Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-04-11

ITEll fT1lI 'NtISPNIll blHlllliH, HII we
!@M ElJ Captain looked W, Jim
my, the Lift is back again
"Fiddlestlcks" said the Captain, or
something that sounded like that.
They let him off the Island two days
ago" Rrnnnan continued. in cYplana
tory fashion. ia forgot his time was
about up. | saw him down the Buwcry
to-day. and he's ont for business"
well, what did he say" asked the
Captain, who had acquired some Of
Brannan'S annoyance.
"Oh, he claims he's going TO reform.
Says he's going TO get a job and work
on the level
Yes, he knows that by heart. How
many times have we had him in here,
do you Think" the Captain asked with
evident curiosity.
Il don't know. He had record he.
fore | came to Headquarters. ana I've
brought him in regular every holiday
and every other chance | got for ten
years" Brannnn spoke in weary tones
And to my remembrance" the Cap
tain took up the narrative, hes been
tried about ten times and cost the coun
ty n barrel of money and has been sent
up only once
THAT'S it. First conviction this time
Been doing business right along, but
we cant get him with the goods
Blessed nuisance Brannan delivered
Judgment with disgust.
well, bring him in first time YOU see
him." said the Captain. Wen see if
We can't think up some game to get rid
of him"
That is why Jimmy the Lift" sud
denl" ceaSing his arduOuS task Of work
ing himself into the midst Of Il crowd
on Broadway car, looked up to find
the well-known features of Detective
Sergeant Brannan set bengnly above
him. 1t was Il shock to "Jimmy." be-
cause Just then he was engaged in pri-
waite business in which he did not wish
any Of his acQuaintanceS to parlici-
pate. 1t is to be suspected that that
business had to do with the stout gen
tlcman who had cArelcSSIy put Il com
Portable roll of bills into his waistcoat
pocket after paying his fare.
"Why, hello. Sarge" There was
every accent Of pleasure in ".Iimmy's"
voice, although it is to he feared that
his eyes expressed something else.
"Nicc. blacing weather. isn't it,"
ayes, quite but if people amt strong
they Oughtn't TO be out in it," Bran.
nan had Il fund Of sarcasm when nee
essary, and Jimmy" felt that he was
being made the target Of it.
Nov. that's unkind." he said Sooth-
ingly you know [ amt doing Il
thing"
"Well, anyway the Captain wants TO
see YOU rctortcd BrannHn, II remark
that gave little room for discussion.
and made IT sufficiently evident 10
"Jimmy" that it was intended hc
should follow when Hrannnn hn".u
edgirg 20 the door. He followed. but
injustice wcllcd within him. and all the
way to the yelowiSh white building in
Mulberry Street he protested his in.
uocence
Sorry, old man. hut cant help
it, was all that Brannan would say.
"The Captains wanted you bad all
day"
Good Lord, What he does he want
me for? | Hin't done nothing" But
BrannHn would only elapSe into deeper
silence.
There was much for Jimmy" TO
think about when he got to the Central
Office at last. He knew the place well.
for he had been there many times, but
he never had been treated in Just the
fashion that marked his reception in
this instance. There was marked
Difference among those who had deal
ings with him such ms he had never
known to be employed toward mere
pickp ockct before. lie was kept in
the outer room while Brannan saw the
Captain Then the Captain walked out
and looked at him in silence and then
he was taken ont and down into the
basement and locked ir ono Of the
strongest cells.
Good Lord. what is itT' he asked
III e"' y" '''N'' ~ l'th'I III
about the cell to see that it was secure
and that there was nothing in it which
might be used to aid in escape or any
thing else.
You'll find ont in the morning." WAS
all that Brannan would say. as ho
walked out and gave the policeman in
charge instructions to keep his eve on
that cell.
So Jimmy" sat on his cot away into
the hours of the night, his shifty eyes
trying to centre themselves ON some
place in the cell and his thoughts try
ing to collect themselves into some
harmonious condition. 1t did not de
crease his wonder any when his .ialrr
gave him such dinner as he had
never before enjoyed in prison and re
sponded only with mysterious silence
when he ventured TO ask questions.
He went to bed Mt last, but his mind
kept working, and there were but few
moments when he slept soundly.
1t was haggard Jimmy" then,
who was taken up into the LONG room
Ill tllt NCullil olll't lltNl lhbllIIIl- ~
face the detectives assembled there.
He had not been able to eat much
breakfast, although sumptuous one
was provided. He did not feel any
better either-for the mystery Wa~
deepening-when he found himself
standing with men WHOM. he had con
sidered far above him i'm his chosen
field Of life. He grew positively faint
when one detective after another men
who had known him for almost II score
of years, came up and scrutinizcd him
closely rs though they had never seen
him before. When he was finally lcd
up TO the room to be placed under the
hands of the man who keeps the meas
ure of the heads of those who are nj
odds with the law he was almost too
weak to walk.
Say, you've got nine" he mumblcd