I did not have to wait long before the young fellow himself opened
the door. Out went his hand, and he gave me such a shake that one would
have thought he had known me all my life. There's a lot in a handshake!
"I'm glad to see you!" he said. "I knew you would keep your promise. I
knew you would come."
That took me back a little. Here was a man I had never seen till the
night before taking me at my word. I wondered who he was. We went into
the church. He was talking to make me feel at home. Finally he looked me
over from head to feet and said, "Are those the best clothes you have?"
I said, "These are the best and only clothes I have." I had my trunk on
my back, and the whole kit, shoes and all, wasn't worth fifty cents. The
way of the drunkard is hard. I had helped put diamonds on the
saloon-keeper and rags on myself, but if there are any diamonds now I'll
put them on my own little wife and not the saloon-keeper's. The young
man said, "I've a nice suit that will fit you. Will you let me give it
to you?"
Here was a situation that puzzled me. I was an old offender, had "been
up" many times and was well known to the police.
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