Tales of Terror and Mystery

           Hewasabright,spiritedboy,andjustoneofthemostbeautifulcreaturesthateverlived.Buttherewasalwaysasoftspotinhim,anditwaslikemouldincheese,foritspreadandspread,andnothingthatyoucoulddowouldstopit.MothersawitjustasclearlyasIdid,butshewentonspoilinghimallthesame,forhehadsuchawaywithhimthatyoucouldrefusehimnothing.IdidallIcouldtoholdhimin,andhehatedmeformypains.

           "Atlasthefairlygothishead,andnothingthatwecoulddowouldstophim.HegotoffintoNewYork,andwentrapidlyfrombadtoworse.Atfirsthewasonlyfast,andthenhewascriminal;andthen,attheendofayearortwo,hewasoneofthemostnotoriousyoungcrooksinthecity.HehadformedafriendshipwithSparrowMacCoy,whowasattheheadofhisprofessionasabunco-steerer,greengoodsmanandgeneralrascal.Theytooktocard-sharping,andfrequentedsomeofthebesthotelsinNewYork.Mybrotherwasanexcellentactor(hemighthavemadeanhonestnameforhimselfifhehadchosen),andhewouldtakethepartsofayoungEnglishmanoftitle,ofasimpleladfromtheWest,orofacollegeundergraduate,whicheversuitedSparrowMacCoy’spurpose.Andthenonedayhedressedhimselfasagirl,andhecarrieditoffsowell,andmadehimselfsuchavaluabledecoy,thatitwastheirfavouritegameafterwards.TheyhadmadeitrightwithTammanyandwiththepolice,soitseemedasifnothingcouldeverstopthem,forthosewereinthedaysbeforetheLexowCommission,andifyouonlyhadapull,youcoulddoprettynearlyeverythingyouwanted.