The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-20


could he had on demard. There were
many electric lights. but the window,
were closely curtah.cd. lest too much OF
an Illumination should attract the sus
picion of the harbor police.
Interference. however. was scarcely
probable for the captain had cunningiN
traffic was concealed He had early II
the season abandoned all regular trips
and advertised his boat TO hire for pr
vate excursion parties. aud so carefu
he nOmnallv entertained a different "aO.
cleiy' or club each night and admit
lance was strictly by ticket BY this
means Il was very dlrlcult fo- any bal
the elect" 10 get aboard AS the dis
position OF the tickets" was solely IN
he charge OF chosen and trustworthy
On this occasion there was really q
private excursion party on the Siren
The Burglars Social union had clar-
fred tSc prSsss rive sos anE Sdns r0qns sens i
yond the prying eyes OF the police. part
of the agreement being that the gambler'
might run their games as usual, the
members OF the L. 3. T.. however. bcins
the only players. II was because OF The
suspicious characters Of these gentlemen
that the captain had preferred 20 picH
worked his way down the river rather
than 10 allow SO many crooks TO set
aboard from one dock. where a stray po-
i,ceman might recognize too many OF
them.
When Mr.. Mitchell ascended the stairway
which led To the saloon and stood for a
moment looking about him. he was little
surprised at the prospect. The faro and
roulette games were well patronizeo and
several games OF poker were I'm progress
Yet the quiet. gentlemanly behavior OF
all I'm the place made IL difficult 10 be-
lievc that he was In the presence or the
principal criminals out of prison. His
entrance attracted scarcely any atten.
ton. Two or three turned and looked at
him. hut failing rpCOgpize him. re-
verted TO aheir games.
quite a family party. amt it?' said
Slippery sam In lowered tones.
"a most extraordinary group. | should
saw" responded MIR Mitchell provided
these men arc really criminals.
We'll. we like the word crooks bet
ter" said Sam. euggestively. "an' II you
don't mind I'd rather you'd use II.
why. certainly. II you desire IT, said
Mr.. Mitchell But what is the differ
This seemed to be a poser for Sam.
who shifted uneasily for a moment.
searching for a satisfactory reply, which
finally shaped itself thus:
We'll. you see. amt no scholar, so
Amt good at definitions I've spent so
mucr ttrre IN jan HIT- me prtson library,
as a rule. is so meager that ! might say
there's point OF difference that has
weight here tonight, an that can tell
you. You see. criminals Is what the
judges calls us. an crooks Is what We
Not fully. Make IL palmer
Why. don't you see, IL one of this
crowd heard you talkin' about criminals
he'd twig YOU In minute7 He'd know
you wasn't a crook yourself, and thatd
be bad"
I have to say the less likely ! will be to
get into trouble by making mistakes.
Yes. but don't talk too little. neither
II you're too stu. they'll be on 10 you
lust os quick as ~ you opsn, yogr ,bnsp srsp
men are all crooks. Yes. SIR an more
sklllfuller crowd In their way don't exist.
Now. there's man over there by the
coat an the choker Size him up. an
what do you make his total?''
do you mean what position In life
would I accord him? Well. that Is not
an easy problem at any time. and under
present circumstances IL becomes doubly
difficult Yet l must confess that he
seems strangely out OF place e, here; ,a,.n Tor or
hear it-I should take him for saliva
ton Army man.
Say. mister. you're bird; YOU are a
regular eagle for seein into things. Looks
like Salvation Army. does he? Wei,
that's precisely his lay. You ought IN
hear him leadin' mect!n' an takin'
saved more souls than we've. got fingers
an toes But. then. for all that he
got another business on the side. Give
a guess at that. ,f. What would n you HoT nsN
does he live?"
Judging by his carnestness at present
ha might be n card sharp. ventured Mr
Mitchell
sharp You're right enough. wher
YOU speak that word. But not cords. NO
sir he never touches en-. Hes JUS
amusin' himself at that wheel but ne !
leave n pretty soon. No sir, he's =
fence an the best known In the crv. an
never been even suspected by the rolice
r,rch less arrested. oh, yes he's sharp
Well I guess.
In this strain Sam ramhled on. pointing
out the various prominent criminals IN
the apartment and giving graphic details
OF their careers so that Mr.-M Mitchell was
enjoying himself hugely and at the sam'
time obtaining quite an Insight into th'
habits OF a class which had always inter
ested him--to WIT. the uncaptured crimi
nels. Surely among these were those witt
the greater share OF brains
But the more ne saw and heard of the
men around him the more impatient h'
grew to see Preacher Jim, the man VIII,
had announced that ne would lecture e
criminals upon crime.
The Siren had passed far beyond tn
lights OF the city. and Coney Island I
thousands OF electric lamps made but
bright streak on the horizon. when az las
there was movement which promised
the fulhllment ~ his desire. The car,
tables were taken away by attendant
who seemed To have boen drilled TO IN,
task 40 rapidly did they accomplish IL
Camp stools were arranged In rows. ant
the company found places facing on,
table which had been left at the ilrthe
end OF the saloon.