The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-07-28

When, toward morning, Jem noun
ted the creaking stairs in his usual half
drunken fashion and staggered into
the garnet, he found Endleton sitting
by the side of the mattress with his
face in his hands. A pale moon sent a
shaft of light on the sleeping boys face,
and it looked white and drawn and cold,
as if already the shadow of death lay
upon it,
Jem stopped in drunken surprise
A stupid grin crossed his face. He
stared and waved his hand wildly in
the air. He tried to speak, but his
voice was hoarse with brandy, and the
figures of the boy and his father danced
before his eyes by the dozen.
He muttered some words -. indis-
tinguishable and meaningless; and,
collapsing suddenly, he tumbled down
on his mattress and huddled himself to-
gether in a drunken sleep.
When he awoke a gray dawn was
peeping slowly in through the small
square of glass in the roof, and every
thing in the dingy garnet appeared un-
real and lifeless. The boy on the bed
seemed scarcely to breathe.
Jem raised himself on his elbow and
looked around, and some remembrance
of the last nights scene began to pass
through his mind. He looked, and it
seemed to him John Endleton had
never moved. The moonlight had gone
from the boys face, and the dawn had
come instead; but John Endleton was
still sitting there, buddled up on the
floor with his face buried in his hands.
Jem lifted himself slowly from his
mattress, and stretched himself with a
big yawn. Then he looked again at
the two in the corner, and after min
ute got up and went toward them.
Amt the little Jun well?" he asked
clumsily "Wot's up with JUMP"
John Endleton stirred impatiently.
The sound of the ex-convict's voice
seemed to rouse all his hatred and dis
gust. He looked round with repulsion
upon his face, and Jem, seeing it,
shrugged his shoulders and sneered.
ooh, well, if ye're 80 mighty indie
pendent and 'aughty, why don't yer
taxi lodgin's in tn Grand y? A-course
if yer don't want no 'elp don't care.
Only l thought" he added brutally, Gas
tn chaps a-dyin' like, as yer might
want somethin' for 'im."
down at the boy. with his wan face, his
thin hands and faltering breath. For
moment it seemed to his excited imagi-
nation that the boy had ceased to
breathe, and he leant forward hurriedly
and with trembling fingers pulled back
the sheet.
"He's all right. He's not DYING" he
exclaimed eagerly. But, at the same
time, it was borne in upon him that
unless he had nourishing things to eat,
and those quickly, there would be no
hope of ever pulling him round again,
and the thought stabbed his heart with
sudden bitterness.
He turned to the burglar. 1t was
possible that Jem could help him. Jem
might know where to get help or work,
or even charity; but Endleton's pride
still stood up in arms, and with a de-
termination to have nothing to do with
him. he turned away.
'Jem, with fierce sneer on his lips
and burning hatred in his heart
against Endleton, turned away, too.
Not finger would he lift-not an inch
would he stir-not if the boy was dying
fifty times over!
AS he turned, he caught sight of
Jackie's pallid face lying on the dirty
pillow.
"Oh, lori wot little bloke it is" he
thought; and then he went out, mumbl-
ing down the stairs, swearing to him.
self-a man apparently without the
faintest hope of better life, without
knowledge of anything except things
evil, and yet with one clean spot in his
black heart.
Detective Hartly, prowling through
the East End in search of such thieves
and transgressors as he might with dig
nifty escort to the lookup, was turning
a corner suddenly became aware that
on the opposite side of the street ia
miliar and not exactly pleasing figure
was ambling along at rapid rate with
something peculiar in the bulgy appear
ance Of his coat.
"There's that Crooked Jem again."
said the detective to himself. He cast
suspicious eye at Jem's pockets,
pulled at his eyebrow-which was
way he had-and then beckoned to
policeman to follow him.
When he was within an inch or two
of the said pockets he suddenly clapped
the unsuspecting Jem on the shoulder
80 suddenly that Jem's jaw fell, and he
made an abrupt, half undecided move
ment as if to flee from the wrath of the
law.
Now, them" said Hartly, severely,
none of that. On with the hand
cuffs. And Smaith, you come here and
take his arm"
Jem looked from one to the other in
something like dismay.
amt done nothing" he expostu-
lated.
"Well, We'll see," said the detective;
"and you'll remember, if anything is
found on you, there are three years off
that last job that you've got to finish"
Jem's face grew dark. His hands
fidgeted strangely under his handouts,
and if it hadn't been that he was o
hardened, hopeless criminal, one might
almost have fancied that his under lip
trembled
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