The Elbert County tribune., 1911-09-29

must be provided for the detectives to
become familiar with the counten-
ances OF the lawbreakers And by the
simple device Of the masks. the hunt
crs are shielded from becoming equal
ly familiar to the hunted.
The opening Of the door at the
rear Of the room brought the waiting
detectives to attention. Their forms
stifened to military erectness. their
manner became watchfully alert
'Good-morning." greeted Chief Of
Detectives Manning. The men So
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. Tho abb
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. iil-ventilated cells, shufied into
the room.
Michael Noonan." droned tho lieu
tenant.
An emaciated, weak-faced 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 countennnce.
hopeless disregard OF the fate In
store for him showed in his manner.
Take n 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 half-nnished
house"
The eyes of the detectives bent on
the human wreck as he shrank back
into line.
Philip Pratt" called the iieuten-
ant
A young man. not more than thirty.
whose sullen mein and restless eyes
betrayed his occupation even before
the Chief announced It, faced the
massed battery OF eyes. His thin lips
curled into disdainful smile as the
Chief read his record from q 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-
hdence gent. Did term In Elmira,
two short stretches up the river. and
a long leg In Joliet"
Carrie Chase" came from the lieu
tenant.
Member of that frail sisterhood
whose shame is no deeper than that
Of the civilization from which II
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 a gents SUPER"
the Chief drawied. He displayed =
gold watch as II It held all the tri-
umph of his years of pursuit In the
underworld. But we found the goods
|
Her career was part Of the ele-
mental knowledge Of the assembled
detectives and the Chief diemissed
her quickly.
The chances are she'll do 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-timers
In the forced b-avado OF their de-
meanors. Others there were. shame
faced and sad, overcome with remorse
and praying silently for the terminar
ton of the painful spectacle. sull
others. old men and young men, re-
garding the proceedings with the in
difference Of disinterested spectators
And there were women. too. from the
bedizened badger queen" her hair
and complexion as false as the jewels
shimmering from her fingers and
throat. to the tremulous. weeping res
taurant cashier accused of some petty
defalcation. They represented types
as varied as the emotions struggling
within them. but as they stood side
by side facing the expressionless
masks. they seemed headed toward
the same ultimate destiny. One after
another they stepped forward for In
spection until the line was exhausted.
When the last of them had filed out
Of the room. the detectives did not 70
move their masks. as was the custom.
Instead. they stood about In high
fever Of expectancy. Quizzical glances
we're cast In the direction of the door
leading to the cells. Suddenly the
men bulked forward. as II inspired by
a common impulse OF curiosity. The
swish OF skirts, accompanied by the