The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-06-15

converted into market place, the pur-
chascrs and passersby are forced to
thread their way now on the sidewalk,
but oftencst on the asphalt driveway,
over which latter, by the bye. there Is
never n passaSeway for horse and
wagon.
Yet, except for very occasional
family row, the scene is almost invari-
ably orderly. The whole Is picturesque
from the very Quaintness OF the sur
roundings. 1t all seems so foreign to
IN American city. not even the Eng
lish language being heard rs one walks
by. say the scene is picturesque,
but, alas, not the women! Raphael
and Corrcggio have taught us how beau
tiful the daughters Of Italy NAV be-.
but they could not have found their
models In such n locality, where chill
drcn of IA arc attircd like elderly wom-
en- and look older than they are, with
their colorless cheeks and sunkcn eyes,
which seek the pavement because Of
the stoop In their backs from carrying
burdens. How could beauty thrive
here?
Mr. Mitchell took In the general scene
ut n glance rs lie turned into the alley,
leaving the kaleidoscope array Of col
or behind him and passing into the
gloom beyond, where all seemed color
less.
"Be careful where you walk" came a
warning from Preacher Jim just in
time to prevent Mr.. Mitchell from
treading upon an infant crawling along
toward the street in state of nudity
which would have attracted attention
anywhere but In this neighborhood,
where children who are nearly full
grown are often clothed with but a
single garment.
At the end of the alley was n court,
so called by courtesy, being In truth
but little wider than the alley itself.
At the back rose up gauntly between
the main houses and the rising sun a
tall structure, erected in comparative
ly recent times that the greedy owner
Of the ground might squeeze n few
more dollars from the pockets of the
outcasts whose only hope of happi-
ness In this great new land" is to
herd with those who can Mt least com.
prchend their own tongue. What mat
ter IL this back tenement shut Off both
light and mir from the 20 or 80 fami-
lies living in the front houses? If you
should speak to the landlord about It,
he would reply:
"I do not compel them to remain.
If they do not like It. let them move.
This is free country"
A free country! Aye, truly! Very
free when price Is put upon the very
air!
An iron stairway running up the out
side of the back tenement did double
service, serving both as entrance way
for the dodgers and as n fire escape, an
economic method Of obcying the law
which demands that these poor devils
shall at least not be burned alive.
And, since the fire escape must be
placed on the outside, why waste val
uable-that Is to say, rcntable-space
Mr.. Mitchell followed Preacher Jim
up to the third floor, where they rest
ed moment OH the landing while
awaiting some response from a loud
knocking upon the door.
'"The old woman keeps her latch on
to keep out intrusive visitors" explain
ed Preacher Jim as he repeated his
summons.
But after some time, there being
still no sound from within, he turned
the knob. TO his surprise, the door
yielded, and lie led the way in.
"Shc's out, guess" he said, "or the
door wouldn't be open. She's got no
way to lock 1t on the outside. The
locks broken. It's dark enough in
here, isn't it?'
1t was dark enough, though Mr..
Mitchell observed that the one window
In the room was obscured by neither
blind, shutter nor shade. No light
entered, because there was 20 light
that could find way In.
iii strike n light" said the crimi-
nal. "Iave you match?" Mr.. Mitchell
handed him his match safe, and in q
Few minutes n smoky lamp was dimly
illuminating the room.
What have we here?" exclaimed Mr..
Mitchell rs soon as he could make out
anything in the room. Then, advanc-
Ing, he leaned down and examined the
object which had attracted his atten-
ton.
"Why, 1t Is n womanw he cried. "And
she Is hurt! There Is blood herew
"Blood!' cried Preacher Jim, arous-
ed to sudden state of excitement
which astonished Mr.. Mitchell. He
brought the lamp and, STOPPING down.
turned the woman over, so that the
dim light fell upon her face. Then,
with the cnraged cry Of n wild beast.
he jumped up. crying:
1t Is my mother, my mother! She
has been murdercd-murdered, tell