Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-02-27
A Victim Of His Clothes
By FREDERICK BURTON.
CHAPTER III.
A SCOTCH VERDICT.

Arrived ut police station the party
marched in and halted in front OF a big
counter behind which sat O benignant-
looking man reading q book. Drane
saw that it was a volume Of Shakespeare,
and he felt dim hope that this man
ut least would prove to be kind and
trusting. He did not know the New
York policemen, though he was scraping
acquain lance with the species faster
than he really cared to. The man at
the desk continued to read until he had
como to convenient stopping place
when he took up pen, looked at Drane
and asked:
"What's your name?"
1t flashed over poor Lawrence that all
the reporters in town would write up
his adventures, that tho accounts would
be telegraphed to Western newspapers,
and that full measure of disgraceful
notoriety would be heaped upon him.
So, "Tom Jones" he replied at hazard
The benignant mans face wrinkled into
an incredulous sheer, but he put the
name down without q word. Then,
''Where do you live?" he demanded.
"Kansas City," faltered Lawrence,
utterly at loss to carry on his fiction,
and when he was questioned as to his
business he hung his head in despair.
His garments would belle his claim to
be gentleman; for the same reason he
could not explain that he was charged
with enlisting Boston capital in the in
terest of a new railroad, a commission
that he had undertaken more for the
sake of diversion than for any need Of
money-making, and in q fair frenzy Of
misery no blurted out:
81 haven't any business!"
"Umph! walking gent, suppose" said
the man at the bigSGsesk. what were
you doing with this man and womanP"
The young lady at once began a pro-
test and explanation. which was checked
by the officer in charge of her, who
growled:
"Say, yous, will you keep quiet until
you're asked to say something's"
The accuser declared that Drane had
assaulted him and tried to rob him.
clock him up, said the benignantman,
drily; and the obedient policeman con-
Quoted Lawrence to q cell. AS he passed
through the doorway he heard the
young lady sobbing bitterly. Walking
down the corridor he repressed the tre-
mendous resentment that ragged within
him, but as soon as the key was turned
he addressed his conductor:
81 wish you'd let me have word with
YOU"
The officer paused. Drane had in
tended to tell his story, hoping to con-
vince his jailor, If not of his innocence,
that at least there was grave error in
the proceedings somewhere, but his feel
ings overpowered him.
"I'd have you understand" he ex-
claimed, that you don't know whom
you are dealing with. could buy this
house fifty times over and not feel it
My reputation never has been ques
toned, and somebody will suffer fol
this. Why"
"oh, rats" interrupted the jailor, and
he walked away. There is no phrase in
| polite or vulgar literature that com
| presses so much contempt into so small
space as that one word "Ratsr 1t is
unanswerable, com plete, depressing. AS
Lawrence listened to his jailor's re
treating footsteps his resentment turned
to disgust.
"That just shows" he thought, chow
ill-atted am for these clothes. If I had
been brought up to wear them should
havo known how TO express myself
adequately. Some really shocking
language might have had an effect OF
that fellow"
Then for four mortal hours Lawrence
ruminated on visions of penal servi
tude, balls and chains, breaking rocks
stories of galley slaves; and he wondered
whether much famed Sing Sing would
DO better ventilated than his presen
quarters. He took one little comfort il
his gruesome refiections-he could a
least depend on something to eat a
long as the Government should be hi
host There was no breakfast TO
him, however, and when at las
he was marched to Jefferson
Market court he was in that state o
faintness that he would have walked
willingly many miles had the officer
required it. Without realizing hov
time had passed, or what had happened
he found himself one of o nondescrip
company shut in by an iron railing. Thu
audience room was crowded with spec
tators, and in the enclosure where h,
stood were policemen, lawyers and re
porters. Lawrence shrunk as close as h.
could against the wall and gave way t.
profound discouragement.
"Well, pard," said low voice at hi
side, "you seem to have struck it rougl
this time"
. Drane saw man in rags more loath
some than his own, With rum-bloate,
features leering at him alphabetically
"You have the advantage of me, sir,
he responded, haughtily.
Il guess not" said the other, with
> dreadful smile. "That amt to say tina
knows ye, that ever had the honor Q
'sociatin' with ye, but recognize tn
fraternity wherever comes across 'em
see?"
Drane shuddered.
I'm goin' to take a vacation at tn
: island" continued the other, cheerfullJ
"Got kind O. tired walkin', an need t
rest up. Spect to go up for long2"
, 81 don't know what they will do wit