The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-08-22
Written fsr the Au,,-
A BOLD GAME;
OK.
WOVEN OF MANY TH6EADS.
~ WELDON :. ouBB, JK.
CHAPTER IN
CHAPTER IN
~ WELDON !. DuBB. JK.


With a long reaching vista u trees and
dusty road before him, and a wearied body.
the second day after his surreutitious lrav-
ing III Paterson, the eX-tramp. Mayhem
seated himself upon a moss-cui cred lock
by the side Of a cool bubbllng spring and
rested hls travel worn limbs after a cop
ious drau1ht Of the pure and sparkling
water before him.
The old look had come into his eyes since
he had left Patersun-that look II a man
hunted and at bay, that defiant, luckless
glitter IN his eyes, which bespoke within
HIM a morbid condition Of thought strug z
Cling for ths master. :. ~ shSN. In the
eaowp , sTxs ~ -
traced the absence of all tiist tender in
fuence which had been eNerted over HIM
BY Robert Parton, and had toned down the
rudeness OF his mind and manner lie
sat with his head bent down, his eyes seek
ing rest upon the glIttering waters before
him.
50 absorbed was he ia contemplation
that he did not notice two men who were
coming down the dusty road, and who OBJ
serving him walked toward the spot where
he sat. They were men whose very faces
bore the impress Of crime, and who when
they saw Mayhem, and had reached the
spot where he sat, disturbed his deep
reverle, and startled him with the abrupt
ejaculation Of
# Hello !,
The tx-tramp looked up with quick
start, and then as both he and the two
men seemed to recognize each other, his
countenance flushed slightly, but he said
nothing
Well, III be bloWed ii 1t amt Jim
Mayhem SAID the first speaker, ia amaze
ment Don't you know him, Tom II
turning to his companion.
The other surveyed MayheW with an
illy-concealed sneer
"Oh YES him as vas So very moral
when he was 'quod. Yes. remember
him nov
Mayhem did not reply to the saiutatIon
Of the two men. but as they sat down be-
side HIM on the grass, he glared at them
IL impotent rage
The country is not So small that you
need intrude yourselves upon a man when
he is resting himself" said Mayhem III a
suppressed tone Of voice.
" Crafty Ben, as the first speaker was
called, looked at him sarcastlcally.
Y nice moral boy you be, Jim May
hew. A very nice sort Of boy to go a
cutting an old acquaintance. You've got
sort Of aristocratlc since you left the Tren-
ton prison, haln't you now Y
Mayhem 5 face at the mention OF that
place. The place where he had been a
convict the prison whose taInt and in
tiuence was cast over him, and haunted
him wherever he went.
" Mebbee you don't like our company
because We was old timers" put IN Tom.
We ham no more though, he We, Benz
Crafty Ben laughed coarsely
Not much. file and rope and We
cut the prison, and here We are, chuckled
the ex-convict. ''Come, Jim, don't be
crusty with an old acquaintance. Here's a
fair drop Of hquor. Let's be soclable."
Something in the manner Of the convict,
some dreaded fascination fascination
amounting to positive evil Influence
moved the ex tramp to raise the bottle IL
his lips. Then he handed 1t back again to
him.
You have jst escaped p he queried,
his pale face and set expression al features
indicating the internal emotion he expert.
enced
Yes. Lit out night 'afore last Bust
ed the bars and dropped down with q
rope"
Involuntarily the ex-tramp shuddered
at the thought Of such close contact with
these hardened criminals. He might have
been an associate with them in their form
er prison-home, but his whole nature re-
volted at this close companionship with
them.
What have you been ADDING since yOr
got out, Jim 7" queried Ben, as he idly
kicked the pebbles into the water.
Mayhem answered shortly and evasively
"And what do you intend to do ?
The ex-tramp laughed heartily.
Do :" he echoed, the old defiant anC
reckless glitter coming into his eyes
"What can a man do who isbutfeted from
pillar to post, with the prison-brand fol
lowing him wherever he goes, and the law
Of the State against him.
, That's 50, Jim," chimed in Tom Dor
rance, taking advantage Of the reckless
delneanOr of the man and following up tn
train Of thought he had 80 openly express
ed, :" the laws again man as hez bin
criminal. short life and a merry on
say l. SO let's hev another swig, and the
give Jim there an idea Of what we inten
to do"