The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-27

"nicn seemed To be slipping away
rom him and growing smaller and
cozier as distance lent the enchant.
ment or perspective to his loneliness.
For Mulcahy. daxzled by liberty,
was very lonely indeed. Every mo-
ment that the water widened between
MIN and the prison 1t lessened the
distance from the city, and In two
minutes moro the man knew that the
metropolis, bristling with antogonism,
cold and strange and busy with It's
holiday season. would be upon him,
and 1t filed his heart with q name
less dread.
But after all. he had only himself
70 blame for his liberty. Good be-
havior'-that was the thing that had
turned him loose from a comfortable
home, three square meals a day, and
his companions Of the quarry.
if he had only transgressed few
laws. broken simple rule or two, all
might have been we'll. He might
have eaten Christmas dinner with
jerry the Spike. Bottles, Hank and the
whole .appy crew who had contrived
to spend another Christmas in the
pen" through triHing indiscretions
committed in defiance OF the keepers.
These refectiors wers interrupted
oy the sharp teeth of the wind snap
ping at his legs through the thin
trousers and the threadbare coat.
He shiyered as the boat locked, and
then took Ions breath as he walked
up the gangplank and cut into-was
this freedom striking terror to his
soul? Why was he trembling? He
was free at last. but free to do what?
Free to kin himself before he starved
To death, free to wander. the uncom-
panionable streets and gaze upon tho
happiness that showed itself In the
faces OF fugitive pessers-by.
He was only free to 60 anywhere;
but these people had their homes
to go to. each his separate "peniten-
tary," where there were warmth and
food and human things to talk to.
He shut his eyes for an instant and
started bravely up tho hilly street that
led TO First avenue. Then suddenly
a strange thing happened. He forgot
his misery and his wretchcd home.
sickness. At first he couldn't realize
what the influence was, then he rec
ognized the soothing and thlrst-inspir.
ing smell OF hops that poured over
him like n hot breath from the brew.
cry on the next street. This prompted
thought which was Immediately fol.
lowed by sharp movement.
hulcahy minded him of the faded
five-dollar bill he had In his pocket.
the last bounty OF tho good home
across the river. He pulled it out and
looked at II.
II represented two weeks and q half
Of life: that Is. he calculated that
while he was looking for a Job it
would provide food and shelter for him
IL he couldn't find iob-but that
thought ended with look toward the
river; and again he saw tho pen"
and another thought occurred to him.
IL he didn't find anything to do. he
could 90 back to the "pen" and beg
them to take him In. No, he couldn't
do that. He squared his ragged
shoulders as IL trying TO rise superior
to the thought. for there was q rem
nant OF pride In Mulcahy. albeit time
and a desperate struggle to keep his
feet on tho globo had frayed its
edges.
No, he determined TO 60 back there
honorably. as he had lett. He might
get Job shoveling snow---but alas! II
was ono OF those cheerless Christ
masses. and nature had not even sup
Piled tho people olt OF work with
snow TO shovel
Mulcahy had worked all his life.
He was flfty now. and, as he unrolled
the long catalogue OF calamity which
other people might have called his
career. he found that tho only year
OF his iifo that had been O. happy ono
was his last In Jail II had started
merrily even. for. after his outraged
pride had revoltod at tho idea OF be-
ing arrested for his slight connection
with tho robbery. comfort camo swift
ly with the thought that no was being
punished for omission rather than
commission.
These thoughts and tho haunting
smell OF hops brought Mulcf to
Fouth avenue and saloon. It was
twelve o'clock. and corned beef and
cabhage-leaf being slated for lunch on
"a blackboard under n Satyrish-lock.
ing book and a life-sized schooner"
determined the man, and no stepped
inside.
Tho story Will move much moro
rapidly II wo do not follow Muicahy
and wait for him TO eat his corned
beef and philandor with a spirit moro
az his Tx than any no has met for
the last year. a spirit that seemed al
most fabulous when dreamed OF in
tho "pen'--to-wit. tho bartender.