Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-14

old Remnant perceived by a stealthy
movement OF bis head that the warder's
back was turned. and setting down his
barrow he pulled OF his cap and wiped his
steaming head and face The younger man
went on swinging his pick as steadily as
ever.
The outdoor gangs had been at work
nearly four hours under that shifting
zenith and the gray-white quarries were
as beds OF FIRE. Civil Guard Tuck went to
and fro on his sentry beat against the wall,
the sun cleaning from the barrel OF his
rife. Except for the rife on Mr.. Tuck's
shoulder. that boundary wall would have
seemed small enough; "Old' Remnant was
certain he could take IL at vault. But
MIR. Tuck had once severed with a bullet
the spine OF man who was curious TO
know Just what height the wall was !
suppose the man also wanted TO know what
was on the other side OF the wall, for In
seventeen years he had not passed beyond
1t.
1t was nearly II o'clock. and those hor-
rible quarries under that vault Of fire
would grow yet more promethean hot.
"Old" Remnant went forward with his
barrow; brawny convict OF Ave or six
and forty, as fine as steel, the skin Of his
face neck, arms and hands burned almost
walnut. lie had a long irregular face, with
blue eyes straight nose. and a beautiful
square mouth stocked with the whitest
teeth. what hair the convict barber had
left him was just passing from deep brown
TO gray. HIS arms were tattooed profusely
and he was especially proud OF the death s.
head on his right forearm. His knicker-
booker suit OF drab had the yellow facings
Of second class prisoner, for. old Rem
nant could never stay long In the first class
and tho ngtIrpQ n his alaaVa- hadQa told that
he must wear, that suit for ten dreadful
years.
He cast a look beyond the wall the look
Of a man who would do very indiscreet
things II chance would but give him the
very tiniest opening. For Just beyond that
paltry barrier lay the fair world OF free
dom. cribs to crack. race courses where you
could bet the odds. Hash houses TO drink
and gamble in all night. music hall, women
friends. and quiet publics south of the
Thames where you could enjoy a bit OF
cock fighting undisturbed.
But. above everything else. II was the
thirst that plagued him, and old Rem
nants eyes we're fixed upon the green sign
board at the door OF the Plum and Feathers,
right in the middle of the village street
which was Just visible from the purgatorial
quarries. Free men we're In there. out OF
the accursed sun, drinking what they
pleased. "Old" Remnant almost fancied he
could hear the ale flow frothng into the
pewter pots. Five years since he had raised
a pewter to his lips!
The young man continued steadily to
swing his pick
"Matey," whispered "Old' Remnant.
"Well?" And you could tell by the voice
that the younger one was a gentleman
lag" "tof." His sleeve carried the
figure 5.
How does teetotal stand Il. matey?"
20, pretty WELL"
Ugh. l o'd drink the blooming silver
Thames"
Now. then. old UNI" cried the warder.
you'll catch a cold II you take it so easy
there." ..r.
Right, sir.' ychuckled "oldY1 Rsmnant.
who could swallow hint proffered Jest
wise.
The oficer In charge OF the quarries put
his whistle to his lipe and blew the Cease
work"
"siops on and fall I'M" said the warder Of
"Old' Remnants party.
The sun smote him sorely through his
stin cap and serge tunic and the sword at
his belt seemed to scorch his leg, but not
muscle OF him was relaxed
Drawing on their slop jackets, the men Of
each party formed in double hle: party ad-
vanced to join the party; the military guard,
sweltering in their scarlet tunics, came
behind and the civil guard, with their
guns to shoot down lags, brought up the
rear. Then the long drab column began
Imply to march through the burning
quarries.
Beside "Old" Remnant walked Fairfax.
the one with the on his sleeve. He stood
two inches above his comrade and was
reckoned the best looking OF her majesty's
convicts In Longstaff. "Old" Remnant who
was fastidious in his choice of a pal had
frozen to Fairfax who had sacrificed his
liberty for Ave years In an hour OF political
sleep walking In ireland. He was the only
political on the roll Of Longstaff though
there were two or three scores of gentle
man lags," with very ungentlemanly records
at their backs. In all that drab- color red
column, moving slackly through the fervid
dust OF the quarres, Fairfax was. perhaps.
the only one who had never stained his in
most self through the eight and twenty
years of his Quixotic life.
From the broiling gray-whit quarries to
the blistering gray yards OF the prison and
up the asphalt slope to the parade ground
Search parade. caps on, slops unbuttoned
arms outstretched. as II novels excepted)
you could fetch In a hook or ie or a
The deputy governor In from hts canteI
by the river, famed himself with his straw
and clicked a spur against buttress OF the
clock tower. He nodded to the chief
warder as the parties we're checked of, and
said Hurry up" at intervals.
"Ah! You're wantin' that whisky an
soda amt your" muttered "old" Remnant
Amt goin' to put me alongside OF one, ]
expect''
Remnant" whispered Fairfax, what's
wrong with you this morning? Don't get
in trouble"
He had known his gang companion only
as the wariest and most prudent of prison
ers The warders, having a longer ac-
duaintance with him, knew the "old un'
rs very tough member when his foot
itched for liberty.
I'm all right, matey,' he said when tn,
search warder had passed down the line
"A bit OF trouble would do me good Just
now ! can do Ave stretch comfortable, bu
gets the hump after that. Matey, I've
notion I'm going TO sling my hook"
Don't be fool" said Fairfax. soto yoce
mo one has ever got away alive from
Nongstan"
"Ah! That's where the ambition come
in. matey. oh. he's ambitious. is the OLE
uni"
Three times had "Old" Remnant broker
DriSnn hui