The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-09-13

II.
Thirty-nine had been In Shasnal pris
on about three weeks, when the JUS
tees paid their usual visit. He hal
not long to wait for his own call.
A tall, thin, lawyer-llke man entered
the cell, dismissed Williams with c
gesture, and turned to the convict. He
drew Thirty-nine to the further enc
Of the cell.
Il am directed by the home Office tc
carry any communications you have
to make" he said, In a whisper. "a
have pen and paper. If you want t.
write. But be prompt
Thtrty-nine took the sheet Of note
paper and the fountain pen, and
wrote few hurried lines:
Il want a complete list of convic-
tons against prisoners 70 and "a, now
here; also any other facts bearing upon
the nature OF their crimes. Sooner
the better. Convey through chaplain,
who Is honest"
He dried the note on the slip of
blotting paper between the leaves and
handed it to the justice.
A moment later he was alone in his
cell again.
1T sounds wild notion. l must ad-
nit" he thought, "a very wild notion
Perhaps I am wrong. But 1t is queer
hat "a and Is are never at labor, and
that they alone are never taken near
the governors house. There may be
dozen reasons for 1t, and 1t may have
no possible connection with Williams
i1rst visit to me. but there Is something
radically wrong and | see no other
peg on which to hang my suspicion
than the privileges of these two men
and what Williams said to me- He has
never given me or anyone In my hear
ing civil word or look since"
Thirty-nine had to wait until the
next visit from the justices for his an
swer from the home Office, and in the
meantime he had discovered little that
supported his suspicious. But the let
ter the justice brought him gave him
the utmost satisfaction.
1t gave list Of convictions against
the two prisoners whom Thirty-nine
had inquired about. Starting as boy,
with petty larceny, Seventy eight had
turned to burglary, purse snatchin1,
long-flrm frauds and coming.
Twenty-four. younger man. was the
son Of the notorious Jim Crow" His
arst conviction was for stealing lead
piping from an empty house. He was
known to have assisted his father in
extensive counterfait-c coming schemes
and, upon the death Of Jim Grow" in
herited $4,000 or $4,000, with which
he started himself as q bookmaker.
He lost his money, and was mobbed for
'welshing" at the Liverpool meeting in
18-. Next he was arrested for at
tempting to pass bad money In Not
tingham. where a large quantity OF
base coin had been circulating for a
period which corresponded with the
length Of time he had been In the town.
Later he was sentenced to four years
for passing base coins.
ANY message to take back? You
had better not keep this paper" said
the justice.
mo. Will you return it to the Of
ice? l will write message back"
He took pencil from his visitor. and
wrote:
"Endeavor to trace movements of
every coiner who has passed through
since they left. Want
ny discharge, for time being"
Three days later warden entered
he cell Of Thirty-nine and threw
Town upon the pallet a bundle OF
clothes. They were chose in which
rhirty-nine had entered the prison.
you've got to change an come to
he governors" ne said
Thirty-nine changed and followed
he warden down the corridor. across
he central hall, into the governors |
,ffice.
The governor sat at his table, and |
wo men in ordinary clothes stood by.
You're transferred to Portland,
under an order from the |
lome Office" said the governor. These
Ulcers are here to fetch you. If you
i've me your word not to modest them
II attempt to escape you shall not be
Il won't get up to no game, sir, and
hank you," Thirty nine replied.
He was struck by the fact that his
scort were in plain clothes. But it
ccurred to him that prisoners were not
hen conveyed from prison to prison
n their convict dress. as had been the
ule, and it was therefore only consist
mt that wardens should not be III their
inform, or the spirit of the reform
Tould be lost.
His custodian ushercd him into fly
hat was waiting in the prison yard,
nd, as they took their seats facing
i'm, the elder man smiled, and said
uietly:
Il expect you can see through
his, SIR"
81 think So" Thirty-nine replied.
eve shall take you to the station, if
ou've no objection, or the the driver
lay smell rat There is a first-class |
} London, and two sovereigns | was
lstructed to hand you for your re-