Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 220 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

—— +- - i _— - —~ a one —~~ — eee = ‘*He’s my son, judge,’ testified the old fellow, rubbing his eyes as if he wished them to look watery. ‘‘The boy’s my son, but betune you and me, he’s jest the royalest young devil’s imp as ever kicked ag’in’ his own daddy. So Ll wipe my hands clean of him.” “Keep to the questions,’’ remarked the judge eurtly. ‘* And address your remarks to the jury.”’ ‘All right, yer honor. I’m agreeable. Let the legal gentleman pitch ahead with his remarks, I’m goin’ to let out the whole job.”’ Jacob Tanner had evidently primed himself for the occasion. ** Go on,”’ said the lawyer, “‘ and tell in your own way where you were, and what happened to you, on the night of the 15th,” ‘** Gentlemen of the jury, on that there night l was down to Micky FPlynn’s, a gentleman as I sometimes visits. He keeps a very ‘spectable hotel for the *’commodation of man and beast, at 97 Small street, It was mebbe "bout ten o’clock that night when I was settin’ there by myself thinkin’, ’cording toa way I have.” ‘‘What were you thinking of?’ asked the law- yer. ‘‘T dunno as that’s tothe p’int. Howsomdever, I’m under oath I s’pose. I wus lookin’ into an empty tumbler, and thinkin’ how I was goin’ to git it filled. without no credit. I could see the bottom of the tumbler considerable too easy; but I couldn't see the bottom of the diffikilty.” There was a slight laugh in the court-room at this, which was sternly repressed by the criers. ** Jist then,’’ continued the witness, “Sin bolts my boy Tom, and orders whisky, I s’pose I outer or- dered him out; but he teched my weak p’int, gen- tlemen, and I guy way. Well, we sot there maybe an hour, maybe less. I can’t say as I punished much whisky, but it was powerful smellin’ stuf, and it somehow got into my intelleck and upsot me,” ‘‘Go on,” commanded the lawyer, as the witness paused. “Ther ain’t inuch more. That little varmint was very kind to take me home, for I was a trifle on- steady. But I’m despret afeared he went through my pockets, gentlemen of the jury, for when I come to the door of a domicile there weren’t no key to be found, and I had to kick up Mrs, Tanner.” ‘Kick up Mrs. Tanner?’’ exclaimed the lawyer, in surprise, ‘Viguratively, your honor, I kicked at the door and she come. She asked me somethin’ *bout the key, but it wasn’t thar. That’s all I know ‘bout it, udge; ’cept that, the next mornin’, there lay the identical key on the table, where I'll swear on a stack of hymn books I never put it.”’ A few more questions to Mr. Tanner, and then he gave way to his wife, who confirmed the concluding points of his evidence. Frank Tanner was next put upon the stand. The boy was evidently greatly troubled in mind, His face was pale, and there was a suspicious red look about hiseyes. He could say little in regard to the ease against Tom, The key was in his pocket when he came home from the theater, and he found it there the next morning. As to the package found under his bed, he was utterly ignorant how it got there. He slept soundly, and the house might have been entered a dozen times without his hearing it. When questioned as to Tom’s general character and behavior rank was very little disposed to an- swer. ‘**He was a bit wild,” he testified. ‘‘But all the boys were that, and I don’t know that Tom was worse than the rest. I always liked Tom, and I[ never thought he could do anything bad.”’ ‘‘But did he not treat you very shabbily some- times? Get into trouble and leave you to fignt it out for him?” . ‘“Why, all the boys—’’ began Frank, with an evi- dent dislike to the question. “Do not answer,” called out the opposing at- torney. “ Tlatis a leading question, your honor,”’ addressing the judge. Tae debate on this point ended in Frank’s escape from the witness stand, without further questioning, at which he was very glad, It was like pulling eye eee with him to have to say anything against om. We shall not follow the course of the trial further. It ended, as it was evident it would, in the convic- tion of the young criminals. They were sentenced to moderate terms of imprisonment by the judge, who read them a severe moral lesson on the fatal and degrading course of life upon which they were entering, and warned them that continuance in such a course would lead them to utter ruin and degrada- tion, This advice was differently received by the evil- disposed lads. Some of them appeared affected by it, but the others received if with an impudent bravado of manner, particularly Tom Tanner and Bandy Ben, whoseemed to think if a point of honor that they should assume an aspect of impertinent defiance, They gained but one thing, however, by this disrespect of the judge’s well-meant and useful advice, hamely, two years of imprisonment more than was given to their penitent companions. It was very likely that, before their term was out, they would repent a few minutes’ bravado so dearly paid for. We have but little more to say for them. Our story is near its termination, and we must quickly dispose of our characters. As may well be imag- ’ ——— ee ee a ew ined, Frank Tanner's position was doubly assured | yeril which he with Thompson, Clark & Co. by the the proof of had encountered in their service, an his sterling honesty. wes They took, thenceforth, a personal interest in him, increased his salary, and advanced him as rapidly as was desirable in the store. Nor was there any commission too important to trust to Frank’s care, for they found that his judgment and business ca- pacity were equal to his integrity. But there was one point at which Frank put his foot firmly down. He would have nothing more to do with the key of the store. He had a private rea- son for this