Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1912)

THE CONVICTS' PAROLE 89 saws — pigmy things that do the work of a giant. Fries slid them out, one by one, and gloated at their beautiful mechanism. "By thunder, you're a pr-rince!" he stuttered. Noiseless feet came down the dark hall, and Clayton came into the room. Fries hailed him cordially. "Come here, y'u, an' see the outfit — I'm runnin ' with the swells. ' ' Clayton sat down by him. Conroy watched him, ready to spring. The newcomer raised his eyeballs with a singular lateral movement to the right. Conroy breathed heavily and easily : the stranger was one of them. The stool-pigeon sauntered across the room to pick up a sporting paper. Again a quick movement of the eyes from Clayton. Fries' hand made a slight movement outward. "You're crazy drunk," said the other, passionately, under his breath. "Quick, get out of here — you're planted. ' ' A whistle shrilled dully from the street, and a rush of heavy feet sounded in the hallway. "Beat it — the screws," some one called, and then the lights were turned off. The door was dashed open, and a heavy policeman blocked its opening. Conroy slid by him, and into the arms of MacMurdo. ' ' Aw ' right, ' ' he whispered. "Aw' right," echoed the warden, hoarsely, and his satellite made a quick passage thru sightless officers. "Bring in a flash lantern, captain," shouted MacMurdo. "Steady —along the walls. Huh! 986; 819, step out lively. I'm wantin' you boarders back. ' ' By some mysterious prescience, which he gave up as a bad job, the governor's office called him up in the early morning. "You are expected to call — with your prisoners of last night — by ten o'clock," said a voice, 1 ' at the governor 's private residence. ' ' "Huh!" said MacMurdo, hanging up, "dont he know when he's down? This aint amateur night. ' ' "Hey, Rube," he said aloud to a deputy, "put the bracelets on them two prodigal sons, and send 'em down in the wagon to the governor's house — he's invitin' 'em to breakfast." When MacMurdo was ushered into the governor's study, he found, much to his surprise, that Murdagh and the other prison contractors had already preceded him there. "Governor's orders," said Murdagh to him. "I reckon he's going to kiss us all good-by . ' ' They sat around in uneasy attitudes until the governor came in, and then all stood up as he seated himself at his desk. "Gentlemen," he said, "please be seated. Our affair of this morning is a family matter, and will be discussed as such. Should anybody's feelings be hurt, or should emotion overcome him, he is at perfect liberty to stand up and to walk out. "It is hypocrisy to deny why I called this meeting, and to deny, also, the evident failure of my attempt at parole. However, with your permission, I will ask that the prisoners be brought into the room." The two shackled convicts were led in. "Gentlemen, I will not question them — their capture, by our esteemed warden, with burglar's tools in their possession, is sufficient evidence. ' ' Things were going off nicely. The contractors settled back easily. "What are we here for?" said MacMurdo, with a nudge to the nearest. "Maud Lyons!" said the sharp voice of the governor. The girl came forward from behind half-drawn portieres, and stood by the governor's desk. "Tell me what you witnessed last night," he said. In low tones, very much frightened, the girl faltered out her story — how she had sat in a little room, with a slide window, and seen the story of the past night with a convict's eyes. "Thank you; that will do — you may go, ' ' said the governor. "Your Excellency," said Mac