promise that he would leave the State. Currens, now following
Greeley's advice, turns his eyes toward the setting sun. He crosses the
Big Muddy, and plants his feet upon the sacred soil of Kansas. He makes
a raid upon Lawrence, breaks into a house, and is caught in the act of
trying to carry off the household goods. A courteous policeman takes
charge of him--now deeply steeped in crime--soon landing him behind
the bars. In the presence of the court he next makes a solemn statement
that, prior to this, he had been a Sunday-school teacher; that
misfortune had overtaken him, and he was forced to enter some friend's
kitchen or starve. Those who listened to his pathetic appeal inform
me that the stern judge was moved to tears, and that while he had
contemplated giving the wayward Thomas six years, he made it three.
This was the first introduction of our hero to the principal brown
stone front of Lansing. It was not long after his arrival at the Kansas
penitentiary before he gained the confidence of the authorities, and was
made a "trusty." He had an easy place given him.

His three years' sentence soon passed away. His term was reduced three
months because of his excellent conduct while in prison. Bearing with
him the good wishes of a majority of the prison officials, and followed
by the prayers of the pious chaplain, he goes forth to engage in life's
battle again. Thomas could not fully enjoy the sweets of liberty unless
on horseback. He makes his way to the capital of Kansas, and engages at
once in the dangerous business of stealing horses. He had not continued
this course long before he was arrested, tried, convicted and returned
to Lansing for five years more. Thomas had not been in the Kansas
penitentiary the second time but a few months, when he called upon the
chaplain, and with tears rolling down his face confessed he was a great
sinner, promised to lead a different life, and urged the chaplain to
pray for him. Delighted at the prospect of snatching such a brand from
the eternal burning, the man of God took Thomas into a private room,
and the two knelt down. The chaplain offered a fervent prayer that the
loving Father would take to His embrace the returning, sinful prodigal.
At the conclusion of this prayer the chaplain called upon the "sin
sick soul" to pray for himself. This was an unexpected movement by the
chaplain, and Thomas was hardly prepared for the emergency. However, he
prayed. He was converted on the spot