which he preferred not to mention, and this was that he distrusted his father. It was not his father’s honesty, however, but his caution, that Frank feared. He had been fooled once through drink, and might be again, and it was best to put danger out of his way. It is not easy to cure an old sore, and Jacob Tan- ner’s love of strong drink was not overcome by the eril into which it had led his son, But he took to vehaving much better than of old. In fact, he grew rather afraid of Frank, who was as firm as he was respectful in any domestic difficulty, He was, more- over, very proud of his son I’rank, and had no word too severe for that rascal Tom, ‘You needn't be standin’ up for him, Frank,”’ he said. ‘*He’s got bad blood in his veins. It didn’t come from me, and I'd be sorry to say as it comes from his mother, ’cause the poor woman's long dead and gone, But it’s thar, Frank, there’s no goin’ back on that. You'll find one thing, my boy, the longer you play the game of life, and this is it, that honesty’s the right bower in the game, Jist you allers hold that for yer trump card, my son, and ye’re bound to win. That rascal Tom thought he was goin’ to sweep the pool with the left bower, which is rascality; but it didn’t work; he lost the rame. Honesty’s a better trump card than rascal- ity, l’'rank, jist you take thatin. The right bower ‘ll allus beat the left, and jist you hang on to the best ‘card, no matter who plays the next best.” There was very little danger but that Frank would follow this homely but shrewd advice. Hesaw plain- ly enough, young as he was, that honesty was the best policy, even if there were no better reasons for being honest, and he was not at all likely to let go that sheet anchor of life. It was a year after the events here narrated that Frank got an opportunity to visit his brother in prison, Despite Tom’s crime and wickedness, Frank could not get rid of his old feeling of affection for him, and hoped that he might be able to influence him to pursue a different course of life. But such hopes were vain. Tom was bitter and im- pouitemt, Prison Jife, as it so often does, had made lim harder and more evil disposed than ever; and he who had entered it asa boy criminal bade fair to leave it as a hardened wretch, fit for any deed of crime, *Ther’s no use for you to come here preachin’, rank Tanner,’ he bitterly remarked. ‘I've been made once, and bad made maybe, but I don't calcu- late to have you shape me overagain, Jist you git now. Ididn’t send for you, and don’t want you.” ‘** But, Tom,’’ pleaded Frank, with tears in his eyes, “just think what is before you. What can come of the life you are leading but ruin and misery? What the judge said is all true, and you know it, Tom. As father says, honesty is the right bower of life. You’d find it so if you'd only begin to play it.”’ ‘Yes, dad’s mighty smart,’ cried Tom bitterly. ‘He was smart enough to git mein here. I don’t want none of his drunken preachin’, Tl stick to the left bower, right through.” “Come, come, Tom, you are only putting this on. You are not a fool, and you know the difference be- tween right and wrong. I'd give my right hand to save youfrom ruin. If you would only listen to me, Tom! Ifyou would only listen tome!” There was the ring of true feeling in his voice, and Tom, hardened as he was, could not help being affected by it. He looked earnestly at Frank, hesitated a moment and then cried out: “'That’s true, old boy! I must give in that’s true. Ye’re made of sound timber, Frank, and you've stuck to me like wax. Ye’re a fool for doin’ it, for I’ve used you bad. But there’s something solid in you, Frank, and hang me if I'll ever forgit it. And now be away with you. If you stay here longer ther’ll only be more preachin’, and i tell you now that’s clean wasted. I’ve got the devil in me, Frank, and you can’t preach it out.” Krank went away very sorrowfully, though he felt that something had been gained to make his erring brother display even that little show of penitence and human feeling. . But it went no further. Tom became more im- penitent and hardened thanever, At the expiration of his term of imprisonment he Went west, and joined a party of organized robbers in one of the Vestern cities. What eventually befell him is not known, though there is reason to believe that he was stabbed by one of his villaincus associates, in a drunken fight, and died a miserable death. As for Frank he rapidly advanced in the employ: ment of Thompson, Clark & Co., oy from one position of trust to another, until he became one of the most important persons in the establishment. He also took the opportunity to com ete his some- what neglected education, and to fit himself for the grade of society to which his position called him. He finally married a daughter of Mr. Clark, and was admitted to partnership in the firm, of which he has long remained an honored member, Thus in the life history of these two brothers, who chose such widely different paths in life, was fully exemplified the truth of the good old adage that ‘** Honesty is the best policy.” THE END, Tom Tanner, Scalawag and Scapegrace. mn LL LL ee ————_— 15 . BEADLE & ADAMS’ STANDARD DIME PUBLICATIONS. Speakers. BEADLE AND ADAMS have now on their lists the fol lowing highly desirable and attractive text-books, prepared expressly for schools, famnlies, etc, Kach volume contains 100 large pages, printed from clear, open type, comprising the best collection of Dia- logues, Dramas and Recitations, (burlesque, comic and otherwise.) The Dime Speakers for the season of 1881l—as far as now issued —embrace twenty-three yolumes, viz.: 1. American Speaker. National Speaker, Patriotic Speaker, Comic Speaker. Elocutionist. Ilumorous Speaker. Standard Speaker. 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