Page 17 - Adventure Magazine, 1921, July 18th

Children of the Road II

cheek-bones high, and his brows formed of "real thing," the "one or two time losers,"
very black, distinct hairs. the "zebras in stir."
His eyes were remarkable. They were Small wonder then that when these per-
almond-shaped and of an odd cast of blue, verted youths arc sent forth into the world,
an almost greenish-blue. It was star tling, knowing naught else but depravity, bru-
those green-blue eyes in that muddy, tality and crime, they become the dread
black-haired face. They were eyes in- of older criminals as well as the police ..
stinctively to be distrusted. In their Older criminals, who have not had the bene-
green-blue depths were profounds of weak- fit of their instit utional educa'tion, fear them
ness a well as power. They were the eyes and their wanton savagery and flee them
of a religious fanatic, of the cold-blooded on sight. The whole tramp world looks
criminal for a Cause. askance at each and any of them as at a
The Frisco Kid leaned close to whisper a dangerous lunatic abroad with a sharp
question in Portugee's ear. The fellow, as knife.
he did, slipped off the overalls and kicked "What 's this _Ref boy's special · line?"
them viciously against the bundle of cloth- whispered the Frisco Kid cynically. "High-
ing. He unbuttoned and tore off his coat. way robbery or merely croakin' guys jes'
"A strong-armer!" breathed the Kid in a fer fun?"
cold whisper of awe. · "Dunno fer a fac', Fri;;co, but of course
Beneath the man's left armpit, over the Strong-Arm's got his own pertic'lar line.
vest, was slung a shoulder-holster. There He's a gun-ma~, yer kin see; but he's
was a revolver in that holster. Its muzzle kinder quieter and less wiciously murderous
set deep and snugly into a round of leather; than most. I've heard him called various
across the gleaming metal handle, holding monakers-Strong-Arm, ·an' the Black Finn,
it firmly in place, was snapped a springy an' even the Big Sab-Cat."
whalebone. The revolver was high under "What! A Wobbly?" _ ·
the map 's armpit. But one jerk with his Portugee began a nod. His eyes glued to
right hand and that revolver would slip the thick-set man near the fire, however,
out from tinder the snapping whalebone. he thought better of _it. ·
"Sure, a strong-armer," returned Portu- ·"'Sure," he whispered guardediy; "an
gee in a cautious whisper. "Thet's the I. W. W. I think he's a quick-limer er a
Black Finn, Strong-Arm hisself. I didn't bomber fer the Wobblies. Ive noticed,
• expect him.1er blow along, er me an' me whinever I've met up with him, thet most
push 'ud never 'a' jungled-up here. He's a boes _an' even other old Ref boys is scared
bad hombre, Strong-Arm. , He's a ole Ref ~~iff of him. He's no gun to monkey with;
boy, an' youse knows how hard an' wicious 31st take thet from me, Frisco. Tell yer
them Ref boys is." wot; I'm jist waitin' my chancet ter give the
Yes indeed, the Frisco Kid knew. In all push the office, an' then we'll all pussy-foot
his railroading he had met no more case- it outer here withcmt him noticin'. Yuh
hardened, brutal and depraved specimens of better beat it, too, Frisco."
humanity than those finished products of · The man had thrown his coat upon the
State reform schools, the old Ref boys. bindle tied with hay-roi, . H had opened
They are like men congenitally perverted to his vest. He busied himself moro eh· un-
crime. During their most susceptible years buckling a very new and gaudilv titched
confinement in reformatories causes them to pair of suspender . He tied the .. two lonu
be companions and comrades of older and elastic plaits touether so that th . metdi
more vicious boys. clasps bulged from the knot like knuckle
Because i:nost of the older boys have been from a fist. Then he took firm hol<l of the
in less~r jails sometime and because the su pendcrs by th end farthest from the
discipline and restrictions of the schools arc heavy knot. The suspenders w re an im-
so similar to those of penitentiaries, it be- promptu instrument of puni hment, au
comes a matter of pride for the boys to imi- improvised but cruel knout.
tate convicts and seize greedily upon prison "vVot's become of thet kid as u-:ed t r
slang. In a refom school, as in a prison, all do Strong-Arm's beggin'?" ask d igar t
guards are "screws" and all clever criminals
"good people." The world beyond is "the Jimmy in a stealthy under-tone, as if stru 'k
outside." The boys are forever aping th with uddcn thought at the man's )min u'
preparations.