The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-12

" 80 AHsSA AAAARR wv 1&1kH 1AN N
was placed on II, and cracked ice scat
tered over II. The body was kept a
day. II no friends called for Il the
doctors held a disseetinR symposium
what was left Of the bones was dumped
into a rough board box and stuck in a.
hole In the prison graveyard.
N Treated as Refuse.
It was a Saturday night when Big
Joe kicked off, The night porter used
TO so whistling by the ~postoffice, jog
cling the w~heeIbarrow to the deadhouse.
He would stop for a word with Billy
and me-. We would look out. Sometimes
there would be one stiff with its arms
and legs dangling over the sides OF the
cart. Sometimes there Wefs two or
dBig Joe done got It fob sAuah dis
time" he sang out to US and elattered
There was somSthlns callous and APP
palling about the prison attitude to the
stiffe. The men we're treated a so
much r0fuae-they cot no more re-
epeet than Q dead dos. Big Ioe's come
back had given me an odd twist. I
felt epooky. bitter, depressed.
morning Curiosity drew me-. It was
Just o dark SHACK, way off near the
gas house. The patrol guard ven with
me, We pushed the door to.
The horror OF the thing struck upon
Us. II was revolving Is though a cold.
clammy hand reached up from that
trough and smsared US with blood. A
kind Of %stranglinG sensation caught me.
The guard hung to my waist. his teeth
ohatterinG. Big Joe had been placed In
the bottom Of the trough. He had
come TO" again.
Struggle in Deadhouse. .
He had awakened In the ~dsadhouss
IN the middle OF the night. He had
tried 10 climb out. Ills cIawing, terri.
pie, long arms were flung forward. His
body hung over the board, his head
resting on the cement. as though he
had lost his balance and half toppled
out The face. one cheek pressed
against the ground, was twisted toward
us-the mouth agape, the eyes staring.
went over to the club shortly after
y, Louisa and Porter were in the lit.
tie box kitchen. Louisa had his dish
rag apron tied about him. Porter, Inn
maculate even IN his prison gray, was
wearing u rich blue necktie,
The clerk In the state shop used to
make Us presents in return for fayors.
We wore the finest grade of underwear;
We had good white shirts. EKcept for
the black stripe on trousers we could
look like "dandies" on occasions. II
was always An occasion for Porter.
ASNWH III .iiH ulhCh6ht mOOuS-HnQ ne had
many OF them In prison-he was fas-
tidious about his appearance.
Louisa ana Porter we're ~scrappinR like
a couple OF old women over the roast.
Porter was a bit OF an epicure, and
there was many a heated argument over
culinary niceties,
Here taste Il. then the chef tabbed
the spoon between Porter's teeth,
"A little more celery salt" Porter
srnacked his tongue against the root
o. MS mouth. paused a moment after
the manner Of the queens faster, and
gave his opinion.
Now here, measured It three
umes. Louisa produced the cook book
Story DiSturbs Cooking.
That is no proof. You should have
an apotheoary's scale and weigh nm
ingredients" Porter was in one OF nh
.unDllng, irrepressible moods. "Lel
turned to me, and stopped, with thS
spoon clanking to the floor. "By God
AL what ails your"
said nothing for a moment. w,
were seated about the table, They
Pressed me, I told them about Big joe
Gorldn.t seem 70 keep Y 70 rnlself
chair aKaist the wall. Old Ccrnot com
nieHcod to SHUTTER, F
I've should write to the presiden
OF the United States about IT," Carno
would never stoop to any lesser au.
thority. IT IL an outrage"
Porter came back to the table, III,
explosive, unusual outburst over, II,
drew In HIS lip and c~oughed-a habit o
II think the summer will be Quit,
warm he offered. carnot would no
,iNFr pn.,nu
best ability as a writer on this subject
You should enkindle the world abou
y, You should put II in an article ant
send II broadcast"
Porter's cold look would have chile,
the ardor Of any other suggestion Civ
Not Cell Reporter, Says Bill.
II do not, understand you, SIR" h
answered frigidly. ~ am not here a
a reporter. shall not take upon my
self the burden OF responsibility. Thl
prison and Its shame Is nothing to me,
nt Hs got up pol,o sna WAL M,n1ksd .rS into tn
some obnoxious people here" His volc
was stifled with resentment. "W
should eliminate them"
1t was one Of the few times that
ever saw Bill Porter openly ruffled, n
despised tips from men Of Carnot
NhAbNi4 ~ HNNtI WlAi1ttu ANY ONO
point out a story 10 him. He had
see the thing himself. As he says |
The Dupllclty Of Hargreaves"--"A
life belongs to me. take thereof whs
want. return L as / can"
With. Billy Raider and me II ws
quite different, Porter liked US, II
would sit In the postoffice and DELFT
the outlaw days. He would get us
describe the train robbers, he wouI
deity prod us into giving elaborate Il,
tails even to the very slang EXPIRE,
sions the mon had used In their tai
never saw him take a note, but h
memory was relentless.
The day ! told him about Dick prlc
time,
That win make a wonderful story
he said at last.
Dick Price is the original OF the In
mortal Jimmy Valentine.
Porter anne into the postoffice ju
after the astounding feat had been a.
complained, Dick Price, the warde
and l had returned from tho officI
Of tho Press-Fost Publishing compan
Price had opened the safe IN ten Sc
onds, He had filed his nails to Il
quick,
Porter gives Dick the chance In n
story that he never had In life. II
history OF the real jimmy Valentin
shadowod, embtttered, done to deA
In the stir, was Just another Of q
tragedies that ripped through the I'll
and showed Bill Porter the raw, cru
soul Of tho upper crust"
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX,
Dick Price had been in prison ev
since he was a little fellow OF II, The
were a few wretohed years In the out
world, II was not freedom.
Bin PofAAF took but n incident 0
Of that tragic life for his story, "A r
trieved Reformation His Jimmy VI
entine Is a rather debonair crook--b
in the moment when ne throws off
coat, picks up his tools and starts
open the safe, In that moment tn,
In crowded the struggle and the sac
flee OF a lifetime. II o. TO the hea
quick and piercing, when Jimm,
chance OF happiness seems lost; Il ser
the breath into the tnroat with a qui,
Of Joy when he wins out In the al
-