The Holly chieftain., 1914-09-11
THE UGLY CIRCLE
BY GEORGE FOXHAll
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oAol iei heilg pteItu tAiou6h 'AS
bars into the prison cell in which sat-
sullen. defiant and nursing desperate
revenge. his only son.
How is it, Jim? Cheer up. boy.
Two years don't last long"
mo. 1t won't be long" agreed the
son. Don't worry about me-"
Jim. l know you never pulled that
Job. Somebody's stuck the goods on
you an got you in queer"
The other looked up with slow in
JURY. What makes you think so?"
be asked.
Think SO! Weren't you always too
blamed honest to suit your dad? You'd
act tough an ugly. an rough house it
with the best Of EN-; but | never could
get you to be anything but honest.
Somebody's crooked this on to you, an
I'm going to find out who did it,"
His father leered at him through
half-closed eyes of infinite cunning
BE waiting for me when come
out" assented Jim, with more of
warmth and life than he had shown
before, "and let me know who 1t is.
guess two years won't make me love
him more"
His father turned and passed into
the light of the free air, while the son
looked after him with scowl Of
dreadful hate.
snarler Kelly plugged doggedly
alongside the railroad track and medi
tated on ugliness. Even apart from
the dismal desert landscape he had
plenty of material for meditation, for
to achieve ugliness had been the am
bition Of his degenerate life, and in
that, at least, he had not failed.
But it's the boy, Jim, with whom
this story is chiefly concerned. The
Snarler had built up fond hopes of
being mighty proud of Jim, for at an
early age Jim showed himself an apt
pupil in the lessons of ugliness which
his fond parent constantly instilled.
One day, the time, in the estimation
of the Snarler. being ripe for more
definite instruction in the training of
his offspring, he had broached unto
Jim the pulling of a pretty bit of viii
empty exchequer and start the young
man upon his natural career.
The boy listened until the man was
through, his eyes on the ground and
his accustomed scowl knitting his
brow. Then he looked up.
s.Trbof'a fbiavipv ~ ba In
quired.
The Snarler was little taken aback
for moment. To qualify things had
never occurred to him.
"Sure, Mike" he said uneasily.
Then count me out" growled Jim.
So the kid refused his career, and
the Snarler, after hiding his disgust in
three days of oblivion, resumed his
with the careful cowardice of the petty
sneak-thief.
But at length there came a time
when, tempted by a seemingly easy
opportunity into larger operation, cow
ardice overreached care, and the trail
became too hot for Snarler's peace of
mind. And so. with simple cunning,
he had pulled the trick that saved him
and sent his son to jail.
Certainly 1t was upon ugliness that
Snarler meditated as he plugged dog
gedly alongside the railroad track.
Night drew in. and in the distance he
saw against the dark sky the painting
glare of an engines exhaust.
Ten minutes later he had swung
himself thankfully into the open box
car. He struck match to find his
bearings, and found himself staring
into the barrel of a big revolver, too
dazed to do anything but hold the
match.
The other came to his relief with a
short laugh. That's all right. bo,"
said he. "I thought maybe you was a
shack. an I'll put shack's light out
before III hit the ties and starve in
this desert. I'm tough guy, am
"I don't blame YOU" agreed the
Snarler '1 was kicked off myself,
yesterday, after I'd lost my gun. If I
hadn't lost tim a tough guy my.
self" he finished significantly.
Overhead there was the sound OF
heavy shoes. Then there was the
flicker Of light With easy strength
brakeman had swung himself into
the car, his lantern slung by string
around his neck.
Hit the gravel!" he growled, as he
held the light on them.
Beat IT," snapped the tramp. push
ing his big gun into the foreground.
But 1t was Kelly on whom the brake