PADDY BURNS' PRISONER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1522, 30 October 1883, Page 2

PADDY BURNS' PRISONER.

Ex-Senator Thomas J. Creamer tells a good story of the palmy days when the Hon. Paddy Burns was a deputy sheriff. Ho was frequently detailed to take convicted prisoners to Sing Sing prison. One day, as ho approached the entrance, a mild-mannered prisoner held out a pair of small whito hands chained together with hand-cuffs. • Sheriff,'' ho' said, in pitiful accents, 'look at those hands; they will do no good in the quarries, I'm hero for ten years, It'll kill me to go into the quarries, You might as well put a titled lady in a laundry,' 'An, be easy now,' said Paddy. '.You talk so much you twisht tho eye of me,' ' I've a hundred dollar bill in my vest 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 will only keep me out of the quarries.' 'What can you do now? Paddy inquired. 'Any light work,' was the reply. ' Can't you get me something easy f 'Well—now—l don't know. Are ye handy wida ; ])in. * llandy with'a pen]' repeated the captive with sudden energy., 'Heavens, man, I'm too handy. That's what I'm here for.' ■