The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-08-17
RaSCalS' AriStOCraCY.

fused to chum with him, claiming a
superiority over him that was mys-
terry. He grew bitterly ashamed Of
his clothes; they were SO strangely,
degradingly new. He was utterly
lonely and disconsolate; he almost
wished at times that he had not come.
One day, however, as he was pass
ing by the east end of the cell build
ing he was accosted by short, wiry
grizzled old man, who sat smoking a
pipe on the lowest step of the balcony
stairs
Got any terbacker?" asked the man.
Jimmy eagerly gave him his whole
plug in exchange for a friendly word.
I've been watching you for a cou-
pie O days." his friend said; your
name is Picklock, amt it,"
Yes, SIR
II used to know Picklock in So
nora, in sixty-eight. Him and me wus
askin' stage drivers the time o. day all
that winter. Any relation O. his'n?"
Il don't know. My father was
street contractor in San Francisco"
Same man. Got to be supervisor,
didn't he? Yes? Well, I'm glad to
see yer, my boy, glad to see yer. How's
the old man."
Hes dead"
mo! Ye don't mean it! Never
seen a man I'd ruther work with
Daisy, the old man was What he
didn't know about a mailbag and ex-
press box want with KNOWN"
Jimmy felt sense of pride in his
father that was new to him. He in
herited reputation. at all events. He
determined to appeal to his friends.
What's the matter with all these
fellers?' he asked.
How"
They won't have nothin' to do with
me-"
Guess yer been putin on airs.
Small canaries is a little too proud
O. their cage sometimes
mo, haven't. l gave 'em straight
business every time"
wat kind of an accident got yer
here? Wat did the guilty party as
throw'd the blame on you get a hold
off,"
IAN overcoat"
"Off'n a hatrack?"
yes"
"Daytime?"
"Yes''
The old man looked disappointed.
You've made bad mistake, sonny.
eye, and do wot you can to k'rect it.
Watts great, big, smart boy like you
a-doin' sneakthievin'? Amt yer got
no ambition?"
Jimmy understood it all now. His
crime filed him with bitter regret. II
only-if only he had thought and done
a burglary!
I'VE see, my boy" his mentor went
on, kindly, theirs suthin expected O.
sech as you. A man grown amt got
no right to fool away his time on baby
play, if he ever expects to accomplish
anythin'. Theirs Frisco boys no older
nor you as is known, an we'll known,
in Chicago an New York. Sneak
thievin' is mean. It's low down. Any
body kin sneak, an no self-respecetin'
gentleman would think Of it. The
sneaks here is mostly Cinnamon, and
I'm glad to see the boys has drawed
the line"
Jack Dolan amt done much bet
ter" ventured Jimmy.
"Ain't he, now? There is a boy for
yer" said the old man, admiringly.
Didn't We read the pretty burglary he
come over on? Didn't We read it? AS
fine piece of work at his age as ever
anybody heerd on. And three more
before it-every one a credit to him.
Jack got 'em in the papers soon's he
was sentenced, and it gave him stand
in the minute he got here. He wasn't
goin' to let no other Teller git credit
for his work. Why, Jimmy Hope, the
great New York bank burglar, the day
Jack got here, Jimmy Hope, he says,
in this very yard, an dozen stand
ers around to hear it:
Mr.. Dolan, says he, I'm glad to
meet yer. You has future before yer.
me boy, or I'm chump.'"
Jimmy turned green with envy. He,
too, had looked forward to meeting
Jimmy Hope: had thought over the