Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-08-16
ALEXANDRIA, PARISH OF RAPIDES, Ou1DIf ". Ior2

desired" There was no shaking himsel
free from the strong grip of his captor
and the man obeyed.
WHAT'S the row, my girl % said Blyth
10 tne servant at the window.
Oh, the black that. !" she cried
sure set me spoons on the winder- sill
ana IL open minute wild the dust, an,
me sweepin', and the blatherin' thafe h
rached in an TUX 'em, and me ketchin
him in the act.''
Search me-" said the man quietly.
lt was early. Nobody was in the street
Blythe took the man into the area, ant
turned his pockets inside out. Not s,
much as a pawn-ticket appeared
Friend" said he. 81 must trouble vol
to take off your boots.'
The man laughed uneasily. "Game',
up he said. Take your spoons, watch
ful Bridget. Pm to 60 to the jug, sup
pose. Who cares ?"
Are the spoons all right, my girl p
asked the amateur detective.
An why not, thanks to yer honor
and bad cess to the murdtherin' rogue, tt
be takin' yer honor's time. And I'll take
me book oath agen him whenever vel
honor says"
"All right" said Blythe. "Good.
morning. Come with me my Turpin
The man went quietly for few paces
and then stopped. aWhat are Won aoino % 8
to do with me?" he said.
"Well," said Blythe, "either put Won
in nomination for civic honors, as alder.
man, for instance. where your talents
wouldn't remain hid in a napkin, or give
you in charge, think"
"Couldn't you kick me, Sir, and let me
goY' asked the man, eagerly.
Blythe laughed aloud. "Corporal pun
ishment. as opposed to moral suasion.
live?'' Wv ''u
His captive studied bis face. 1t was 80
open and kindly, the laugh had been so
hearty, that ne said, suddenly. "I
wouldn't like to lie to you, Sir. / don't
live anywhere. / come out of iail for the
third time last Tuesday. Pm a regular
jail-bird, am, and don't expect TO be
nothing else. Pm too old. And don't
suppose it matters how soon 90 back. %
The mans voice was steady enough, but
his lip twitched little.
"Then you didn't breakfast at Delmon-
ico's this morning!" said Blythe.
F" didn't breakfast nowheres these two
days, Sir" replied the prisoner.
My young FRIEND" said his queer
keeper, " have ever observed through
out my virtuous life that when there Is
chronic emptiness of the stomach, there
is corresponding shakiness of the moral
nature. Here is my card. Will you do
me the honor and pleasure of breakfast
ing with mer'
The amazed convict replying not, was
forthwith hailed to a cellar-restaurant.
hoIf h2
fare, Blythe sat back in his chair COM
placently observing the famished eager
ness of his human wolf. When even the
chronic emptiness was temporarily filled,
the wolf said, sheepishly, 81 don't mind
telling you, Sir, since you've acted so
handsome, that l wouldn't have took
them spoons if l hadn't ha' been lust
starved. That. amt no excuse in the
courts, know, and expect to 90 up for
it; but thought you'd kind o. feel as if
you hadn't wasted your money so bad if
you knew how holler | was. Pm ready
now. Sir, if your times up.''
"Not quite up" said John. "Sup-
pose you tell me how it began. Perhaps
| could speak word for you. I'm law
yer"
The other stared with surprise. "a law
yer" he said, sand give away a breakfast
like that That beats crackyl But there's
nothing to tell, Sir. Pm wheelwright.
got sent up the first time for being drunk
and disorderly. lost my place, and
then come a strike, and no work and
took nip sometimes, and got sent up
for petty larceny. And sort o. slipped
into the thieves ring; and byme-byl got
a three years term. But was sick of
the business, and worked hard and kept
the rules, and got a good name. So when
come out, goes to my old shop to get
work; and, thinks /, 'tain't fair to the
boss not to own up, cause he might have
hard words heaved at him by the rest of
the hands If they found it out. And so
he wouldn't take me; and none of the
other bosses wouldn't, cause l told 'em
for, thinks /, faint no use to pretend
you want to be honest with a lie on to
porter's work, and other things, but no
body wouldn't take a man without a
character. Idon't blame 'em. s'pose
shouldn't myself, if was them. Well,
hadn't no money nor credit, but used
to want my victuals just as regular as
though had good wages; and so took
watch, and got sent up again. I'm
pretty decent chap in Jail, you see.
don't get no liquor, and after little
don't want it. And Pm a proper good
workman. And the warden used to let
me have the picture papers on Sundays.
And made up my mind again that I'd
just be new man when / got out. So 1
did get out last Tuesday, with these
clothes and two dollars and a nice new
knife that the warden gave me. So then
l tried right off for work. And wheD the
boss says, Where did you work lastr
says, Come, now, won't tell you no
lies. worked at the prison Pm con-
vict.' And then twas the same old
story. So sold the knife and hand
kerchief, and the last of them and my two
dollars was eat up and slep' up night be-
fore last. So yesterday 1 didn't have no
victuals; and / thought maybe I'd 60 to
some minister and tell him. But minis
ters amt much in my way and, besides,
don't want to beg-I wanted to work.
So walked round all night last night,
cause couldn't go into them holes to the
station-house to sleep-I know 'em too
well. And when see them spoons wait
ing in the winder this morning purpose
to be took, i couldn't hold out no longer.
.l,.s< 70, l,x<