The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-03-23


self. In ten minutes moro he was flying
over the wide sidewalks with a bundle Of
papers under his arm, intent on business.
Business proved pretty good that day,
too, and on counting over his gains, Jack
concluded that his affairs were improving.
But fortune is tickle. Before evening
his joy was suddenly turned to grief, His
old enemy had been ON his track. lie
was arrested on the street by Officer 1876,
and carried to the s!ation.house The
officer would explain nothing When
Jacks name was taken down, at the sta.
tion, the sergeant asked the officer what
the charge was against him
Larceny" said the officer, loudly,
Jack knew well enough what the word
meant
Larceny !" echoed he, half stupeiied !;
"who's been stealing anything? | hain't
took thing" and looked around from
one to the other of the men present.
"Put him in A." said the sergeant,
In another moment Jack found him.
self in felon's cell. The door was shut
with loud clang, the heavy bolt was
drawn, and he was left alone.
Officer 326 had taken the first step in
his mcditated revenge His real purpose
now was to protect himself from Jack.
Jack had seen him off duty without leave,
drinking in low saloon, and he knew
that this fact, if it was known, would cost
him his place
Jacks sensations OH finding himself
really in limbo we're miserable enough.
llo suspected the true cause OF his unjust
arrest, and he could no, help seeing that
If the officer were wicked enough to swear
theft upon him. he would also be wick.
ed enough to swear to all the particulars
before the Judge Therefore Jack made
Il thousand dismal pictures of himself cast
into Jail, or into the penitcntiary, and he
wept aud trembled all night !ong.
At seven in the morning mis- door was
opened, as were all tho other cell doors
He walked out. A number of officers
stood around. There were forty or fifty
prisoners, men, women and children, and
they were bidden to move off up stairs.
There were three "vans' in the street,
and into these vans the prisoners were
put. Jack was pushed into the first one,
aud il rumblcd off with lie scared freight
up the street.
ln ten minutes it stopped before a huge
gray building Of stone In some way or
other, Jack hardly knew how. he, with all
the others, was ushered inside this gloomy
building, and into lofty, but very dark
and dismal room. The prisoners corner
was sort of cage made Of iron bars
Outside OF these bars Jack saw large
number of people. some sitting quietly,
some talking, some writing, and some
staring about them on all sides.
Ga a high platform was a man who
presently began to read something in
very rapid way, and above him, still
higher, was another man, who looked like
a gentleman, and who seemed to be par
ing his finger nails with pen.knife,
Pretty soon the people in the cage be.
gan to be taken out, one after another,
and they did not come hack again. Jack
waited two hours before anything was
done with him. Then his name was call.
ed, and a policeman near the iron door
beckoncd to him.
He took his ragged hat and went out
into the court room, and was put up on
high stand. The talking gentleman be.
gan to say something to him. He was
puzzled, and he did not hear.
"What do you say?' demanded the
gentleman.
81 haint said nuthin', sir" said Jack,
impatien:ly You are charged with the
larceny of fruit and cake from refresh
ment saloon in Nassau street"
IL didr.'t do nuthin' O. the kind, sir 9"
protested Jack. "Who says | did ,"
"Oficer Smith, No. 326, take the wit
ness.stand," cried the gentleman.
Officer 326 was duly sworn, and testi.
fey that he had known the prisoner for
two years, and that he was a quarrel.
some and dangerous boy He had fire.
quently suspected him Of petty thiev.ng,
he said, and then he went on coolly to
state that at half. past two o'clock, or a
little before, on the previous morning, he
had seen him put his hand through the
screen Of reireshment stand in Nassau
street, and take several pieces of cake.
He had tried to arrest him then. bat the
boy eluded him and ran away.
Jack stared
What do you say ?" asked the clerk
of him. ASK the officer any questions
you like"
Jack was confused. lie declared over
and over again that he had taken no cake
that be hadn't been in Nassau street
that he never stole anything, but his as
scrtions produced no effect.
The Judge said something to ,he clerk
and just then Jack put his hands into hil
pockets. The clerk turned around, and
was about to say"Y ou are sentenced TO six
months in the penitentiary," when Jack
cried out with voice that was heard all
over the court room. He drew out of his
pocket the card that the artist had giver
him. lie remembered that the clock hat
struck three on the previous morning
while the sketch was being drawn.
"If you'll send for him, sir" he eager
y shouted to the Judge, "he knows
wasn't in Nassau street at the time tn,
p'leceman sez ! was" And Jack tolt
the whole story.
There seems to bo something wron,
here" says the judge. "Mr. Clerk
+ send for Mr.. Henry Palmer. room il
Studio Building, 10th street, and hav
him brought into court. Prisoner, yor
can step down and be seated. Call tn
next case"
Jack obeyed, and the business of tn
court went on
In another hour the artist arrived, i
company with an officer. He was pu
upon the witness stand. In moment
! was all plain. He testified where an
how ne had seen the boy at the time
question. fast asleep. He was astonishe
atfwhat he heard OF the charge made b