The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-10
what is it7' he repeated

huskily.
Maxwslrs cheeks blsnched, his lips quivered
with emotion. and the dominoes fell from his
nervous hand. With the remark "Its all over,
then. articulsted so hoarsely that il could hard
ly be understood. he turned to his cell. stag
gered rather than walked through the gate.
threw himself upon the cot. and. turning MS
lace TO the wall, sobbed aloud. Tears. too.
we're streaming do wn the cheeks of the sheriff
and OF the usually stouy-hearted jailors. For
half an hour the condemned man was left alone
entered the cell, thoroughly searched
his clothing, and. finding nothing win
which an attempt at suicide might De
made. conducted him TO another cell and
changed the death watch. Meanwniie, the con-
ismned mans mother and sister had been ap-
orised OF the result. a carriage had been In
waiting outside Of the residence where they have
been stopping. and they were quickly driven TO
The Jail. When they arrived they wefe Informed
that they could not see their boy until his cell
had been changed, and they were escorted into
The iailer's Office. There the poor mother. IN
able II control her emotion, threw herself into
Der daughters arms, burst into tears and
moaned p%itifully. The young girls tears mingled
with her mothersIl
They will murder my boy, they will murder
himl o. God. help my poor boy" sobbed the
mother 10 the agony OF her grief. and then she
swooned away. The last blighting Of her hopes
was as terrible as unexpected. She soon re-
covered consciousness, however, and then. for
half an hour. the i~mportunate ladies' who mad
crossed the broad Atlantic n the vain endeavor
70 save a son and brother from an ignominious
1eath were left alone. By this time Maxwell
had been placed in the death cell, whore Father
Than, bis father confessor. was awaiting him.
The good man talked earnestly to him for sew
eral moments. aud was successful In inducing.
him to control his grief. Meanwhile, Mrs.
Brooks and her daughter had joined in a request
10 the sheriff that they be allowed to go behind
the bars. The official consulted with jailor Cal
lahan. and the two agreed IN the conclusion that
The dictates of humanity prompts the granting
OF the request. At q sign from the sheriff the
ladies emerged from the private Office. Mrs.
Brooks leaning on the arm OF deputy Pinkham.
Their footsteps faltered as they moved along the
corridor. Maxwell was sitting in his cell, talk
ing to one of his guards, as the iron gate changed
open. He heard the soft footballs OF the slip
pered feet, the rustic OF the silken dresses, and
turued quickly around. His mother and sister
stood before him. he sprang from his seat, and
with q bound, despite the deputy's interpositlon,
his arms were around his mothers neck. The
iips OF the mother and son had met for the first
time IN many years. For several seconds nei-
Their trusted their voices. Maxwell was the hrss
to break the silence, as, with a depth OF feeling
that seemed impossible In him. be
Mother. mother, mother"
"My sonl My sop!s responded the parent in
Bgonizing tones. while the sister chung to his
shoulders aud kissed him again aud again. Then,
oy a mighty effort, the trio controlled their
giief and entered the cell. closely followed by
The deputy sheriffs. Seats were given them,
and the mother opened the conversation by say
ng that she had anticipated a different result.
She had thought that the efforts of Martin and
Fauntleroy would have been successful 10 at
east getting a respite IF you were in Eng
land" she said. with emphasis, 'you would re-
seive Justice" The sister spoke In the same
strain, and Maxwell nodded assent to all that
was said. AL three then took turns in denounc-
ing Governor Morehouse, the State of Missouri
and the United States, the mother being espe-
:ially bitter over what she called the injustice OF
81. -a-. 1av. The oharff rauo IN at thto
luncture and agreed to let the unfortunate trio
have a faal interview later in the day. As the
ladies were getting ready to leave, Mrs. Brooks
asked her son: do you desire your father to
some in case the Governor will grant a respite
for that purpose?'
.Yes. 1 believe it would do good" was the re-
ply:
granted, / will cable him in my own name to
come"
They kissed him affectionately. Maxwell re-
turned the salutation, and the ladies withdrew
from the cell and left toe building. Maxwell
sat for some time with his face buried In his
hands. When he lifted 1t his features had as
sumed a CHASTITY. haggard appearance. as though
the cold, clamuy hand of death was already
upon him. But he soon recovered hls wonted
equsnimity, and in reply to question as to
whether he had given up hope. responded
promptly IN tie negative, at the same time
handing out a dispatch from his attorneys TO the
effect that the Governor was considering the
question OF granting q respite until his father
could arrive. But hope deferred maketb the
heart sick" he added, as, turning to guards Col
Inns aud Mccormick, he proposed a game OF
draw poker. They were nothing 10th to divert
his attention from the fate SO near, and soon all
hands were deeply interested In the game. 1t
continued until dinner time, Maxwell defeating
his opponents In every game.
When Maxwell had defeated his opponents
four straight games he complained OF hunger.
A meal of roast beef, chicken, vegetables and
cOffoa Was taken into the cell and WAS Oulckly
disposed OF. Another stroll IN the corridor,
with the inevitable cigarette. and the con-
demned man asked for writing materials, which
were promptly furnished. He rejected, how
ever. a prefer OF pen and inks, and sharpening a
half dozen pencils. proceeded TO write at . rapid
rate. After being thus engaged for half an hour,
he was interrupted by the arrival of his mother
and sister, and almost at the same moment q
dispatch was received from Jefferson City an
nouncine that the Governor had finally refused
to grant the days respite asked for. Both the
lsdies and Maxwell bad evidently nerved them
selves for the ordeal, for. although they were
tloseted for half an hour, no sounds or weeping
or sobbing came from behind the closed door OF
the cell At the end OF that period the door was
opened and the ladies emerged. As they
crossed the threshold they turned back, aud,
hrowiDg their arms about his neck, gave him a
parting kiss. He returned the salutation, but
his eyes were dry, although his frame shook like
o man with an attack Of ague. AS they
reached the iron door which would shut him ont
Oh slGQL forever IN L0l5 lie tue uOLUtf u SIS
ser looked back, aud simultaneously burst into
tears. Maxwell heard the sobbine, but not a
muscle of his face moved, and, turning to the
table, be nonchalsntly picked mp q cigarette,
placed it In his mouth and struck q match on the
wall Lawyer Martin, who had Just arrived
from Jefferson City. was the next visitor, and
the two had a long conversation. Maxwell
earnestly thanked the counselor for all he bad
done in his behalf. and babe him
goodbye. He did little else than pace
MP and down his cell until supper time, when he
ate rather sparingly of ham. eggs and steak
After the meal he resumed his writing. and Il in
the course of q couple OF hours had finished
dozen notes. which were inciosed In neat envel
opes and directed. He WAS still writing at IL
o'clock, when Father Then was admitted to the
building. Maxwell glancsd upward as the maj
of God entered his cell, and, without a word o.
greeting. resumed his writing. Another half
hour passed, until, FINALLY, pushing the pape
from him, he rested his elbows on the table
leaned his face on MS hands and entered into an
earnest conversation with his reverend visitor.
The priest remained with Maxwell for nearly
an hour. and was then summoned by Lsndgraf
the other condemned man. who, during the en-
tire evening, had been sitting in his cell door
way in moody contemplation Of the 70
tunda. just as soon as the prizes
had left his cell Maxwell beckoned t
the representative of the United Press. whom
he had met earlier ia the day. and remarked
that be was aware that the organization repre-
scented the leading journals of his native coun
try aud that ne would like 20 send them q dyinl
message. Seating himself at the table and seiz
Inc q pile of foolscap he hastily dashed off tn
following: