confident that his report this time oouhi not fail to please his superior. It was not infrequently that Pickert wished that' he/couid leave it all. The desire to- be honest again would almost master him at times, but when he had about made up his mind,* the thought would come to him that there was no other place for him in life. Who would give employment to a man wearing such rags as he was obliged to wear, and on whose- face the deeds of the last two years had not failed to leave their marks? No. it was no use to try to be decent once more. He got enough from the spoils, to keep body and soul together, and though "that was about all, it was better than not being able to have even a crust and shelter.

The captain dressedwsvell—almost elegantly. He did not take an active., part in the affairs which liis men carried on in the night. He only superintended the business- it was by far the safer to him fell the maxi mum-share of the ill-goUtm-gains. Once Pickert had been honored and respected, but that was before he had iefl his home for the West. Not finding the gold which had lined him there, he had drifted back to an Eastern'city. and had fallen in with had company, and eventually, not-having a penny left; he had joined the captain’s band. Since that time he had tried to thrust all thoughts v ; pf his old home from his mind, but was impossible. Pickert hated the Small dingy room under the eaves which he was obliged to call home, and to-day he dreaded more than ever to return to it. Just now he could not help thinking of the home of his boyhood days and his mother who had loved and trusted him. He had left her with the assurance that some day he would return with gold enough to give her everything that heart could wish. And how he remembered her answer: “Never inind the gold, Jim. All I ask is that my boy shall be—a good and an honest man.” And he had told her that he would be all that she wished. And now

Pickert’s rough hand stole up to his eyes, and he murmured something under his breath. As he was passing a small church in the most disreputable part of‘the city—very near his lioma-he was arrested by tire sound of singing. Just now was a great revival reason, and noon services were being held In most of the churches. Some feeling which he could not throw off impelled-him to enter, and he sneaked into a seat by the door. He was too wiekfed to be here, he muttered to himself —in a minut.e he would be moving oa —but he would wait until they had finished singing. His eyes grew moist as lie listened to the hymn. How mapy times in his boyhood he had heard his mother sing “The Ninety and Nine.” Then he had been good and What would she say if she could see him now? It would break her heart. The tears fell now upon the ragged coat, and at that moment Piekeft registered a vow in his heart. “I'll be a man again- -it’s not too late.” Then swiftly the thought came, “What will the captain say if you back ’out?” Then as quickly thq answer, “It won’t make no difference what he says—or what he does. I’m dead tired of doing wrong.” He started to leave the church, but he stopped suddenly, petrified with amazement. The captain stood by the door! When he had recovered himself he walked up to him. “I’m thro.ugh doing your dirty work,” he whispered hoarsely in his ear. “You can do what you want to me—l don’t care—l’m through with this miserable kind qf a life.” “Let us walk along together a little ways,” was all the captain said in reply. Pickert was astounded. What had happened? All the captain’s bravado was gone, and his black eyes had softened considerably. f‘l watched you go in—l wanted to see what you was up to,” the captain said after a while, “and I followed. 1 ain’t been inside a church before for years. You heard that hymn. Pickert. She used to sing it when T was a boy —my m-mother, I mean, and it made me think of —when 1 was different. But I’ve been too long now in this business to turn over a new leaf, but It’s not too late for you to begin anew. You shall have a chance. Here’s enough tin to take you out, West When you get there go to work, and start over again, He had put Ills hand into his pocket and as he finished speaking he thrust something into Pickert’s hand. Be fore the latter had a chance to say a word, the captain turned on his heel and walked afray in the oposite dlrec don. For the first tftne In two years Pick ert raised his heaa and looked upward. “Thank Ood for- this chance to begin again.” be murmured reverently. “I'D 7W be the man that 1 orotnlued moth er be,' gag this time Pickert made good.—