The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-08-24
DafWSborfSforY
By Harold Carter

When Larry Callahan left the
protection of the large building
Cup the river" which had been his
home for four years and ten
months, on the indeterminate SEN
tence plan, the governor had q
farewell talk with him.
go straight, Larry" he pleaded
earnestly. you've had a good rec
ord while in Sing Sing and you've
been promised a job by the Dis
charged Prisoners Aid Society
You're too intelligent man to run
crooked; besides, remember, soon
er or later you get caught. Larry,
it doesn't pay. Keep away from
the Bowery and good luck to you.'
So Larry came to New York
wearing his new suit, new hat, new
shoes and new underwear, with a
new life before him and nearly
five years of discharge money in
his pocket, which, with the few
dollars he had had on entering
which the government had kindly
kept for him, amounted to sixty
seven nineteen.
He meant to run straight; he
had vowed so honestly to the par
don board. Yet it was hard that
he, the cleverest pickpocket who
over went "up," who had counted
his income at good fifty per-
all the year through, should start
out afresh on ten a week running
an elevator. He did not want to
go to work so soon, not while that
$67 reposed in his vest pocket.
So on the first evening his feet
led him, almost against his will,
to'the vicinity of Chatham square.
There he picked up some pals and
Disguised them with the informa-
ton that he was going to run
straight.
Jaw, come off," said one. "You,
Larry. that can live on the fat of
the land! thought you had more
pride"
Larry stumbled out into the
night, those words ringing in his
soul. Aye, that was the crux of 1t.
1t was sheer pride that led him to
clip the gold repeater from the fob,
to snatch the magnate's pocket
book from the inside pocket of his
coat. Should he, the peerless
pickpocket, throw up this old life
and start running an elevator?
At that same instant a portly,
understood gentleman with a long
beard strolled by. Larry's fingers
itched. His resolutions were for
gotten, for the breast of the frock
coat bulged with what his experts
eye told him was a fat wallet.
Softly he crept up, drew abreast,
jostled his victim in crowd
and the trained fingers crept over
the lapels deity, only to be seized
in sinewly grip.
That grip was like steel. And
neither spoke; only Larry and his
intended victim eyed one another
under the light of the street lamp
Gradually the strangers eyes grew
wider in surprise.
Larry Callahanl o, Larry Cal
lahan!" he calculated. "And to
think you would pick an ex-detec.
tive for your work. o, bungler
bungler. Well, what have you got
to say?" he said, In a sharp tone
of command. Come, for old times
sake I'll put up a drink before, ]
take you to the station. No, an ice
cream Soda" he continued, as Lar
ry edged toward a saloon. I'm
toxicants are an abomination. Yes
Larry, ! am an evangelist now.
And before / shut up your body ]
would try to save your soul"
Religious guy" thought Larry.
I'll work him If I can" And,
seated side by side before the soda
counter in dingy drug store,
while the ex-detective's revolver
pointed its mouth menacingly at
Larry's breast, the strange pair
held communion.
Larry was not wholly insincere
In telling his tale. How he had
Just been released, how profess
sional pride and the instinct for