The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1911-08-24


simple device of the masks, the hunt
ers are shielded from becoming equal
ly familiar to the buptad.
1ra opening of the door at the
rear Of the room brought the waiting
detectives to attention. Their forms
stiffened to military erectness, their
manner became watchfully alert.
"Good-morning," greeted Chief OF
Detectives Manning. The men sa-
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 9p a 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, fil-ventilated cells. shuffled into
the room.
Michael Noonai," droned the lieu
tenant.
An emaciated, weAkfacc6 man, the
wretchedness CT MS lot emphasized
loose, broken lines from his form,
stepped forward. A look of dull mis-
cry was stamped On his countenance,
a 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 a half-finished
house"
The eyes of the detectives bent on
the human wreck as he shrank back
into line.
philip Pratt" called the neuten-
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 a disdainful smile as the
Chief read his record from a 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-
fidence gent. Did a 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 it
springs, she carried herself with an
easy dignity born Of familiarity with
her surroundings. The heavy lines Of
her face were drawn into an eSpfeess.
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 drawled. He displayed a
gold watch as If 1t held all the tri-
|
underworld. But we found the goods
on her." he added smilingly.
Her career was part Of the eie-
mental knowledge of the assembled
detectives and the CHIEF dismissed
her quickly.
THE chances ere shen do long
stretch this trip" he commented.
% - t-tsS "
was represented in that shifting line
of prisoners. There were youths, still
in the formative period Of their GRIM
inal careers, vyiRg with the old-timers
In the forced bravado Of their de-
meanors. Others there were, shame
faced and sad, overcome with Temorse
and praying silently for the termina-
ton OF the patsful spectacle. Still
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
|
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 re-
move their masks, as was the custom.
Instead, they stood about in a high
fever of expectancy. Quizzical glances
were cast IN the direction of the door
leading to the cells. Suddenly the
men bulkec forward, as IL inspired by
common Impulse. az curiosity. Tho
swish of skirts, accompanied By the
tread of masculine feet, sounded In
the doorway. A woman's form, her
head bent to her breast, kev limbs un-
able to bear the weight Of her frail
body, was being half dragged. half
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