Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-05-14

w II,
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 Il marked
Difference among those who had deal
ings with him such as he had never
known to be employed toward a mere
pickpocket 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?'' he asked
in awed tones, Us Brannan looked all
about the cell to sec 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 SAY, rs he
walked out and gave the policeman in
charge instructions to keep his eye OIL
that cell.
So Jimmy" sat on his cot away into
SAAC AiOu4S VI LuC Ills Sllltt 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 Will, mysterious silence
when he ventured to ask questions.
He went to bed ut last, but his mind
kept working, and there were but few
moments when lie slept soundly.
1t was 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 a suIuptuous one
was provided. He did not feel any
better either-for the mystery was
deepening-when he found himself
standing with men whom he had con.
| sidered far above him jim 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
| ure of the heads Of those who are at
! odds with the law he was almost too
| weak to walk.
"Say, you've got mine,' he mumbled
to Brannan.
81 know" returned Brannan gently,
as he placed him in the hands Of the
measurer, 'but that was only as pick
pocket
"Jimmy's" brain was working as il
had never worked before when the ex
animation was finally over and he was
taken down stairs again and led into
the Captains room. This was another
honor he had never known before, one
accorded only to the men who do mo
mentous things. He was overwhelmed
His sharp eyes tried to dis into tht
brains of the impassive Brannan ans
the equally impassive Captain, but the!
could not. The Captain gave him ont
J long, searching stare. then took vi
!; some papers on his desk and looked
them over, glancing up now and thel
at Jimmy
3 "Great Heavens. Captain, what i
it:' he family cried, when he coul
stand it no longer.
4 Come, now. don't give us any O
that. You'd better make clean breas
0 OF it and throw yourself on the mere
: OF the COURT The Captain spok
. sternly.
Q but amt
e 'Shut upv' said the Captain" "
q know what you've done"
t So Jimmy sat his brain awhir
e while the Captains eyes seemed
n search him through and through. D
l. tectiyes brought in other men. and
was stood up with them, and ma
p came in and looked them over al
y. picked him out, saying:
ii That's the man.
He almost fell to the floor His ey
ut | were starting from his head, every |
ut of strength in his body seemed to
er oczing out when they let him drop in
a chair.
to I'm surprised at you. Jimmy.
al finally sDQke I'M the Captain, when t