The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-31
LOST HIS PRISON DINNER.
BUT SHORTY HAD A BIG NEW YEAR'S
UsPREADo AT Gov O,REILLY,S.

the Bills wers Counterfeit and He Had
to Run Before OReilly Discovered II.
well. shorty" said the Deputy Warden. as
he and the head mailman were sorting the
washing which had Just come up from the
prison laundry. you 20 out this morning. but
/ hope you'll be back tomorrow for your New
Years dinner. It's going to be q good one-a
big tin OF oyster soup. a half chicken. two
oranges. two apples. and shovel full OF nuts
and raieins for every man Jack Now. what do
you think Of that?"
I'M be up on the first load. sir" answered
Shorty. thoughtfuly assigning an unmatched
pair OF underclothes to dago on the top
tier.
Il don quite see how you're going to do It,"
the Deputy went on, you know the old man
will lock you up II you come In groggy"---
''Niver fear. sir: this won't be no drunk and
disorderly. this time" explained Shorty. by
walking to Shiloh I can vag myself troo
constable frInd who's glad enough. so he Ia. to
git the twinty shillun for bringin me in. I'll
be on hand all right. for the grub. and without
a drop in my skin"
Very well. then, Shorty" said the Deputy
with a glance toward some mysterious dark
blue fabrics. well let the sheets go until day
after tomorrow. though Sailor Dan was ask.
ing me-
Sailor Dan." broke In Shorty. Indignantly.
had better stick to his present graft OF second
assistant and not be ashprin to the possh OF
his sooperiors. Why. he'd give AWAY livery
lamp chimley In the storeroom in twinty-foor
hours so he would. inst!d OF maxim them paste
the broken pieces togedder with brown paper
or bind them with wire. as do. Mover listen
TO him. Mr. Deputy. and me It ia will be on
hand the marnin' Us bright and soonshiny and
straight as Good Timplar n-marchin' up the
aisle to receive q track as reward OF his
virtoo."
Being a man OF standing In the prison
Shorty did not march out with the line OF dis
charged men. but after hauRhtlly viewing the
dishevelled ranks and bestowing some caustic
advice on the disconsolate buns who had so
miscalculated their time he went Into the
bathroom once more TO assume the garb OF n
free born citizen. The toilet was not an
elaborate one He brought down from the
clothesroom a small bundle wrapped In n dirty
towel. which disclosed longshoreman's
jumper and pair OF brown velveteens. moth
eaten and stained. These. being decently
Joined together with strap and the work
being crowned with rimless derby. he was
ready to meet the world face to face.
"Ifit wasn't only the matter Of n day." re-
Hected Shorty. I'D brace the Deputy for that
SCOT the banker wore In. Sure he'll forgit all
about IL In sewing year. II he don't croke afore
he's troo with his bit: but they'll keep until
mex time"
Shorty paused In the Office long enough to
pass some jocose remarks withthe clerk. to the
effect that he needn't bother to get his ''vaoo-
ables" out OF the safe: and for matter OF that
| he might sell them for the binent OF the
nnady. so he could; and then he proceeded
| leisurely out into the open. For few moments.
with that habit SO common TO discharged con-
Ia a,i,,
| cally upon the wall as IL he could tell some
| thing II he chose about its weak points. and
waving his hand condescendinglY to the con-
| valescents. Who being allowed to take their
| exercise up and down tho galleries. were peer
| ing eagerly through the high windows. Then.
with another convict habit. equally strong. he
crossed over to tho Ball and Chain" the in
cvItable saloon which is civilizations nearest
outpost 70 prison. The proprietor greeted
Have a ball with the house. Shorty" said
| he, II s'posc you're lust out for n days airin'
| It's an allowance YOU ought TO have from the
state funds for Your work. Why. only the other
| throwin' euchre hand In the back room, and
| heerd them sayin' as how YOU saved the
dive think 0, that s,uirEaint il prince" refer.
| ring to some peculiarly atrocious whskey.
which retniied at three cents IA beer bottle full
| You light lust mention when you git back
| plugs Of 'baccer. II amt me that would be
bard on the boys BOYS. when they come out and are
Refreshed, and Invigorated Shorty left this
hSaRR, About ,en miles distant The
| journey in no wis" Disconnected him. He was
used to walking. and though tho air was brisk
and his buttonlesS Jumper showed glimpseH OF
his body. he cared not whit. being Injured
from boyhood to endure the extremes Of ex-
lind compcnsa, ION for them al in a biz Of to.
6acco and drop 81 raw spirits. Moreover
we'll acquainted with the way. and his stop,
were frequent nj back doors, where his bright
little eyes and drHll speech rrogrgred Ior him AZ
and enjoying the landscape. with that i'm
munity from care which Is the tramp's advan.
villag" about the middle of the afternoon anC
sought for his friend the constable. Here d r.
% hc sd Suites psrs court at
M interior city. and might not return unit
| "A vacat lon aud gone to town to recuperate.
lately wondering what he should do; For thu
prison nennilcss. his latest term having beer
only ten days and the local money market un
ittie account so long as he could beg ' NOR,
than lie needed and sleep like the dead unde
or h9s but the Of hi
thing in his favor that the though Of thievins
t'roo trolley wnter and be Tinched for NIL
clous mischief; but that amt summary
They'd hold me in )ail for the sessions an,
then. belize. give me AK mont, which woult
| put me on n merchine sure. There's nothin
for IL hut to try the drunk aud disorderly agin
e!tin, myself go as light ms possible: bu
And then shorty recalled how time befor,
last when he came out, through a series OF re
markable events he had become possessc,
first q a 'rae di'mond." and then, o; the none
resulting from its rawning; and how. in Al
excess OF good resolutions. he had paid owe,
the same to one Con OReilly. keeper of
sailors boarding house and Alderman from
the Third ward. with the UNDERSTANDING tina
such payment IN advance would enable him L
eat, drink amt no merry Tor the winter: bu
| Con had fulfilled his trust by first getting him
crazy drunk and then eNerting his pull TO hay,
him sent up for sixty days-thc same being II
full ac1uittance Of all sums received So. now
IL seemed to Shorty that OReilly for the sak,
Of this old time might he willing to help hin
| I'm his distress.
IL was dark when Shorty reached the city
aud was proceeding down a street lined witt
warehouses to the alley near the harbor wher,
Con OReilly's free and oasy." was situated
| This street was deserted and gloomy. for bust
ness had closed early. and the electric light
had not yer flashed up, As he approached
corner. there was the faint natter OF rapi,
steps. and then two men came swinging nroun'