THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD DESPERADO.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 89, 14 April 1917, Page 15

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD DESPERADO.

A BUSY NIGHT. The callous hand of the law, ■which wots not of those glorious days 'When highwaymen strode abroad and garnered gold and jewels from fat and frightened tun-'bers. recently tsimimarlly ended th« newly Budged career of '"Dead Eye," the boy terror, hy carrying 'Dead Kye" off to the donjon keep of the Children's Society. "Dead Kye." be it known lo those whose nrnxalc- minds know only material names nnii addresses, ts Frank Krans, who livos iv riih-iijro, find who is thirteen remark- j ably desperate years old. lv about an | hour and a half, after he bad determinvil lei doff the drali garb of respeotabilitj and <;i*;h washing nnd baby tending to tase iv the parlous career of a highway-mia will; | •■l>cad Eye" for his eobriqoet, th P yon;]]' made n record that will live long after he has reformed. Armed with a water gun, a pocket full ot nails, a rerl hnndanna handkerchief twisted about his nook, a cmml e of novels recounting the lives of other hold highwaymeu and a flashlight. "Dead Kye" set forth j at nine o'clock. Ills first sally was to the tenement of Mre I'alma 'Mannlno. i Mrs Monnino .1 ns-nered :i j innocent knock nt the door to face the diminutive terror, who hurl the water gun pointed nt her and who leered briskly from behind the Mack mask. "Hands up and beware.'" whispered "Tlead Kye." and Mrs Mannlno. with a scream, backed into a corner. "Silence anil yer valuables." the impassive "Dead Eye" added, "or you get killed." With trembling hand, while the .Iglit from the flashlight flared in her ty«, Mrs Mannino handed over to "Dead Eye" ! XX) dollars In cash, a gold watch, two gold bracelets, a diamond ring, and a gold chain. ••Dead Kye" seemed astonished at tV.s lavish rain of wealth and as he stufTert | the hist of I),,- booty into a frayed trousers pocket with n grimy hand, he said: "fini-li:- but he recovered his aplomh quickly. nnd. liat-klnß away with the 'Water gun still pointed menacingly at Mrs 'Manning "Demi Kye" scurried to th P street. Knee outside, vain pride. w.liirh has (rone lief.,re so many falls, overwhelmed him. He took the money from his pocket and regarded it with a worried eye. Then he dangled the chnins and bracelets and listened to the watch tick. A casual workman passed on Vs way \ home, and "Dead Bye" flashed the light in his face. The workman yelled and de- ' parted hurriedly. This cemented "Dead! Eye's" determination that the bold nnd free life was indeed the career for a man of sporting instincts. <S<, lie wandered down the street to where a group of tioys were playing, his mask over his face, he sailed into! the gathering, nnd. motioning -with hkl »~iter guv. he backed the terrified ! youngsters against a wall and commenced to rifle their pockets. ; He got nails, marbles. sntnp Pra( . kc ,, p j some candy, a few broken cigarettes a magnet with one flange gone. a do,. «>ii ar and several skeins or coloured cord" Then as he turned in triumph f<, bid the cravens depart a polteeman i.id a heavy hand on his shoulders, and "P P a d Evp .. th terror, faded into the ohlivio ' " day's trumph and Frankie marched awny to the Children's Sorfetv wi, n h p : ,icemen the neiirhbonrhood f or (he "h" r a "*' hp,l whO TO M TS M o n n , DO '; c : b ; ns lyC,d: efOf