The Van Buren press., 1897-10-02

closely watched when the sullen mood
was on him. as il had been for several
days.
There's 10 use talking the guard in
charge OF his company aad remarked
an hour before 10 the deputy-7Earier,
IF sixty-ninc keeps up this sort Of
thing tomorrow he's got 70 be settled
with
al right; vel settle him. the
deputy responded
When the sileIt meal sEas finished the
snake-like Inc shufied is way up the
stairs and along the ranges. disappear
ing piecemeal ia.fo the narrow cells
There was ! click Of bolts falling into
sockets; the voices Of the guard echoed
from range 10 range as each called
aloud the number Of men and the local
its under his care.
-First. south. east. fhirtF-four.
Second. north. West. thiFfy-oHe-"
Third. south, middle, tssenty-seFen-
Meaning the first. second Or third
range Of cells north OF south SIDE. east
or vest end or oeEtral portion
Then theT DISAPPEARED and the night
Guard came On dufy-Guard Joseph i
CHANGED u be-wezring shoes with
thick. soft x1les that he might make MS
ronnas in utter silence But something
went gracefully = him thzt could step
more s0ft1F even than he- tho4ga It
had f5ur feet 70 hzs two
@0ho.- sd Guard joseph 70 himself
thai puts me in mind q lie kz9 taat
sent his lore 70 six5y-nine-
u aus azzhi of stairs after another
went the great tertoise-zhel CT, the
vrsrien's osza especial pet. clear CIT 10
thai end o he fourth rzzse knoEn a.
tsse =nauraarers' Wing- where L sal
gTzzely down BY certain door 4 z@1a
stretched Itself through tie bars . PEI
and stroke fEs creature thai responded
VITA 3 purr Ike graWl-
To Tezrz before The Inmate o. that
cell Nas plaeeI there II solitary con
sn4veut f8r n1uraiero1s attack upon
. feIloT-pFzsonrF. For tWo years the
varssen's cat had made him this nightly
rs~it-the wretchesd eo1rict's Only
friend.
.-sIxtv-nins's rather the best Of,
thought Guard Joseph. watching he cat
in is upward journey. Hes got boy,
and 2 boz beats cat, even If he Is
lame one"
He walked along the corridor. and in
a moment he vas standing before the
cell numbered es. whats up?' asked
the convict. gruffly. as he saw the guard
at the grated entrance.
You've got a boy, haven't you.
Menly?"
~Yes-onen The prisoner answered
rnoodily. What about him?"
Anything the matter with him?a
He was lame And now there was
a lnomentary. anxious quiver of the sui
len face.
We'll, he was outside this morning
wanted me 10 tell you that his aunt
had moved to town, that he was com
ing over to the prison every Saturday,
and that he sent you his love"
Absolute astonishment expressed it,
self in the mans every feature.
denny! That kid. Why, the child
wasn't much more than five years old,
when" He seemed to lose himself in
painful reflection, and Guard Joseph
went on.
He had made the round Of the ranges
a second time, when. passing the cell
again, he saw Sixty-nine peering anx-
iously through the bars, and asked
'Well, what is it?"
The answer was whispered: SIS he
very lame?"
"Who? Oh, the boy. Not so very.
He gets about pretty brisk"
The prisoners face worked strange
ly. Hell never come again." he said,
bitterly. "They won't let him
"If he does, you'd like to see him.
wouldn't you?" said the guard, prepar-
ing TO move on.
NO. no." cried Menly, mot here. Ny
God! not here He sat down on the
edge Of his cot and hid his face IN his
hands.
The guard in the brush shop was
arreeably surprised next day % fad
that there was no need Of reporting
Sixty-nine for punishment. The in
provement in his manner and conduct
continued until Saturday. when hs was
noticed O. Be restless and uusssy: his
eyes constantly followed Guard Joseph
now ol day duty-whenerer that Of
Ger came withiL their range.
~Umph.~ said Guard Joseph. sudden
ly reeollectiHg the lame boz. Il guess
/ know what that means And moved
~ the dumb entreaty in the prisoners
eyes. he went down to the gusrdhous-.
The moment the gate swung open.
there was 2 shrill, joyous cry. Denny
popped into rev al s-tremble with de
light.
i hoped il WIS you. mister. just
hoped il was you. Tell daddy I've
come"
When the message was carried back
70 sizty-niHe, he said almost humbly:
Thank you, sir. I thank you
The guard heard him groaning in his
sleep that night, and be woke himself
calling on the names Of wife and child
The season rapidly advanced. Down
from the frozen northern seas swept
winter. with h,s storms Of snow and
sleei. The iurbid river shiYered Under
lis icy sheet, or swollen BY rain and
tfaw, carried 3; crashing against the
bridge piers, and almost to its floor;
but storm or calm. ice-bound or rushing
il sach recurring Saturday, and waitcJ
in the shadow uf the prison walls for
chance 10 send bis weekly message 70