"That was all I needed," said the man. "It saved the missus and the kids—so what's the odds?"
"But don't you intend to pay it back?"
"Not if the world won't let me earn any money. I tried for jobs all to-day, and yesterday, and the day before. I told my story straight. The missus wrote that was the thing to do. But I guess she's wrong for once. What would you do if you were a banker and I came to you and said: 'I'm just out of jail, where I went for stealing; but I mean to be honest. Won't you give me work?'"
Mr. Holiday wondered what he would do. He was beginning to like the ex-convict's frankness.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked.
"Everybody knows you by sight, Mr. Holiday."
"Then you know," said the little old gentleman, "that I've sent plenty of people to jail in my time—plenty of them."
"I've heard that said," said the man.
"But," said Mr. Holiday sharply, "nobody ever tells stories about the wrongdoers I have forgiven. Your case never came to me. I believe I would have shown mercy."
He closed his note-book and rose.