The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-30

| driver and cursed him well. He would
have liked to fight him out of pure
| liehtness of heart. He began To get
| raVenously hungry, and looking up at
clock saw that 1t was an hour past
| his dinner time and his heart bounded
| within him as he thought that he
| should now be able 10 eat at what hour
| he liked.
The first bitterness came when he
\ was dismissed with the epithet Jail
| bird" Others followed. Watson learned
| that the arm OF the law is long and
| nagging. He would work "A few days
| at place and then be sent away. often
! without the wages he had earned. AT
| last he went away from New York, and
| i'm the course Of time got work i'm Bam-
! berger's store in Baltimore. He had
! been there for three months and his
| evil fate seemed To have deserted him.
4 He was a man OF quick sympathies and
| mellowness Of life seemed TO be coming
| back To him.
One day he was sent with "A package
| OF seeds To house on Charles street.
! He skipped az he crossed the streets,
walking toward the Washington monu-
| ment. and laughed at himself for doing
so. But no one was near; one man was
! coming toward him, far up the street;
and Watson sobered his steps as he APP
preached. 1t does not do 10 appear too
| light-hearted i'm this world: the Puri-
| tans have made the model OF respecta-
! bility grave.
The man stopped as he came to Wat
/ son. "HullC," he sad You here?'
| Yes" Watson answered stupidity
| Didn't expect 10 see me, eh?' the
] detective continued. Let me see; what's
4 your number
Watson looked down. but did not an
! swer. He had forgotten the errand ne
| was on, and listened duly for the next
words OF his enemy
| -Four twenty-seven. that's IL. What
| name are YOU sporting now?"
Watson" he answered without look
! ing up.
/ We'll, Four ur-twenty-seVen Watson,
what have you got i'm that bundle?
| Something you have picked up absent
| mndedly?" He spoke jocularly.
II have never stolen i'm my life" the
eX-convict flared up.
| mo. OF course" the detective an
swered with mock sympathy. nor killed
! a man. nor swore. nor smoked, nor
! chewed, nor told lies--quite a model lit
! tie boy! But just spose you tell where
| is did come from"
IT'S a package Of seeds from Cal
| houn q Bambergers that I'm TO take
up 10 81 North Charles street"
| "Ah. very glib. Well. let's make q
| friendly call on Calhoun a Bamberger-
! or, perhaps you'd rather go TO No. 81
! for identification?"
Watson looked up. his face haggard.
| For Gods sake, Flagg, when I'm max
| ing an honest living. don't
"Oh. no, Of course / amt" the de-
| tective sneered. going to recommend
'em TO raise your wages--or mebbe ]
ought 10 say your salary. Come on
They walked back together. If Wat
! son of his own volition could have died
| right there he would. but il is the
worst part OF life sometimes that "A
man must live.
Bamberger was sitting at the back
OF the store, behind a wire screen. on
a high stool. He put on no airs in the
days OF his prosperity. F'lagg walked
up To him. his hand on Watson's
shoulder. All the clerks noticed him
as he passed, and stood watching them,
edging gradually nearer. They could
Sc il was detective by the lay OF his
hand on Watsons shoulder. Bamber-
ger looked up.
This man works for you2" Flagg
asked. with the self-importance of the
benefactor.
Yes"
"You didn't know that he was a con-
! vict. eh?" There was a benevolent and
humorous twinkle In the detectives
| eye.
He has escaped from you?"
"Oh. no; his times up all right,
but
"Ach so. He has perhaps done some
thing new?"
mo. / reckon mebbe he was tending
! To your business all right this time.
But / thought I'm make sure. and tip
| you the wink as to who he was. Glad
TO have been of service To you"
| "Ah, You are glad 10 be of service
to me-" Bamberger repeated slowly.
He was how long In prison?" looking
| at the detected figure Of Watson.
I hali n
he turned TO Watson.
Watson did not answer
Ugly. eh?" Flagg scowled
"He was in for what?' Bamberger
! still spoke very slowly. as il thinking
of what he had heard.
Just killed man." Flagg said. flip-
PANTY.
Watson Strengthened up. KILLED him
| for" he began. passionately; then
stopped and looked down at the floor
again.
Bamberger glanced compassionately
at him. then turned TO the detective.
He half served out mis- time?" he
asked again. gently
Eyes; hadn't no friends 10 get him
! n pardon" Flagg laughed coarseiy
"Of course. he got Off some for good
behavior"
But you think his punishment
should never cease while he lirr' Bam-
berger spoke with moro accent than
usual and his tone vlbrsted with feel
ing which. the detective felt. was
somehow unfriendly To him Every
body in the store stood stlll. listening
"YOu think that you. "A SpitZbube like
YOU. can hound him through the rest
| of his life? You think that YOU are So
--soallwissCnd that when the laws
OF the country--when justice has said
he has paid the penalty and can start
q new life-you think that you All!
tell you what | think.' shouted Bam-
berger. He took something from the
drawer In front of him, then stepped
quickly through the screen door.
Fiagc jump back from tho revolver
the German pointed I'm his face. For
| Gods sake. man, what are YOU dong?"
| hc shouted.
II show YOU" said Bamberger. grim
| ly. Hold up your hants, or, by Gott.
| shoot YOU dead"
Flagg looked about for helm. but
| gaw no sympathy.
"Schnelli" commanded Hamburger.
Tho detective throw up hs hands
l - .l4..1a