Graham guardian., 1911-10-27

necessary one. For the opportunity |
must be provided for the detectives to
become familiar with the counter
ances of the lawbreakers. And by the
simple device OF the masks, the hunt
ers are shielded from becoming equal
ly familiar to the hunted.
The opening Of the door at the
rear Of the room brought the waiting
stiffened to military erectness, their
manner became watchfully alert
"Good-morning," greeted Chief Of
Detectives Manning. The men "a
luted In return.
With quick, nervous strides the
Chief made his way behind the long
desk that ran half the length OF the
room, and took up position Of sur.
vey. His eyes, OF hawk-like penetra-
ton, swept the room while the desk
lieutenant called the roll The alb
sentees having been entered on the
blotter. the process Of lining up the
prisoners began without further cere-
mony.
A line Of bedraggled. disheveled
men and women. their eyes bleary
from night OF wakefulness in mar.
row, ill-ventilated cells, shufiled into
the room.
Michael Noonan." droned the lieu
tenant.
An emaciated, weakfaced man, the
wretchedness OF his lot emphasized
by the frayed clothing that hung in
loose. broken lines from his form,
stepped forward. A look of dull mis-
cry was stamped on his countenance,
q hopeless disregard Of the fate in
store for him showed In his manner.
take a good look at this crook"
commanded the Chief. Never was
pinched before. Caught with the goods
on, however, by Virgins and Wolf.
Swipin' lead pipe from q half-fnished
house."
The eyes OF the detectives bent on
the human wreck as he shrank back
into line.
Philip Pratt" called the lieuten-
ant.
Il A young man, not more than thirty.
whose sullen mein and restless eyes
betrayed his occupation even before
the Chief announced II, faced the
massed battery of eyes. His thin lips
curled into q disdainful smile az the
Chief read his record from slip Of
paper.
Another old friend back" the head
Of the detective force commented.
Philip Pratt. alias Morse, alias
Charlie Dodge, alias Toledo Phil. Con-
fdence gent Did term In Elmira.
two short stretches up the river. and
long leg in Joliet"
Carrie Chase" came from the leu
: tenant.
Member of that frail sisterhood
! whose shame Is no deeper than that
Of the civilization from which Il
springs, she carried herself with an
easy dignity born Of familiarity with
her surroundings. The heavy lines Of
her face were drawn into an express
sion Of grim defiance. but her eyes,
dulled by long dissipation. could not
hide the dumb fear that lurked In her
! soul
"Got away with gents super,
the Chief drawled He displayed q
. gold watch as II II held all the tri.
: umph of his years Of pursuit in the
underworld. But we found the goods
on her." he added smilingly.
: Her career was part Of the ele-
mental knowledge Of the assembled
/. detectives and the Chief dismissed
her quickly.
"The chances are she'll do a long
stretch this trip" he commented.
Every condition Of moral obliQuity
was represented In that shifting line
) OF prisoners. There were youths. still
, in the formative period Of their Grim
!, inal careers, vying with the old-timera
in the forced bravado OF their dc
meanors. Others there were, shame
! faced and sad, overcome with remorse
7 and praying silently for the termina
d ton of the painful spectacle. Still
; others, old men and young men. re-
3 garding the proceedings with the In
: difference Of disinterested spectators
8 And there were women, too, from the
. bedizened badger queen" her hail
t and complexion as false as the Jewels
+ shimmering from her fingers and
. throat, to the tremulous, weeping res
q taurant cashier accused of some petty
!. defalcation. They represented types
+ as varied as the emotions struggling
0 within them, but as they stood side
{ by side facing the expressionlesi
masks, they seemed headed toward
= the same ultimate destiny. One after
another they stepped forward for In
. spection until the line was exhausted
Q When the last OF them had filed out
8 of the room, the detectives did not re
( move their masks, as was the custom
Instead, they stood about In high
Q fever Of expectancy. Quizzical chances
Q were cast in the direction OF the dool
0 leading to the cells. Suddenly the
men bulked forward, as II inspired by
n a common impulse of curiosity. The
y swish of skirts, accompanied by the
y tread of masculine feet, sounded II
i the doorway. A woman's form. hel
8 head bent to her breast, her limbs un
o able to bear the weight Of her frai
y body, was being half dragged. hall
t carried into the room, All the life
= seemed to have drained out OF her
Q Her hair hung disordered over hel
d shoulders, her hands swung Imply
L like loose pendulums,