The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-12
Caught in a Grey Coat.



dish brown hair: yet though / had seer
Robson but once. was still dubious
enough 10 say inquirinsly 20 the prison
| cr-
well. joss. you've got back AGAIN.
The man stared. neither sullenly nor Ill
! naturedly. but with just the shGhtesl
| opening of the eyes, as j Imagined, and
J then answered. with calm Indifference
I Yes, I've got back
| Still little doubtful said
You are Joss Robson. aren't your
| Whereupon he quickly answered
! Yes; he'll tell you that and. a. h,
| indicated Farrel, Johnny added
Yes / got "A clyte in the dirt frae 'um
that minded me o auld times. He scented
| danger the moment he got his cen on
me.
now concluded chat my first interview
with Joss had either been very nroitle--,
or that lie appearance had altered somo-
what with the new and superior clothes
he new were; sns without saying more
To expose my own stupidity, as L thought
st. I saw the ease taken down and the
prisoner locked up TIL next day. when he
was RENTED 20 the High Court on a well
supported charge OF shop-breakins and
robbery
nv the time the trial came on had be-
come 80 fgmiliar with the features OF the
accusea that | sometimes family wonder
ed that I should have hesitated when first
he was brought before me- but was new
erthelsss struck with remarkable
change in his manner. Instead ot the old
bullying ana reckless bravsdo, there was
= auiet and gentle manner, and in place
ef talkstivrne-s. a retieenee which IL was
all but impossible TO break The health Of
the prisoner had altered fer the worse, It
Is true: his appetite was bad. and he OF
tsn complained OF weakness and q pain
in his chest; but as he had during his for
nsr sentencs been reported as a cum
ming malingerer, who would try any
trick to escape working, little attention
was paid to these hints. On the case be-
ine called at the High Court, the change
In his demeanor was again remarkable.
Formerly he had apparently prided him
self upon his boldness in pleading Not
guilty" fer the sake of displaying his
wits in the shape OF cross-examination OF
the witnesses: but now he looked won
derinsly up in the judges face, and said
with curious simplicity
Which will he the best for me? IL I
pleas suilty, will II make my sentence
shorter"
for moment the Court wns taken aback:
but after q pause for consultation he
was informed that IL would probably be
10 his advantage to plead guilty, when he
quietly nodded his head. and said, some
what wearily--
Then ! plead guilty to the charge
The sentence was fve years penal ser
vitude, which otherwise would have been
seven, with the addition of the unful-
filled years Of his first sentence. Thus
his forethourht saved him at least four
and half years imprisonment; yet the
circumstance was so unusual that open
ed my eyes and remarked 10 some one :
The world (. surely coming to an end
for here Is a sturdy rogue who can ac-
tually see more than an inch beyond tho
present"
Thus the matter rested; and daresay
thus IL would have stood till tho end OF
time. had / not chanccd, some years
after, to be IN the penitcntisry at Perth.
trying to get informa tien which one OF
the convicts there alone could supply.
My mission was . failure 80 far as the
immediate object was concerned. for the
man absolutely refused TO epen his lips;
but In going through the place one of the
upper warders chanced to say to me:
DE ysu knew man called Joss Rob
son? lie came from your place for
house-bresklns.
II know him, sr knew him at the time -
j answered. What has he done now"
| fully expected an account of some
brutal ana unproveked attack upon the
harmless, turnkey. in which Joss bore the
Hons share of the work biit the man
only said With curious smile:
What do you think OF him now?'
Think OF him?" echoed, trying 10
read the sosptical expression lighting my
questioner's face. How? IN what wsy?'
isn't he a dee ,cheemer, and lazy
to the back bone?"
hat
! upon me to say" frankly replied. "Ev-
cry thief Is lazy enough, and deep, too,
as rule"
Yes; but what I mean Is. don't you
| think him = shammer in regard 10 sick
Mesa malinserer pretending te be very
I weak just TO get ints hospital"
I've heard something of that kind
| about him during hts hrst visit 10 thi.
| place. but what sf ite"
why, this. lie Is in hospital now
| been so for months-and from shammine
Illness he has actually turned 1t 10 a
reality. In truth, do not believe he will
| recover"
Were ycu sure he was shamming;
! What did the doctor say2'
That's tho curious thing The doctor
said with a smile before nc saw him
that he Guesssd what his trouble was
remembering his reputation under the for.
mer sentence; but no sooner did he sc,
him and examine him, than he took IN,
aside and sad: The man Is undoubted
ly Ill, and has been so Tor many a day
One Of his lungs must be nearly gone II,
may not live out his sentence"
"Humphl the eld story; but / nevel
thought powerful rascal llk. him woul,
dwindle into cspSumptiye." va. m,
short comment. "Could I see hin ."
II arm coming 10 that; indeed Il va,
that made me ask YOU II YOU knew him
lie seems 10 have heard deal about yo,
i'm this place and out or it-as Mh,
has notg-and taken n second notion o
you: for more than once he has said:
don't believe I'll ever 30 out of thes
walls alive, but II ever McGovan Shouts
be near hcre. I'D Ike 70 SEQ him an,
speak 80 him.
l was not surprised. Tile request wa
not an unusual one; ana ] merely nodded
saying
II daresay he wants 10 let me kno,
of some buried plunder which can be n
no more use TO hlm; or 10 set me ON tn
track of the beloved pals who were en
gagged with him az the robbery but VIII
have been more lucky IN eludlng us."
Thus carelessly and somewhat csllousl
reasoning. as It may seem. I was led {
the prison hospital where a thin shado'
! OF = man Law I'm whom 1 had 4 he utnno.