San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-05

so long when one looks back, said the
governor musingly.
at is eternity when one looks for.
ward to passing it in hell" The steadi.
ness of Chalmers manner was in marked
contrast to the vehemence of his words,
"You seem to have poor opinion of
our system" said the governor, looking
at him with new interest.
81 know nothing of it," answered
Chalmers shortly.
Il admit there is room for improve
ment," said the governor confidentially.
Il am making a study of the matter.
| mean to accomplish some reforms
there during my term. Now you are
going to see your brother. Keep your
eyes open, and after that come and see
me again and let me have your sugges-
TONS"
The sympathy of the man and the in
dividual had given way at once before
the ambition of the politician, anxious
to mark his administration with ire
form" that would attract the public
clamor.
Chalmers saw that nothing could be
gained here. He went next to the
prison The brothers met in the Office
of the warden. The elder studied to
make the interview free from restraint
and as though they were meeting on
common ground. But he could not
shut his eyes to those horrid stripes that
wound round and round his brothers
la holna pf 1,-i,, on1 q
This was almost the worst of it-that
aot for a moment could they blot out
this ocular evidence of the impossible
gulf between them.
Il am sorry, George" said Chalmers.
after firm clasp of the hand, "that
could not have been with you sooner. !
learned of it only three days ago at New
Orleans"
"Have you been to Cleveland"
"Yes. went there first to see what
could be done"
The yrl know the whole story?"
For an answer the elder brother
nodded without looking up.
docs Lima know?
This time the other shook his head,
but he looked straight at the younger
man and replied by another question:
"Do you care for herr"
"Why, of course, old man; but that's
all up now, and there's no reason why
you shouldn't go in and win, if you still
want to-"
Chalmers studied his brother in curl
Gus surprise. There was certain rough
ness and carelessness in his tone and
manner that he had never observed in
him befOre-that he had certainly not
expected to find now. And he noticed
weakness about the mouth and the low
er lines of the face that was wholly new
to him. This was not a sudden or vivid
expression, but came in as q sort of I'M
dercurrent to his thought. At first it
did not occur to him that he had never
seen his brothers face before-since he
had reached manhood--free from the
heavy beard that he had always worn.
But the prison discipline was a leveler
in this as in all things else. He Won
dered if his face would look as weak if
he should become convict and have his
beard shaved off and his hair cropped.
He ignored his brothers last words.
81 have been trying to do something
for you, he said, "but am afraid have
failed so far, have just come from the
governors"
ooh, you can't do anything there. |
could have told you that. He and old
Rodney are hand in glove. Did you see
Rodney"
Eyes"
"He's willy old fox; he'll block you
at every step"
Il found he would not help us. Can
you suggest anything? l came home to
get you out of this if it can be done"
Il know but one way. Money does
anything here, or at least will let you do
it for yourself. Two fellows went out
over the wall last night"
His brothers ready acceptance of
bribery as atfording him possible
means of escape did not surprise Chal-
mers more than the ease with which he
seemed to have dropped into prison ways
and expressions. Was this proof that
the governor was right when he said the
place was soul destroying? Would he
have lowered his standard so readily
under the same conditions? He looked
at his brother again more closely. There
was certainly lack of character in the
eyT preston CT the mouth and chin. Yet
1T had always been said that the two
were strangely alike. As boys, notwith-
standing the difference in their ages,
they had often been mistaken for one
another.
81 don't believe that is the best way"
he said finally, as though he had been
rejecting on his brothers suggestion.
/ "It's the only way, tell YOU" an
swered the other impatiently. 81 have
been here long enough to see that. But
| I IL