The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-02-11

sQuarely found no place In the craven
heart Of Billy Handler. Valentine had
vet something to learn Of the psy-
chology of Jail wardens. Handlers
face took on malignant expression.
"Oh," he sneered. $50 I'm going to
like you, am 1? Well. just watch me.
I'll burke you, YOU
Handler lunged around the corner
of his desk at the prisoner.
Don't burke mew cried Valentine
desperately.
Eyes cleaning with his vengefui-
ness, with hands outstretched, the
warden came headlong at Valentine,
who braced himself to withstand the
shock Of the oncoming body, Crouch
ing, the prisoner primed himself to
clutch one Of the warden's thumbs,
which was carelessly extended out,
ward from his banda trick Bothner
had shown him Once securing this
thumb, ii could be pulled back or
twisted to the breaking point IL nee
essary to cause an opponent to yield.
or by drawing the outstretched arm
over his shoulder, wheeling his back
to his foe as be did so, Valentine
could bend sharply forward and throw
his assailant helplessly over his head
and on to the floor in heap with the
disconcerting flying mare"
But midway in his rush the warden
stopped short. He had caught him
self just in time. About to throw
himself blindly at his intended victim.
a thought ian inspiration he after
| ward considered 1t to be- flashed
ed, much to the amazement of his
secretary, Smith, who had been watch
! ing the proceedings with unconcern
born of experience In like happenings.
Then Handler turned away, rested one
| hand on his desk and with the other
stroked his heavy. square chin ref1ec-
lively.
"Godv he pondered. suppose the
| lieutenant governor should get on to
those deals in the contracts for sup
plies? He might. and then I'd need
him to be my friend"
Handler reached out, picked up box
from the desk and extended Ii to the
now thoroughly thunderstruck convict,
who was slowly recovering from the
mental strain of the last few moments.
"Have a cigar" smiled the warden gra-
ciously, with sweeping bow. ALSO
permit me to offer you a chair, Mr..
Valentine.
by the way" he went on easily,
"are you perfectly comfortable in your
4 cell? If not, l want to know what l
can do for you. I'm going to have
Smith go to see you every day to do
for you anything that you want, pro-
vided the rules Of the prison permit
and maybe some things they don't"
Valentine. hardly believing what his
eyes and ears told him actually to be
occurring, dropped bewilderedly into
the proffered chair and, taking a gilt
banded Havana from the box, stuck it
eagerly between his lips.
Have a light" said the warden,
striking a match and extending 1t to
the end of Valentines cigar.
The secretary stood across the room
near door, eyes staring in his wonder
as No. 1889 leaned back luxuriously in
his chair. crossed one striped leg over
the other and sent fragrant clouds Of
blue smoke toward the ceiling.
"Thisll be regular Y. NJ. c. A. be-
fore we get through" he gasped. 81
think I'll apply for job as worsted
holder for some old maids sewing so
ciety. This prison is getting altogether
too genteel to suit me-"
When a young lad of good parentage
and Of sound training and education
begins to chafe under the restraint Of
parental discipline 1t is time for the
parents to exercise the wisdom got
only from the lessons taught in the
great school Of the wide, wide world.
Theories and principles expounded
ever so convincingly will not keep the
growing boy at home after Z o'clock
In the evening when there is chance
10, escape into the streets to meet the
bunch" the alluring, versatile bunch
whose plans so often include the ami
hilation Of the Sioux warriors Of the
Dakota plains who have laid down the
tomahawk to take up the agency clay
pipe and store clothes.
That is to say, theories and princi-
pies merely will not suffice to restrain
the impulsive, imaginative, action
craving youths unless the parent COM
bines with them enough knowledge of
the world to convince the half formed,
half trained youthful mind that the
mentor has the best interests of the
lad in mind, that he has been through
1t all himself and knows full well the
joys and disappointments. the fears
and hopes Of early days.