Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-07-03

the coat he was to make and was salts
fed.
"One piece at a time" he said to
himself. when l get 'em all done I'll
sew 'em together by hand right here in
this handsome little one room fat
When the suit is ready you're to put it
On under your prison clothes. Then
when you get on the outside you can
peel of, stick a hat on your head and
beat It" He laughed softly to him
self.
And as for hats" he whispered, "I1l
get one swiped. an old CASTOR kelly
from one of the prison Offices
The boy wondered at the goodness
and kindness that lay hidden in the
heart of this old offender against soci-
ETY., who looked almost a monstrosity
and yet was as gentle as a child.
"Just keep your young noodle clear"
advised Bill. Don't be In any hurry.
Whenever you see a chance that prom
Uses tell me about 1t, and Wen talk 1t
over. All the time I'll be working on
on this suit, and I'm going to make a
swell job of it. Seer"
"And suppose l do get out, BILL" sug-
gested Montgomery. land l patent my
inventions and make a fortune. how
I'm / ever going to repay your
well, I'm fifty years years old.
now" replied the burglar. when l
get out I'll be slxty-ive and still a
burglar, perhaps. Mebbe I'll be able
70 r,,n In n you omawbara ond Won
can help me keep straight, give me a
job, lock me up at night and treat me
like a human being in the daytime. |
amt been treated like a human being
in so long I've clean forgot how it
feels"
| The old burglars face clouded for a
moment, and his heavy jaw clamped
tighter.
"Say, kid" he said huskily, never
breathe it, will you? l had a boy of
my own once. He'd be just your age
IL he'd lived. ! wanted him to live
and that's why I'm here. 1 needed
more money than I could make to send
him to the mountains to be cured of
the white bugs-the T. B. just had
to get the money and sc I went in on
a house breaking job. Well, the boy
didn't get to. the mountains; he died of
consumption. The cops got me and |
came to this place for my first bit
! One of the gang hollered and the bulls
got all the loot. When l got out after
my bit the boy was dead INT his
mother was-well, she vas worse than
dead, they told me. 1t amt the man
who goes to prison that does all the
suffering. It's his wife and babies
that take the punishment"
Both were silent as they finished
preparing to answer roll call and
march to the mess hall for breakfast
"Bill," Montgomery finally suggest
ed. perhaps If I get out and all goes
well, l might be able to find your wife
and help her. I'd treat her almost as
If she was my w mother"
The old burglar put a hand on Mont
gomery's shoulder.
Boy" he said, you got a heart of
gold"
To put the risk of detection at its
minimum Bill Hawkins proceeded
with his task of making the suit of
clothes for. his companions getaway
with such caution that it promised to
cover a whole year of work.
To steal the cloth. piece by piece.
was no easy task. The eyes of the
guards were keen and there were con-
victs who were suspected of doing the
work of spies for the prison officials.
Every night for a month Bill reported
to Montgomery his efforts of the day.
and at the end of that time he brought
under his blouse enough cloth for the
first section of the suit
no be Continued.]