The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-16
WAS A CHILD OF
THE PRISONER.
Test of a Theory of Inheritance Of
Criminal Instinct.
THE PARENTS OF LITTLE EMMA
Project of n Man Who Wanted TO
Break Ont of Jail-Abe Daiton's
Way OF Opening Communica-
ton With His Friend,

one day. as the old colonel was gar
ing listlessly out Of the hospital window
in Chicago, says the Inter-Ocedn,i he no.
iiced a little girl running to and fro over
the lawn I'm the prison yard. Her rect
scarcely touched the sward. she tripped so
lightly, and. with her fair hair hoatlns
In the wind she seemed an embodiment OF
freedom, so vivid was the contrast mace
by the frowning walls and high barred
easements near BY.
"Smithers." he called: who IS that
child and what IS she doing hereF'
WHY. did you never see her atore, Kun
nel2" asked Smithers. leaving his game
OF California jack with Abe Dalton, who
was suffering from a broken head, an IN
cident of his recent recapture, that's lit
tie Emma"
what Emma: Emma who?' persisted
the colonel.
Lord kunnol, [ don't know. Her moth
er was big Emma, sent up for smuggling.
AFTER a week or So she died in chiidbut
over I'm the women's prison, and so the
kid IS Little Emma, naturally enough.
Abe Dalton. so abruptly deserted ny
smithcrs. listened half-absently to TINS
conversation. hut as Smithers maundered
or, recounting the child's artless sayings
and aoiugs. his thoughts concentrated
upon his own harsh fate. Twelve years
ago ne had been a prisoner in this very
institution. serving a long term Tor bur-
glary. but had escaped. Then he was
recaptured. IL was maddenlng. Never
before i'm his active career had he had so
many promising jobs on hand. Never be-
fore had he been so well heeied. Why,
She very day Of his capture. he had given
10 Maggie, treasurer for the two, roll
Of long greens as big as his fist. And
above an and beyond all. there was the
woman herself; how he lOnged to see her.
She was faithful now. Of course; they all
were al first: but TO serve nine years was
10 be dead a long time. and she was younF
ana pretty and full OF gayety. lie must
get out while her impulse was strong TO
help him. for strong he knew 81 was from
the seemingly innocent letter he had al
ready received. He must get out. but
how? At this instant the colonel spoke up
I'm tones that must attract attention.
MY theory is. Smithers." he was main
aiming that it is imprudent for the au-
thorities 10 allow this child 20 have the
freedom of the prison. Granted, as you
say. that she is TOO young and ignorant
to understand an that rs necessarily inn
Piled by penal servitudc; but she has I'M
stlncts. and from her parentage they must
be criminal instincts, and these muse
make her IN sympathy with the mon,
and might induce her 90 aid them against
those who have befriended her"
DALTON MEETS LITTLE EMMA.
Dalton was a man Of great strength and
superb health, and his wounds healed
rapidly I'm a few days the doctor pro-
n0uuced him cured and the warden him
self came 10 see that an precautions were
taken I'm the line OF vigilance and securi-
ty lie .ened the man first % cell
on the tagging not ten feet away from
The corner. where the night Waterman sat
and smoked tho hours away, and then be
led him down into the tailor shop ana
up the central aisle. between the rows OF
rapidly clicking sewing machines, and
through the thick blue dust from the
overalis, until he placed him at table
directly under the high desk where Keeper
Krank a tan. nervous man. with stick
TN his hand and "a navy revolver in each
hip pocket SAT- alert and suspicious.
There my lad" said the warden, 'I-
rests with yourself whether you have
devil of-e time. You got away once but
that was before my day, but / do busi-
ness ON different principles, you'd just
better believe
81 hope sou won't msiudge me. SIR"
said Dalton. humbly.
ono. 1 won't and 1 don't" retorted the
warden turning away $50 just listen
while I ten Krank here go put bal et
hole right through you IL you make the
least kind of a. break
Dalton had sat az "a machine before. o
he had no difficulty inn setting about his
task with c0mmendable dlacrIty. He was
glad 60 have Dis hands $50 Familiarity ems
ployed that hls wits, sharpened by au4-
iety and feverish desires. could seize hold
of any tribe that occurred 90 his possible
advantage Then De became conscious
that there was nothing else in the room;
was 70 the echo OF q merry laugh that he
heard. pafter of tiny slippered feet? DE
ventured to glance under mis- brow t0 the
right There stood the child little Emma,
gazing fun upon him, with admrng curl
Oslty
"Are you the Jack that got away
through the kitchen SD long ago?' she
asked.
Dalton dld not dare answer, but he had
Dor ht expressive eyes and pleasant
smile. and she seemed TO understand what
he would say She drew nearer. stretch
lng out her hand iu a caressing way, when
keeper Krank leaned over his desk. shak-
ing his stick with mock severity.
Emma. 80 away from there at once
NE commanded.
"shantw cried the child. facing round
and stamping her little foot; "Im no piz-
zoner" And then She ran. fairly scream
ing with glee. down the aisle while "a
grim smile quiyered the keepers lips. ana
the dust-iaden air, pressing Ike those
eyer-present walls close upon the gray
forms bent in work. seemed TO me- and
iet the sunlight stream in. After this.
whenever Little Emma's sweet viii Ted
her into the tailor shop she chose 10 play
la the aisle near palton's table, and now
and again as she passed she would lay
q flower on his pile Of Overalis.
IN "a few days other sounds much more
decisive arrested Dalton's attenr0n-tno
rustic Of silk. steps that advanced and
paused, and the rumble of q heavy voice.
which he knew to be the deputy s. Evil
IDENTIFY that officer was performing the
grateful duty Of showing party OF wish
tors through the institution. Up the
aisle they came and stood by the desk,
where there was the most comprehensive
view OF the men at work. the deputy.
explaining the beauties OF the system,
two men evidently farmers of position.
and three women two OF whom We're OF
The same respectable class. But the third.
t seemed 10 Dalton. as he looked again
under MS Dro~s, that he had known by
the swish OF her skirts as she passed;
why, IL was Maggie OF course, a trans
formed Maggie. severely elegant in trail
ing black gown and Grape veil How on
earth had she fallen in with these good
folks? hOw-but why should he question
regarding her methods? DID he not know
how clever she was? She was there.
standing In front OF him. and she knew
him. or course she did. Dalton would
wager that she had picked him out from
those hundred Ike forms ere she passed
the threshold. She knew him. Oh, that
the deputy might stay a moment longer
time enough for her to make some sign;
for him. perhaps 70 suggest some elew
IL