The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-25

umbrella, she started toward the door,
which was CALAMITY held open for her.
There! 1 have forgotten to give you
Henrys extra glasses. l brought them
in case his should have been broken
during this horrid experience. You
know. of course, that my Henry can
not see at all without his glasses.
The practitioner thought a moment.
Let us go to-Henry at once"
She assented joyfully. Hell be so
glad to see me-"
The keeper opened Bits door and
said: Your mother is downstairs with
your counsel"
''What?" Bill stepped back into his
cell.
"Oh, you'll be all right now, young
fellow. The old woman will get you
out"
Just then, above all things, Bill want
ed to get out, but he had no desire to
meet his" mother.
"Oh, no." walled Bill, Il can't bear
that she should see me under such cir
cumstances! Here in prison? Spare
me. 1 cannot bear it"
You must come"
But think of her feelings. She is
so sensitive 1t would break her
heart" sobbed the unhappy Bill.
Bill was unhappy
Hurry up" said the keeper, used
as he was to witnessing grief.
Il won't" said Bill.
The keeper took the news. of Bills
distress to those awaiting him, and
that was why the man of law mount
ed the stairs three at time till he
stood before his enclosed client. He
looked at Bill. He recalled the min
ute description of her Henry which
he had drawn from the good lady on
tbaiT hifhpr red the
two-that is, as we'll as he possibly
could under the circumstances, for Bill
had hunted his hole"-that is to say,
Bill was in bed and afflicted with
cramps of a most intense and agoniz-
ing nature. Bill was sure that he was
unable to move, but he promised
promised-promised only let her go
away; let bail be procured and he
would go to her at once-when he got
out. But he could not go now.
Then said the slayer of lions, 81 will
have the warden bring your mother
here"
"What for?" inquired the sufferer
innocentlv.
ITO identify you," was the answer.
And then Bill had an inspiration
For once in his life he told the truth
all of it. ITO hell with her!' he
said in conclusion. Work her for all
you can, and We'll split even-you and
me-"
The warden was summoned and held
an Indignation meeting with the coun-
sci for the defense, who demanded
swift restitution and speedy punish
ment. You have obtained this money
under false pretentions. You have
stolen it," he shouted, far from calm
as he thought of his own proud line
of ancestors and the part he hao
played in Bills financial arrange.
ments.
Bill looked grieved. What are yor
casting up about? Is this the way yor
desert pal? Didn't you declare your.
| self in? Didn't you sting me for
| hundred? Didn't you stall for me
Didn't you get your rake-off of the
| junk?" he inquired. Then he pleaded
Come on! Come on, fight it out. Be
| like me: don't take no water!"
| Then the warden spoke like the regu.
lation Boniface. There was much grie
in his voice. "He regretted that sucf
thing should have happened in his
| house,
They "frisked Bill" they SHOOK hin
/ down." they went through" him; the,
sank right down into his jeans" and
made him cough up and they fan
| ned" him likewise. which means thai
got it all, too. Bill had been fruga
in the Tombs, had eaten the prison
food and borrowed his tobacco from
newcomers and procured his newspa
| perS as you have heard. Every penny
they recovered of that small forum,
which Bill had dedicated to a gooC
time when the prison gates should clos,
behind him. Moreover, Bill was de-
posted in the cooler. which is a place
of darkness and abomination. ThitheI
went Bill on Christmas Eve. utterins
unutterable things.
The underground" telegraph was II
full working order. In an instant VIZ
all knew what had happened, what Bill
had done and how he had been caught
at 1t. We expressed our sympathy fol
Bill. We yelled at him. Are vol
sorry you done it? Will you take Z
| plea? Do you want to go homer" w,
expressed our esteem for him, and VIZ
wished him Merry Christmas and Z
Happy New Year--lots of them!
Over the huge wall, into the prison
yard, and from stone to stone on it.
| granite pavement, the Christmas morn.
ing sunlight felt it's way: then 4
climbed and climbed all over the gra,
wall of it's prison itself and beameC
in upon us through the little Sits high
up near the ceiling, but it couldn't lool
in where Bill was. Could 1t have done
so it would surely have laughed al
him sitting there on the unsympathetit
board which is the couch provided fol
the inhabitants of that domicile-sit.
ting there, cold and hungry and THIRSTY
and rejecting, for the cooler is a place
rather for reflection than for repose.
Breakfast was served. Even m,
prison brew of coffee was odorous anf
: inviting. But Bill was not invited r.
partake; worse. they laughed at hin
when he held out his tin cup for SONS
Of 1t. All the rest OF us breakfastef
but sparingly. We knew what wa,
coming later. The chicken dinner
That annual feast in the old Tombs
Yesterday morning they had arrived
a truck load of them-yesterday after.
noon they had been plucked out in tho
yard. In imagination we had counted
each feather, and this blessed morning
were they not stewing I'm the groat
kitchen pot back Of the Warden's Of.
fee? Hundreds OF noses shifted thei,
! fragrance: as many mouths yateref
In anticipation. Bill in his silent cham.
Der continued to wait and TO mediate
He thought how very thirsty II MAKE,
one 10 swear 30 fervently all night
The Warden made his rounds Ru
did not wish him the compliments IA