Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-03-31

COMPANIONS IN CRIME
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The City Prison is hugo building
Of gray stone, whose lines Of low cells
extend. like spiders web, over great
space, shut in from the street by frown-
ing towers and walls In one of the
towers is low iron door, barred and
padlocked. If you are permitted to en-
ter, you viii find yourself in paved
stone court from which stretch narrow
corridors. A silence as of death reigns
over them all. The roof and floors are
of gray stone. In the walls are rows of
iron doors, all shut On each door
hangs slate. on which is written q
name, crime, and the time of inn
prisonment-"Ann Speed. Drunken
ness. One month" "Mary Parr.
Larceny. Two years" So the records
run-a black page in the book of life.
To your right hand is square Office.
gray, grim, and silent as the rest of this
building. Two grave officials in the
uniform of the prison are writing in
huge books. They are grave. quiet
men, chosen for their firmness and in
tegrity. but there is certain hopeless
ness in their faces which has slowly
grown there as they watched and num-
bered year after year, the unending
line of criminals that enter this gate.
They may go out again, but there will
be mark upon them harder for them
to bear than death.
A few weeks ago the prison van
rolled up to the gate outside, the gong
sounded, and the iron doors swung
open. Two men came out of the van.
The officer nodded to the decrepit,
bloated old creature who shuf1ed down
the steps.
Back again, John?"
aYes, boss Got three years now"
HELL not live as many months, the
officer said to his companion. "Half OF
his body is dead now with palsy. I've
known him for thirty years, and all of
them but three he has passed in this
jail"
A lad of II followed. He was fash
ionably dressed; his face was clear cut,
his voice gentle and well-bred; he
looked about him, pale with shame and
horror. It was the first time he had
entered this gate.
young Scott" whispered keeper
as he passed, under guard, to his cell.
"Son of one of the first physicians in
the city. Clerk in the bank. Fast.
Fond of champagne. Couldn't pay his
bills. Borrowed money out of the
bank, meaning to pay"
"They all mean to pay the first
time" the officer said, turning to a
visitor, who was watching this strange,
scene. These two men sum
up the whole history of this place.
They are at the beginning and end of
the life of a criminal. They seem very
different to you; but the space between
them is shorter than you think. That
boy will cross it in few steps that will
be soon taken.
The great bell of the prison struck
the signal for closing the gates. Twi-
light was falling. A few women, whose
faces were marked by every phase of
anxiety and wretchedness, and who had
come to bring little comforts for some
Of the prisoners hurried out, their
empty baskets on their arms, back to
their miserable homes.
The iron gates closed with q heavy
,lang, the silence within grew deeper.
Night settled down upon this great
stone sepulchre, in which were buried |
70 many lives that had all begun in in
aocence and cheerful hope. The fast
boy and the thief and murderer were
Ill there. But for each there had been
The first step-the first drink, the first
borrowed" dollar, the timorous little |
venture in wrong-doing that in the be-
ginning had been half bravado and fun.
Here was the end.
How far is the boy who reads IL ,se
words now from that first step.