The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-17
The UGLY CIRCLE
BY GEORGE FoxHALL.

l.
Snarler Kelly peered. through the
bars into the prison cell in which sat,
sullen, defiant and nursing a desperate
revenge, his only son.
How is it, Jim? Cheer up, boy.
Two years don't last long"
mo, it won't be long," agreed the
son. Don't worry about me-"
Jim, 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 |
quiry. What makes you think so?"
he asked.
Think sol Weren't you always too
blamed honest to suit your dad? You'd
act tough an ugly, an rough house 1t
with the best of 'em; 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 l come
out" assented Jim, with more Of
warmth and life than he had shown
before, land let me know who it 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 a scowl OF
! dreadful hate.
Snarler Kelly plugged doggedly
| alongside the railroad track and medi-
tated on ugliness. Even apart from
! no
| 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 Smarter, being ripe for more
definite instruction in the training of
his offspring, he had preached unto
Jim the pulling of pretty bit OF vii
lainy which was to nourish his own
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.
That's thieving, amt it?" he In
quired.
The Snarler was a little taken aback
for a moment. To qualify things had
never occurred to him.
: Sure, Nike" he said uneasily.
e Then count me out" growled Jim.
a 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 seemingly easy
1 opportunity into larger operation, COW
). ardice overreached care, and the trail
s became too hot for Snarler's peace OF
mind. And so, with simple cunning
I he had pulled the trick that saved him
It and sent his son to Jail.
t Certainly 1t was upon ugliness that
Smarter meditated as he plugged dog
J. 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 DO,
car. He struck a match to find hi'
bearings, and found himself staring
into the barrel of big revolver, too
dazed to do anything but hold the
II match.
q The other came to his relief with ;
l. short laugh. That's all right, BIO,
e said he. 81 thought maybe you was
'r shack, an I'll put shack's light on
v. before I'll hit the ties and starve IL
this desert I'm tough guy. am"
T don't blame YOU" agreed tn
o Snarler. ct was kicked of myself
8 yesterday, after I'd lost my gun IL
4 hadn't lost tim tough guy my
\ SELF" he finished significantly.
l. Overhead there was the sound o
n heavy shoes. Then there was tn
II flicker of a light With easy strengtl
a a brakeman had swung himself int
g the car, his lantern slung by a strin
# around his neck
e 'Hit the gravel" he growled, as n
8 held the light On them.
d Beat it," snapped the tramp. push
8 ing his big gun into the foreground
But it was Kelly on whom the brake
mans eye rested, and he lowered hi
lantern quickly.
=, Beat it, dye hear!" again ordere
$ the gunman.
81 Suddenly the brakeman dropped {
II one knee Like fash his hand wa
in In ana out ol lis O'SAoiiS POSNSS- - -
ii | 1upuan's bullet went high and paESe
s. through the open door, but the train
IA mans shot took the other between tn
p eyes, and he lurched forward-deat
" With hardly look at him the brak'
or - "a. 49,, ,,ro,, tho S7arIe