The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-08-22
CHICAGO. DETROIT AND CINCINNATIhk

The bottle was again passed around, and
this time the contagious feeling of fellow
ship WAS conducive Of a new recklessnesa
upon Mayhew's part He drank eagerly
and deeply; and was upon his feet a mo-
ment later, all his former good resolutions
gone; only the evil influence of his new
friends overcoming him.
= Drive ahead, boys" he said. I'm
i'll for anything except crime. Bad com
pany is better than none, and I'll risk my
self with you sooner than be bounded from
the company Of respectable men.
The trio moved on he spoke.
(Which way p he queried as the men
turned their faces eastward.
''To New York"
He hesitated for moment.
See here, boys" he said, stopping
abruptly. = want one thing understood
distinctly. There is to be NO crime. I'm
willing to go with yOu-but | won't be
drawn into crime.
Who means crime !" demanded Ben.
Not us," iterated Tom.
They moved on leisureIy, the new mood
Of the ex tramp causing him to give forth
occasional flashes Of wit, only to withdraw
into despairing gloom of reticence again.
A vIllage-inn afforded temporary rest
where the bottle was again filled with Ii
quor and as they again plodded on they
were sufficiently under the influence of the
rum to give vent to their feelings in oc-
casiYnal snatches of stories and songs.
A large black -lettered poster upon tree
finally attracted their attention as they
walked along 1t sobered them consider
ably when they had read it; its import be-
lng as follows
REWARD. $500.
The above reward will be paid for the
apprehension and return to to this place,
of two nefarious convicts, who escaped
this prison last week Their names are
Crafty Ben and Tom Dorrance"
Then followed an exact description of
the twn men, except that they had dis
guised themselves in clothes the placard
being dated at the Trenton penitentiary,
and bearing the signature Of the warden
thereof
= " re III ti1 -
H They've spotted us y
Such we're the calculations which the
two convicts gave utterance to as they
Mayhew seemed otherwise affected by it,
silently ruminating as he followed the two
men reluctantly, as they in momentarily
alarm, leaped the fence along the public |
highway, and sought the less public and
more sequestered forest paths. Observing
MAyhew's dilatoriness Crafty Ben sang
ont
e" Come on if you're coming. Or, as
You We helped drink all the rum we've had, |
are You ready to give us the slip ;"
Thus rallied, the ex-tramp hurried on
his footsteps, and for some time the rio re-
sumed their flight in silence. The shad-
ows of the evening closed fast around them,
but they still kept on, and pursued their |
lonely way along the forest road, until far |
in the distance they saw the lights Of New |
York city.
Safe enough now, said Tom cheerily, |
once IN our old camping ground and |
.sss IN 2s - srr-svisss Ooeu.
Where are we going to ?" he Asked
To old Martins. You remember,
down in Grog Lane. If he don't give us a
fair shake, we'll revive his memory ON
some old tricks Of his.
Taking stolen goods, for instance"
"Or hiding cove from the police.
And the two convicts laughed coarsely. |
You're very quiet, Jim," said Tom
Dorrance, turning to Mayhem. Maybe
you don't want to join your fortune with
ours.
4" Yes
''Share and share alike p
i les, but
4 But what
- No crime.
" No crime, partner, well said We've
hal enough Of it, A respectable life, eh,
Ben - he concluded, turning to his COM
panIon.
"Of course, replied Crafty Ben with
sly wink.
Once in the city; the precints of Grog
Lane were soon reached, and the three men
stood before the same door where Edwin
Amury had stood few weeks before.
. Let us in" cried Ben, as he having
Knocked, and listend to the noise Of old
Martins footsteps within.
=. You p calculated the old man, fall
ing back i'll surprise as he caught sight Of
the foremost Of his nocturnal visitors
- Yes. old cove, its me and my partner
Tom Dorrence just arrived from a coun-
try visit, he concluded as he pushed past
the old man, his companions following
him.
Nv hos this n demanded the old man
pointing to the stranger.
8 An old pal, said Ben, impatiently.
" Never mind about an introduction Just
now. old man, but let us into the light.
We're hungry and tired enough | can tell
you.
Old Martin scowled darkly, but he re-
locked the front room and ushered his vis-
4. l..
had brought Edwin Amory upon the
evening upon which our story opened.
1t was evident from the manner Of the
second hand dealer that he did not appre-
ciate nor desire the company Of the men
who had obtruded themselves upon them.
As he saw that the men were not to be in
to suit themselves, and having placed a
plenteous meal before them and large
bottle of rum he seated himself near them
at the table, and watched them ~ they ate
drank voraciously.
Their fatigue was a sufficient plea for
immediate rest, and soon the three men
we're upon the floor fast asleep, the old
man watching them with angry gaze and
glitter in his eye. Succumblng to fatigue
however, he soon retired to his own room,
and silence reigned throughout old place
in Clog Lane.
CHAPTER Y.
MIGHT AND RIGHT.