Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-05-15

EIEIl Malay, Capw There was more
r1 than a shade of annoyance
in the tones of Detective
GI Sergeant Brannan, and the
80! LII Captain looked up, Jim
my, the Lift is back again"
"Fiddlesticksr' said the Captain, or
something that sounded like that.
"They let him off the Island two days
ago. Brannan continued, in explana-
tory fashion. I'D forgot his time was
about up. / saw him down the Bowery
to-day, and he's out for business"
"Well, what did he say?" asked the
Captain, who had acquired some of
Brannans annoyance.
"Oh. he claims he's going to reform.
Says he's going to get q 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.
II don't know. He had record be-
fore l came to Headquarters, and I've
brought him in regular every holiday
and every other chance l got for ten
years." Brannan spoke in weary tones
"And to my remembrance" the Cap
tain took up the narrative, "he's been
tried about ten times and cost the coun-
ty barrel of money and has been sent
up only once"
That's it. First conviction this time
Been doing business right along. but
we can't get him With the goods
Blessed nuisance" Brannan delivered
Judgment with disgust.
~Well, bring him in first time you sec
him." said the Captain. "We'n sec if
we can't think up some game to get rid
of him"
That is why Jimmy the Lift" sud
denly ceasing his arduous task of work
ing himself into the midst of a crowd
OH Broadway car, looked up to find
the well-known features Of Detective
Sergeant Brannan set benignly above
him. 1t was shock to Jimmy" be-
cause just then he was engaged in pri-
yate business in which he did not wish
any of his acquaintance to partici-
pate. 1t is to be suspected that that
business had TO do with the stout gen
tleman who had carelessly put a COM
Portable roll OF bills into his waistcoat
pocket after paying his fare.
"Why, hello, Sarge.' There was
every accent CT pleasure in "Jimmys"
voice, although it is to be feared that
his eyes expressed something else
Mice, Dracing weather, isn't it?'
Eyes, quite; but if people amt strong
they oughtn't to be out in it." Bran
nan had fund of sarcasm when nee
essary, and Jimmy" felt that he was
being made the target of it.
Now, that's unkind," he said sooth-
ingly "You know 1 amt doing a
thing"
"Well, anyway, the Captain wants to
see you,' retorted Brannan, remark
that gave little room for discussion.
and made it sufficiently evident to
Jimmy" that 1t was intended he
should follow when Brannan began
edgirg to the door. He followed, but
injustice welled within him, and all the
way to the yellowish white building in
Mulberry Street he protested his in
nocence.
Sorry, old man, but l can't help
1t, was all that Brannan would say.
The Captains wanted you bad all
day"
Good Lord! What he does he want
me for? l amt done nothing But
Brannan 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 we'll
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 a marked
Difference among those who had deal
ings with him such as he had never
known to be employed toward mere
piekpocket before. He 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 out and down into the
basement and locked in one of the
strongest cells.
"Good Lord, what is it?v he asked
IN aWed tones, as Brannan looked all
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 out in the morning" was
all that Brannan would saw. as hn
walked out and gave the policeman in
charge instructions to keep his eye OH
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 jailer
gave him such a 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 at last, but his mind
kept working, and there were but few
moments when he slept soundly.
1t was a haggard Jimmy" then.
who was taken up into the Long room
in the Central Office next morning to
face the detectives assembled there
He had not been able to eat much
breakfast, although sumptuous one
was provided. He did net feel any
better either-for the mystery was
deepening-when he found himself
standing with men whom he had con.
sidered far above him in his chosen
field of life. He grew positively faint
when one detective after another, men
who had known him for almost a score
of years, came up and scrutinized him
closely as though they had never seen
him before When he was finally led
up to the room to be placed under the
hands of the man who keeps the meas