The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-27

lie neglected nothing-character. set
llhs, atmosphere, traits, slang-all were
considered; all must be In harmony
with the theme. This letter was printed
~ connection with the chapter on my
Irst expedition with the outlaws. II
served as a model outline for me in my
future attempts.
When the story was finished Billy
and | went over II. Bihy demanding
h real blood be shed just to give Il
color, but ! stuck TO the facts. The
life Is at stake.
ITS a wonder. anyway, Al-gee whiz
you and Bin will be no end famous
Porter revised the narrative, slashed
y, added to i, put the kick in it-made
II a story. We waited a month for an
answer, And in the meantime. Fate
Jennings Visited by Hanna.
For three years my father and my
brother John had worked perslstently
for the communication OF my sentence.
They mad many influential friends.
Frank was still In Leavenworth. His
term was but five years. had worked
up a following with the wealthy n
tractors. Some of them took a liking
to me. They promised to pull the wires
to win my release. All at once, our
duced a result.
w%arden's office. A big, corpulent man
bluff, hardy. but likable, walked into
the room. He seemed to fill up the en-
tire space. | don't believe the Lord
Himself would have given out such an
a~ll-pervading impression. The man was
Mark Hanna.
Where is the warden?" he asked.
out" ] answered.
II Am looking for a man by the name
OF Jennings
, ri presume I'm the man." ] answered
with great dignity. That's my name"
Hanna sent an appraising glance
from the ton OF my fiery head to my
well shined boots, He brushed u his
mind as a man might a fly from his
wrist.
Senator Surprised by Size.
Vel, you're not the Jennings Tn
robbing s. In the Indian Ter
The heavy fellow laughed until his
jowls shook.
"Why you're no bigger than a shrimp
and just about that red"
Even from a senator this raillery was
a bit insolent. / didn't exactly like It.!
Senator, a Colts forty-five makes all
men equal" Hanna seemed greatly
amused, The warden came in.
"Who Is this atom" he asked. Darby
entered at once into Hanna's merri-
ment.
THE gentleman was a train robber
by profession. His name Is Jennings.
His career met with a sad interruption
and now he is detained here by the
Hanna evidently had the school boys
idea Of the bandit. He was prepared
to see a six-footer with a tough mug
where a human face should be and the
mark Of .damnation In his mouth and
foot four with the picture. But he sat
down and we began to talk. / became
voluble. told him a hundred odd es-
capades Of the outlaw days. 1t seemed
to entertain him.
Promise to Win Aid.
you're a likable microbe. i've heard
OF you from very reliable sources. !
believe you are straight, I'll speak to
Mr.. Mckinley about you. He is the
kindest man in the world. Wen get
you out
The promise raised me to almost
hysterical hilarity; ! could think Of
nothing but freedom. imagined !
would be turned loose perhaps the next
day--surely within a week. / wrote to
Porter telling him l would see him
within the fortnight, We could cola
borate on another story. (For Porter
had been generous enough to call me
q collaboration for the dope on the
holdup). He wrote back.
Great news he said. Hanna can
do II, He made the president and he
has a chattel mortgage on the United
States"
The fortnight came. Porter sent an
urgent query. why didn't you show
up, colonel? ] had the schoonar's
chartered In the same letter he told
me that the story as he had revised it
The check would be sent on publication.
las soon as the check comes, I'll send
you your sheer Of the Doodle. BY the
way, please keep my nom de plume
strictly to yourself, | don't want any
one 10 know just yet.
"P. Sid you get a little book on
short story writing? The reason / ask,
! a 2 store order 1t and they were to
send it direct to you. You have to
watch these damn hellions here or
they'll do you for S cepts."
Five Years More"
The story writing kept my mind occu-
pied In the months OF waiting for the
promised Communication. AT last a tele-
gram came! ! would be free.
They were anxious, straining days
in that week before my discharge
Hopes, exhibitions, old ideals-they went
like t~ireless phantoms before my eyes
waking or sleeping, | had but one
Thought must make good--Tve go,
to get back-Ifn show them all
II was the morning OF my release