Robert Watson

The Spoilers of the Valley Robert Watson

Book Excerpt: ..."You are indeed a Good Samaritan," he said in a voice which sounded less forlorn. "If I wasn't a jailbird, I'd thank you in my prayers."He smiled crookedly. "You know, convicts' prayers don't seem to rise very high, miss--don't seem to reach anywhere. We haven't got the stand-in with the Boss that others seem to have," he said in some bitterness."Hush!" she whispered. "You must not say that, for it isn't true. Those men might have caught you, --but they didn't. But, but," she added seriously, "surely you are not a convict; not a criminal, I mean?"He turned his hands outwards with a shrug."You don't look like one who loved doing wrong. If you have ever done wrong, I am sure it was done in a moment of rashness; maybe thoughtlessness." She clasped her hands in front of her. "You would never do it again."He shook his head."No, --never, never again!" But his voice had no sound of contrition in it."When you are free--really free--you will try to be wha...