New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
ir. " What is there

that do not know :?
' Il see. You still pretend then' to the posses
Sion Pretend y, - Markell laughed. He stretched
ont his hands in front of him with what seemed
to be his favOrlte gesture, ana laugheu-in the
face of the authorities
10y Suppose YOU give us an example of your
powers ~, 49,, III
Don't talk stuff and nonsense Give the man
three DAYS bread and water. That Is what he
wants ;o .Lo,o, NJ.
kell turned TO the ina or with his laughing eyes
WHAT'S it matter to you what believe? You
may take my word for it that doht Deneve Ia
impudent mountebanks like you. ,
The only reply Markell gave was TO raise his
hand-if that might be called repy-ln the way
we sometimes do when we call Tor silence, and
there was silence in the room. III eyes were
fixed upon the prisoner. He looked each man Ia
turn steadily in the face. linen, SUN sereney
smiling, he gently murmured II you please
There still silence, but only Ior a moment
II was broken by Warder Slater. That usually
dec0rous officer tilted his cap to the PACK oil MS
head, and thrust his hands into his breeches
professionally the regulation attitude IN the
presence Of superlOrs.
Il should blooming we'll like to know what
this means Ere have been in this ere jail
eleven years, and I've never been accused before
OF letting men out of their uight-cclls let alone
their beds and bedding, and | don't ike IL, so
tell you straight
The chief wardcr turned with automatic sud
denness toward the Unexpectedly and unusually
plain-spolSen officer
Slater, you're a fool.
I'm not the only one in the place. There's
more fools here besides me, and some Of them
While these compliments were being exchanged.
the higher officials sat mutely looking on. When
! the chief warder seemed at loss for an answer,
| the chaplain volunteered remark. He adj
dressed himself TO Wardcr Slater
! It's my opinion that the governors bigger
fool than you are, and that tie inspectors still
! bigger fool than he is.
And It's my belief, Mr. Hewett,' observed
the doctor, that you're the biggest fool Of all
" 1t would serve him right" remarked the gov
ernor, quietly, if somebody were to knock him
down"
Knock him down! 1 should think it would
! and kick him, tool"
As he said this the major gared at the chap
! lain with threatening eyes.
There was silence again. broken by Warder
Slater taking Of his cap and then his tunic,
which he folded mp carefully and placed upon the
floor. and then. turning his shirt-sleeves up above
his elbows. revealing as he did so pair Of really
gigantic arms.
>. If any man says 7 let them men ont of the
cells, I'm ready to fight that man, either for a
gallon of beer or nothing. don't care if it's the
| inspector. or who II is.
" ! suspect declared the chaplain, d" that the
inspectors too great coward 10 take you on,
hut If he does I'm willing 10 back Slater for half
a-crown. ! am even prepared TO second him"
Putting his hands under his coat-tais, the chap
| lain looked mp at the ceiling with a Tesoute air.
II You do fight Slater. liardinge. | should cer-
tainly begin by giving the chaplain a punch in
the eve"
So saying. the governor leaned back in his
! chair, and began drumming on the table with the
! TIPS of his fingers. The doctor from his seat
/ He gave the inspector a hearty slap upon tho
! back.
Give him beans7 he cried You ought -
be able TO knock an oyer-fed animal like Slater
into the middle OF next week before he's counted
! five
I've quarrel with Slater" the inspector
| growled. and I've no intention of fighting him;
but - the chaplain seems to be 50 anxious for a
| row, II night him with the greatest pleasure.
If there's COin' 10 I've any fighting" inter-
! posed the chief warder don't you think I'd
better get couple of sponges and a pail Of
! Il don't know about the spongesr said the
/ governor / don't fancy you will find any
Just at hand. But you might get pail of water,
| | think.
The chief warder left the room.
I'm not a fighting man. the chaplain an
nonneed; and in any case should decline 10
soil my hands by touching. such an ill-mannered
/ ruliian a. Major flardnee.'
Il say exclaimed the doctor. "Hardinge,
you're not going to stand that?'
The Major sprang from his seat. tore of his
coat, and flung il to the ground with
siderable less care than Warder Slater had done.
| lie strobe up 10 the chaplain.
Beg, my pardon, or take licking
! The Major cllnched his fists. He assumed an
attitude which if not exactly reminiscent Of the
| pets OF the fancy. was at least intended to be
pugilistic. The chaplain. did not finch.
!
! ing backguard7
The Major did dare He struck out. if nou
! with considerable science at any rate with con-
siderable execution. The chaplain went down
! like a log. At that moment the c.icf warder
| entered the room. He had pail of water in his
/ hand. For some reason, which was not altogether
! plain. he threw its contents upon the chaplain
! he lay upon the floor.
! While these-consdering the persons engaged
s9mewRat Irrgsnr PfofeedHgS hsd Gee P taxing
! raised-still with that smile upon his face. Now
| he lowered his hand.
Thank you, very much he said.
There silence agan-a tOerably prolonged
! silence While II lasted change seemed 20 be
passing over the chief actors in the scene. They
| seemed 10 be awakening. with more or less RAJ
/ pdty, 10 the fact that a certain incongruty
/ characterized their actions and their language.
| There stood Wardcr Slater. apparently surprised
and overwhelmed at the discovery that his hat
and coat were off, and his shirt sleeves tucked up
/ above his elbows. The chief warder with the
empty pail in his hand. presented a really ludl-
crous picture Of amazcment. He seemed qultc
! unable 10 realize the fact that he had thrown the
contents over the chaplain The Inspectors sur
prise appeared 10 be no less on finding that in
his puQil>tic ardor. he had torn OIL his coat
and knocked the chaplain down. The doctor.
| supporting him in the rear seemed 10 be taken
"a little aback. The governor. smoothing his hair
with his hand, seemed 10 he in hopeless mist.
II was the chaplain. who rose from the floor
with his handkerchief 10 his nose, who brought
| il home TO them that the scene which had Just
transpred had not been the groteSque lmagln-
| =" call YOU to witness that Major llardingc
has struck me 10 the ground. and the chief wardcr
! has thrown me pail of water. What conduct
may he expected from ignorant criminals when
/ such is the behavior of those who are in c0rge
| of them. must be left for others 10 Judge
They looked at one another. Their feelings
! were momcntarilv too deep for words.
e think suggested the governor. with quaver-
ing intonatlon . think-that this man-had bet
/ tcr-be taken away.
WarIcr slater picked mp his hat and coat. and
| left the room Markell walking quietly beside
him Mr. Murray followed after. seeming par
ticularly anxious 10 conceal the presence OF the
pail Mr. Wcwctt. still Stanching the blood which
lowed from his nose fixed his eyes on the In
! spector - .. . L.. ...
! this Won are still an inspector of prisons. all
Finland shall ring with your shame. Behind
Neutrality-suspicious. it's the English press The
chaplain moved toward me door. un the thresh I;