Sunday morning globe., 1901-10-13

A term Of imprisonment Is to a certain
degree like the brand OF Cain, because II
leaves upon the person alpeculiar manner
or expression which is indelible. Es.
pecially is this true when the convict Is a
man of hgh-strung temperament From
/ the freedom of the outer world to the dim
stone Of irou-bound cell with its steel
cucased lock, is a friRhtfu shock even to
the stOutcs, system Of nerves An imapina.
] tive mind is the bittercst possession a pri.
soucr can have. Such mind the silence
tortures the utter hoplessuess maddens
the absolute nothing terrifes.
Several years ago a young man was
. brought to the penitentary and happened
to be placed in a remote corridor Through
his bars he could see nothing but the stone
building. Not even a window relieved the
monotony from his viewpoint Inside of
an hour the new prisoner was pacing his
cell ncrvously. Two guards came inithe
evening and sat down in the far end of the
corridor to play checkers. The young fel.
low could hear them talking in low tones
and moving their pieces on the board. but
could see nothing, He called to the guards
several times and was finally threatened
with the straitjacket II seemed that he
wanted to be placed In a cell where he
could see somebody pass After the menace
Of the straitiacket the young prisoner
uttered no sound Two hours later he was
found lying In the bottom Of his cell TEN.
porarly insane and almost smotherad. II
was his nerves which unhiuged his mind
and would not let him breathe. And this
same young man had revealed peculiar
daring and deviltry outside He recovered
fully afterwards
A term Of imprisonment thoroughly in
timidates a man. The cell may not always
breed cowardice, but II invariably induces
caution. In the majority Of cases ituarrows
a mans mind, debases his morals. eats
away his spirit and destroys his individu-
ality. If a convict has the faiutest trace of
suicidal madness i'm his blood confinement
will eugender it into a passion; and such a
passion prays with deadly zeal and subtlety
upon his reason and his morality An inn.
pulsive daring young law-brcaker enters a
prison to serve two years. His time over.
he emerges-pallid fabby.limbed. evil.
eyed fellow, full Of hate internal craft and
evil plans, matured into absolute perfection.
Long after the great outdoors has brushed
away the Dallor Of the prison you can tell
an excouvict by his eyes
Jackie Mcbride had a year to serve for
attempting TO enter a mansion
Jackie had no time 20 brood over his mis-.
fortune Directly after his cell door closed
be became the busiest man ia the prison.
Being young and small, he was given
chance in the tailoring department but he
refused IT, preferring harder work So his
muscles were hardened. Inthe evening me
read and improved his mind Beyond
the toll and rhe reading there were only
two other possible things in the terrible
r0utuc-caung and sleeping Jackie .
did both with a will
Atleugth the day of days came. Atnoou
Jackie was brought into the prison office
Not a soul had come TO meet him.
Good bye. Mr. l----D you've been
good TO me the little fellow said His .
hand calloused from hard labor. was closed
upon mine
Goodbye, Jackie said the writer. Let
me come TO see you next time. %
Not long after that the happy youugster
waved TO us from the rear platform of .
train pulling down toward the city Even
then we feared that IL would not be us who .
would seek Jackie if we were TO meet again. /
The second event of significance in
McBride's life happened a long time ago:
but 1t is new even now In police circles. In .
the years which followed tine boy came TO .
trust me- and so we possess the details of .
his doings mansion on --
street was entered by a single burglar. .
Jewelry 20 the value of 81, 500 was taken .
Mr. Stephen Hendrie, the gentleman of the .
house, was awakened by a cry from his .
daughter Following the cry Mr. Hendric
heard some one descending the back stair.
way swiftly and softly The gentleman
was au expert pistol shot in an amateur
way Tie grabbed his revolver from the
dresser drawer and ran TO one of the rear
windows The burglar was crossing the
back yard. Mr. Heudue empted six
chambers at the flying figure lie was sure
that one or more of the shots took effect.
but the burglar was not dropped
So much was AN the newspapers or police .
ever learned.
In a small, dinily lighted room over a
saloon near the foot of ---- street the fol-
lowing conversation took place one night
about two months after Iackies release
from prison:
YOU'RE a little fool, suarled the elder
Mcbride
"All right dad, Jackie answered, "but I
got the bunch
Old Peter Dresser was killed on that Job
after he had squared it for two years, ex-
claimed the father In a low, intense voice.
You got a year for being with him and
you'd go back there 2'
Yep, said Jackie, smiling tomorrow
night, and what's more, IN goin alone.
slip of girl with pale skin and large
gray eyes approached the boy There was
suffering and dread but exceeding tender
ness withal, iu the look she gave him
You'll be careful, Jack" she pleaded
be awful careful-for mech Jack2"
'Id be anything for you. Nell, " he said,
very gently and. catching her hand, he
pressed it Color came to the pale cheeks
Of the girl The elder Mcbride swore softly
to relieve the pressure Of the moment, and
said other harsh things Of which he meant
not word. Indeed, the elder Mcbride was
not half SO bad as he seemed and though
he concealed It like a crime, his heart was
overwhelmed with pride for the boy who
dared TO go back TO the place where he had
been caught once
Until late that June night In Nells room,