AustLit

'John, a newly released ticket-of-leave man, comes to the aid of Lady Norton, who has sustained a motor accident. In her sweet face he sees his ideal, but he also recognises the great gulf between them. Passing along he meets his two old accomplices, Yellow Rose, a pretty girl, and Milton. Yellow Rose is deeply in love with John and she persuades him to plan an attempt to rob the bank. That night, while Milton is on watch outside, the girl and the man enter the strong room. John is about to open the safe when his fingers touch the card given him by Lady Norton. Instantly he decides to go straight, and turning away refuses to carry out the crime. Yellow Rose commits the burglary and hides the bonds behind a loose board in a fence.

'The next morning, John and his friends are seated in a low thieves kitchen when the police raid the premises. The scene is instantly one of confusion, and in the melee the three escape. This, combined with other experiences, makes John more than ever determined to live a self-respecting life and ultimately succeeds in persuading the other two to do likewise. Yellow Rose becomes a servant, Milton a porter, while John joins an engineering firm and rapidly rises to eminence.

'Two years pass and John is passionately in love with Lady Norton, and his affection is reciprocated. Only one cloud mars the horizon—Detective Barley, believing the bank robbery to have been committed by John, still seeks to trace him. His suspicions rest upon 'Mr. Warming,' the eminent engineer, but the latter foils him at every point.

'Meanwhile, Yellow Rose, pining for John's love, is on her death-bed, and wishing to clear up the matter of the stolen bonds, she writes to John asking him to visit her. He does so but, dropping the letter, it is found by Lady Norton, who follows him.

'The detective is also on the look-out, and thinking he has cornered his prey, rushes to make the arrest. But Yellow Rose confesses that she stole the bonds and hid them. Both men make their way to the place indicated and there find the stolen notes. They return to Yellow Rose to find her soul has passed into the Great Unknown.'

Source: 'The Ticket of Leave Man', The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser, 22 July 1913, p.2.