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