A guard came to the prison shoe shop where Jimmy Valentine wasworking and took him to the prison office．There the warden handed Jim—my his pardon，which had been signed that moming by the governor．Hetook it quietly；he was too tired to show excitement．
He had been in prison nearly ten months and he had been sentencedto four years．True，he had expected to stay only about three months，atthe longest．He had a lot of friends and he had been sure they would helphim．
“Now，Valentine，”said the warden，“You’11 go out in the morn—ing．Make a man of yourself．You’re not a bad fellow really．Stop break—ing open safes and be honest．”
“Me？”said Jimmy，in surprise．“Why，I’ve never broken open asafe in my life．”
“Oh，no，”laughed the warden．“Of course not．And what about thatSpringfield job？Do you mean to say you didn’t take part in it？”
“Me？”said Jimmy still more surprised．“Why，warden，I’ve neverbeen to Springfield in my life！”
“Take him back，”the warden said to the guard smiling，“and give him some clothes．Unlock him at seven in the morning and let him cometo mtter think over my advice，valentine．，，
At a quarter past seven the next morning Jimmy stood in the ward—en’s office．He wore a badly fitting ready made suit and the cheap shoes that the state gives tO prisoners，when they are set free．The clerk handed him a railroad ticket and the five——dollar bill with which he was supposed to start a new，honest life．The warden gave him a cigar，and they shook hands．Valentine，9762，was registered on the books“Pardoned by Gover—nor，”and Mr．James Valentine walked out into the sunshine．
sentence n．句子；判决，宣判
vt．宣判，判决
honest a．诚实的，正直的；坦诚的，直率的
suppose vt．料想，以为；假定；期望，认为
爱的力量
看守来到基米·范林丁正在干活的监狱制鞋间，将他带到监狱办公室。到了那里，监狱长将一张赦免书递给基米，这是今天早上州长签署的。基米默默地接过去，对此，他没有流露出任何的激动。
他早已腻烦，他在狱中待了将近10个月，而他被判了4年刑。说真的，他本来打算最多再待3个月的。他有好多朋友，他相信他们一定会为他想办法的。
“范林丁，”监狱长说，“明天早上你就可以出狱了，要活出个人样来。其实你这人并不坏，再不要撬保险柜了，做一个诚实的人。”
“我？”基米吃惊地说，“你说什么？我可从来没有撬过保险柜呀。”
“啊，没有，”监狱长笑道，“当然没有。可是，春田事件该怎么说呢？你是说你没有参与那件事吗？”
“我？”基米更吃惊了。“怎么，监狱长，我可从来没有去过春田呀！”
“把他带回去，”监狱长对看守笑道，“给他一些衣服，明天早上7点给他开锁后让他到我这里来。最好还是把我的劝告想一下，范林丁。”
第二天早上7点15分，基米站在了监狱长的办公室。他穿着一套很不合身的衣服和一双廉价的鞋子。这些是发给释放犯人的。一名职员递给他一张火车票和5美元。拿着这些钱，从此就可以开始诚实的新的人生了。监狱长递给他一支雪茄。他们握了握手。范林丁，9762号，已经登记在“州长赦免册”中。于是，詹姆斯·范林丁便走到了阳光下。
