Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

pearance bespoke them pleasant companions
on Journey They were quietly dressed
in clothes of a dark color. not fashionably
designed as were those of Mr.. Newcomb,
but such might be worn by well-to-do
ne rchants from the interior of the state. on
visit TO the metropolis. Their demeanor
also favored the same hypothesis. for they
exhibited the reticcnce and the caution re-
garding strangers which are characteristic
OF certain grade of rustcity.
Mr.. NewCoT1b 5 first advances in the direc-
ton of Sociability were received somewhat
colt!ly. and he subjected to a close
scrutiny. from which, however. he did not
shrink.
Il have been in Sing Sing. said Mr.. New
comb. smiling agreeably. 1T is an excellent
prison. the best that i was ever in
A. this remark one of the men facing him
took dollar bill out of his waistcoat pocket
end handed IL to his neighbor with the NUT
tered comment that II was gift. and not
bet. The recipient of the money. respond
Ing TO Newcomb's courteous observation,
said: That's right Sing Sing is a good
jug. and the wSrden's a gentleman. 1 feel
the same as you 90 about it. If were to be
sent up again. Id rather go there"
The criEinoioglst was surprised by this
remark that. for moment. he was unable
to reply His hesitation was viewed with
cut disfavor by his companions. who seemed
tC regard II only as an evidence of a eau
tous disposition. He who had addressed
Ncwcomb spoke again. and manifestly with
the hinIest intentions.
IT : all right. he said We're all in the
sat bOat-out today and mighty glad of
IT, as you know without having to be told
by anybody
My friend" said Newcornb. mildly
would You mind telling why the gen
uemaIr0n your right just paid you the sum
or one dollar? OF course, if the matter is of
a private nature. I will not venture to in
trule. but fanciei that it had some con-
nectiOn with myself"
1t did said the other promptly. Il bet
him dollar that you'd just got out of the
jug. and he took ME up. Then you let out
that you'd been in Sing Sing. and so he set
tied up
Exactly rejoined Newcomb, and he
smiled benignautly.
The cTimilologist perceived that the
chance of his life had come. Instead Of
speaking TO criminals through the bars of
their cells. and in his character of the sin
less friend of the sinful. he was 20 be re-
ceivei into their confidence. as one of them
selves: initiated into their mysteries; re-
called with their stories told without reser-
walton or motive for falsehood. The ad-
venture would be the climax of his Nfe's
work.
Il vas a fool to make the bet" said the
loser. Anybody can see what YOU are
i mean anybody in the business. You're a
confidence operator. that's the size of you
and I'll put up dollars to doughnuts that
few can touch you in your line
You Halter me-" said Newcomb I'm re-
turn. let NE introduce myself My name is
Woodbury-John Woodbury."
"A good NAME said one Of the crooks
and the others nodded.
I'm Jack Pinney' the criminal con-
tinued. If you want to know any more
about me. ASK the police. The gentleman
on my right is Bill Harris, better known
than l am. On my left you will observe a
tall. blond beauty who calls himself Frank
Gleason He is smooth that he can slide
Up hill. He has been everywhere, speaks
100 languages. and cannot tell the truth in
any of Them
Following this introduction there was an
interval of silence. during which Newcomb
earnestly regarded the interesting trio into
whose society kind Providence had thrown
him.
Harris was rather short in stature and
had tendency TO corpulency. which even
the carefully selected diet provided by the
state had not wholly repressed. His face
was firm. expressing the stol!d pride Of the
cucCe5Sful business man. 1t was clear that
he was one who despised frivolity and put
his trust in hard and conscientious toll.
Pinney was dark and lean-a man full Of
nervous energy. He had the ready address
OF the travelling salesman. and the super
fCiaI honesty which Is so necessary to that
profession.
Gleason. as has been disclosed. was Of tho
blond type. He had air Of cultivation
and the manners of one who has moved IN
good society Yet he was never the same
man for many minutes consecutively, being
totally destitute of sincerity. His bearing
and even his countenance varied with the
seem TO be anything from a Malay pirate to
your family physician.
Can't you tell us a story, Mr.. Wood
bury?" said Pinney. We've got time on
our hands and this compartment to our
selves. 1t seems to me that this crowd
ought TO spin some good yarns.
Nothing could have suited Newcomb bet
ter than this proposition Stories
what he wanted and he FASTENED to set
the ball rolling by narratinS an early ex-
perienca which in certain companies he
might have kept TO himself. But there he
felt no hesitation. Even should the story
be repeated, no one would credit these
men: and. in any case. the affair was so
far in the past that 1t had taken on an i'm
personal character in his thoughts.
My first crime. he began; and Gleason
interrupted, crying out:
Good l always like to hear about a
mans first oFense.''
The others conceded In this opinion, and
NewcCmb continued:
My first crime possesses elements Of
novelty which. 1 think. will interest you.
AT that time l was young man of very
high ideals and ambitions 1 believed that
II my mission to benefit the race. In
short. l wished to be phianthropist. But
In order to fit myself for that calling. felt
tn2t an education was necessary. My par
ent5 mad been poor. and l had obtained
very little schooling. though / had studied
hard at every opportunity. l longed for a
college training and had leaning toward
theological studies.
In this situation l applied to a wealthy
uncle. who refused me cruelty. / could
have borne his niggardliness toward me,
but his total lack of sympathy with the
cause to which r intended to devote my
life shocked me unspeakably. / considered
the matter thoroughly, and came to the
conclusion that. for his own souls sake
ne should be forced to part with that small
part of his gigantic possessions for the
6cod of mankind.
The way was easy. My uncle had a
little boy-four years old-of whom he was
sGid to be extremely fond Tho child h,a
never seen me. although 1 had often called