The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-05-04
The Philosophers Stone

looking convict came out the door and
stood gloWering at them with malev-
olent CLEAN in his eye. Just behind
him was guard, apparently giving
him some instructions. The guard
raised his hat to the priest with a
smiling greeting, then resumed his
directions to the prisoner, who listen
ed sullenly.
Did you notice that man, Father"
Benedict asked as they passed on.
Yes. Why?"
He's nearly always at one of those
| windows, and he stares at you like
that every time we pass"
Does he?" the priest remarked in
differently. Il suppose the poor fell
low has nothing else to do. Besides,
the cat can look at the king, eh,
Benedict" turning to smile at the
| boy.
But he looks $3.50 fierce and
murderous," the boy said in a deeply
serious tone. I'D look out for him
if l were you"
Father Durkin laughed gently
Tut! tut! No danger. He can't
harm me even if he had any inten-
tions that way; and don't know why
he should, though he is sore because
got his accomplice"
oh, did your" Benedict queried
: eagerly. What are they in for?"
We'll, nothing like murder" Father
Durkin informed him with twinkling
eye. Horse stealing it was, On a
wholesale plan. There was a gang
at it in the southern part of the State,
and these two were caught. They
were pretty bad lot, l guess, though
my man has done unusually we'll so
far. But | believe he's something
like you-he seems to live in constant
fear of the Philosopher, who has never
forgiven his detection
THE Philosopher? Is that what
they call him?" curiously. why,
Wonder?"
Il don't know The name came in
with him, | suspect, for he has the
look of anything but philosopher
now. And the way they say he acts
the priest shook his head. But
he'll have to take his medicine and
settle down to it like all the rest"
Recalling the yenomous counte
nance and surly look of the alleged
philosopher, Benedict's boyish mind
took up the problem of wondering
what would happen if the medicine
continued to disagree with him as il
seemed to be doing now.
Benedict was one of a half-dozeI
college boys who helped Father Dur
] kin occasionally with his catechism
and Christian Doctrine classes. He
was sixteen, short and slight for his
age, with round, smooth, innocen
face, and guileless blue eyes which
had won for him the unwelcomt
sobriquet of The Infant" at st. james
Preparatory School But there was
already a deep strain Of seriousness!
in his character which the prison
work was serving to develop TIL,
work took hold of his imagination
too, and every hour that he could pos
sibly spare from school and study HI
spent with Father Durkin at the peni
Tertiary. Of course he was a prime
favorite with the men, whose wistfu
eyes saw in him the incarnation o
their own boyish, innocent days. Il
fact, from the warden down to thu
latest arrival Benedict was known t.
all behind the big gray walls.
1t happened in the course of a few
days after this that he made the &C
quaintance of the Philosopher.
In the middle of the prison yart
was an ancient fountain, under who's,
descending spray in the basin beneath
an alligator, divorced from his native
waters, dragged out a rather mono
tonous existence, the only break wortl
considering in his estimation beinl
the period of dining. Coming in on
Saturday earlier than usual Benedic
saw a convict engaged in the pleasan
task of flinging huge chunks of pro
vender into the capacious jaws of tn
hungry animal and he hurried owe
to the basin to watch the operation.
"Hello!" he said casually.
The man turned 1t was the IN
! comely horsethief! :" 10 yourself" h
answered gruffly.
A bit dashed, Benedict turned hi
|, attention to the alligator.
Gee! Some Appetite he exclaim
ed admiFingly, as the animals mouth
snapped over chunk and his rep
lillian eyes turned with unwayerins
expectation on the dispenser of hi
food.
There was no comment from thu
convict, and Benedict tried again.
What those jaws could do to you i
they got a grip on you would be plenty
wouldn't it?" he remarked.
Not more'n the worlds jaws no
half SO much" was the quick rotor
in low growl.
Benedict's agile mind caught thu
fancy. "Oh, | don't know he pu
back seriously. 1.-THE alligator's jaw:
could tear you into bits, chew you up
swallow you whole; but the world
"The alligator quits when he ha.
enough" the convict interrupted, "bu