The Mucker

ago. He was standing upon the platform of a New York Central train that was pulling into the La Salle Street Station, an

ring and strange adventure Billy Byrne was comi

and tortuous Grand Avenue to arouse enthusiasm, nor was Billy part

had left under a cloud and with a reputation for genuine toughness and rowdyism tha

and learned from her, and in trying to become more as he knew the men of her class were he had sloughed off much o

e unbridgeable; but he still clung to the ideals she had awakened in him. He still sought to b

imself, show them. He wanted the gang to see that he, Billy Byrne, wasn't afraid to be decent. He wanted some of the neighbors to realize that he could work steadily and earn an honest living, and he looked

njust charge of murder which had sent him scurrying out of Chicago over a year before, that night that Patrolman Stanley

oldup; but Sheehan, who had been arrested and charged with the crime, was an old enemy of Billy's, and Sheehan

way to the environment of that exalted realm where dwelt the girl he loved. Law, order, and jus

ared them. They would give hi

attle with both. Now he was coming back voluntarily to give himself up, with every conviction that he should be exonerated

nd Ave., then I'll give myself up. The trial may take a long t

an open window watched grimy Chicago rattle past until

riously against the scarred face of the frame residence upon the second floor front of w

, none having arisen to fill the aching void left by the sudden departure of "Coke" Sheehan since that worthy ge

he street cars rumbling by with their frowsy loads. Occasionally she varied the monotony by drawing out her

far away for her to recognize his features, but his size and bearing and general appearance appealed to the lonesome M

the man approached she saw that he was better looking than she had even dared to hope, and that there was something extremely familiar

rail at her side. An instant later the man was

quickly down the stairs and into a grocery store a few do

d of the operator, and a momen

y Byrne's back.

lkin' west on Grand Avenoo right now. I just this minute seen hi

n to be sober, or not that he cared to see her; but Billy's whole manner of thought had altered within the year, and som

had been spent it was to learn that his mother was dead and that an

owed her nothing but for kicks and cuffs received, and for the surroundings and influences tha

particularly delighted at his return. The whole affair had been something of a disappointment. Therefore Billy determined to go at once to the Lake Street Station and learn the status of the Schneider murder

ch stepped into the doorway of a saloon, and as he passed they st

ned to re

dmonished one of the men,

it? Well, I was just goin' over

the trouble," said one of them. "We'll take you over

ing to be gained by talking to these detectives; but he found the lieutenant equally inclined to doubt his intentio

desire to live on the square, and no belief in his protestations that he had had naught t

e guardians. A cell-mate told him that the papers had scored the department heavily for their failure to apprehend the murde

n the guilt upon someone-they did not care whom,

ng you. They're goin' to try to get the death sentence. They hain't got no love for you, Byrne. You

d in his mind the vision of a beautiful girl who had believed in him and trusted him-who had inculcated within him a love for all that was finest and

the end justice would triumph and that it would a

tion had shown conclusively that Billy was a hard customer. The police had brought witnesses who did not hesitate to perjure themselves in their tes

one minutes past nine on the night of September 23 over a year before; but where they had been and what they had done ten minutes ear

practically wi

en the prosecuting attorney demanded the death penalty the prisoner had

he white paper and the black type to scenes that were not in any paper. He saw a turbulent river tumbling through a savage world, and in the swirl of the water lay a little is

lly realized that it had been these lessons that had spurred him on to the mad scheme that was to end now with the verdict of "

crificed his honor-he had done his best to assert it. He was innocent. They could kill him but they couldn'

live square, to SHOW THEM. His eyes still boring through the paper suddenly fo

k himself and co

arding, the multimillionaire, to William Mallo

read enough. It is true that he had urged her to marry Mallory; but now, in his lo

f interrupted his thoughts, "

of paper. Even before it was read Billy knew that he had been found guilty. He did not care any longer, so he told himself. He hoped that the judge would send him

. Once more there swept over him all the old, unreasoning hatred of the law and all that pertained to it. He would like to close his steel

se to a neighbor and whispered. "A hardened criminal," he

iet. He was handcuffed to a deputy sheriff. Billy was cal

young lady, comfortably backed by downy pillows, sat in her bed and

NTENCE. Of late Chicago had aroused in Barbara Harding a greater proportion of interest than ever it ha

. The notorious West Side rowdy, "Billy" Byrne, apprehended after mo

at seemed many minutes. Then with a stifled so

ps half the distance between Chicago and Billy's permanent destination when it occur

ed upon one thought-escape. He knew that there probably would be not the slightest

hich had sent him into life imprisonment, but at the though

as two cars ahead. The train was vestibuled. The first platform they crossed was tightly enclosed; but at the second Billy saw that a

he open door. It meant one of two things-a chance to escape, or,

sheriff realized that the door was open, his prisoner had