Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1883 — Too Handy With a Pen. [ARTICLE]

Too Handy With a Pen.

Ex-Senator Thomas J. Creamer tells a good story of tire palmy days when the Hon. Paddy Biu-ns was a deputy sheriff. He was frequently detailed to take convicted prisoners to Sing Sing prison. One day, as he approached the entrance, a mild-mannered prisoner held out a pair of small white hands chained together with handcuffs. “Sheriff,” he said, in pitiful accents, “look at those hands. They will be no good in the quarries. I’m here for ten years. It’ll kill me to go into the quarries. You might as well put a titled lady in a laundry.” “Ah, be aisy, now,” said Paddy. “You talk so much that you twisht the eye of me.” ■ .■vl^veahnßdrfed-dwllai'bill.in > pocket, and—” “Whisper, whisper,” broke in Paddy with sudden interest. • “It’s my last hundred dollars,” the prisoner continued in a low tone, “and it’s yours if you’ll only keep me out of the quarries.” “What can ye do now?” Paddy inquired, " “Any light work,” was the reply. “Can’t von get me something easy?” “Well—now—Xdon’t know. Are ye handy wid a pin?” “Handy with a pen?” repeated the captive with sudden energy. “Heavens, man, I’m too handy. That’s what I’m here for.” —New York Sun.