The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-14
Stories of an inland State.
Concluding the first series Of these tales.
which will continue in a second series,
beginning Tuesday morning)

The gray clouds which had dropped tn
snow had swept of a cold, bright, moonli
! sky The wind had come up, blowing an
| grily over the rolling country, sweeping tn
bill-tops bare and drifting the snow, speckl
/ ed with dust, into great drifts in the hol
lows. che moonlight shone black on INT
naked hill-tops and white in the valleys be
| low and upon the great stone castle. OF
| the highest hill above. The only castles o
| the west are its penal institutions
The yellow lights marked the living and
/ the free portions of the penitentiary on th'
| high hill.
There were festivities within. The war
den and the investigating committee sat il
| a high-ceilinged room. smoking the bes
cigars Seward, the new warden, could buy
and telling stories OF various degrees o.
humor The wife of the warden and tn,
| wives of the members of the investigating
committee were in another room. the par
| lor of the warden's part OF the peniten
tiary The wife of the warden was hysteric
ally affable; the wives of the member:
were more or less stiff and uneasy in the
great room so near the cages of two thous
and criminals, which they could not sepa'
rate in their minds from the TRUSTEES ir
striped suits who came in and out of the
parlor freely, receiving and taking orders
from the warden's wife.
Every legislature appoints a special
committee to investigate the penitentiary
This committee is created by a conspiracy
among certain members to take "trip
and take their wives along. The committee
once arrived a the penitentiary, is assured
Of the most ncspitable entertainment by
the warden. One member of the commit
tee looks over the books and reports them
correct; the warden urges reform, which
engrOsses the whole committee so much
that they forget everything else. After a
weeks visit, the committee return and re-
port. giving up their whole report to an
earnest enthusiastic recommendation OF the
reform suggested by the warden.
There were ten members of this special
committee. Among them was Allthums
of Thorn county, AFTER, Bannot and ohters.
John Crigsle had come along although he
was not a member of the legislature. Ned
Corder. the political factotum, was also on
hand, attracted by the sumptuous repasts
which he knew would be served to the
committee.
While the men were telling stories trus-
ty came in and whispered to the warden.
"Gent,emen,' said the warden. "a con-
vct has been pardoned. His sister is hero
with this precious document. He will be
taken out of his cell and she will meet him
and present him with the pardon. How
would you like to see it?''
There was an acclamation Of assent.
What is he in for?" some one asked.
His names Jim Treat. Railroad man
who stabbed another man in a drunken
quarrel. He has been here five years.
10 of
the long hall and into little room just off
the court OF the big institution.
In similar way the wsrdens wife noti-
fed her guests and they, huddled together
in protection from the horrible TRUSTEES
hurried close behind the warden's wife
down TO the sane room. The guests sat in
chairs against the wall all around the lit
tie roorn.
Jane Corder had struggled up from the
valley below against the biting wind, to the
great gate of the penitentiary; had been
kept waiting there an interminable period;
had been passed from sentinel to sentinel,
and a. last stood beford Seward, the war;
den, alone.
The affable official who had been investi-
gated had changed.
''Reise your VEIL" he ordered brutally.
Beauty runs in the Treat family?" he
commented when he saw her face.
They talked for moment and then pass
ed into the little room.
The women sent up an "ah" at the wo-
mans beauty as she took her seat in the
center of the room. The men ogled her
fierceiy. All but Corder. He placed him
self in front of the men and looked his
daughter straight in the eyes.
She locked back at him without surprise,
withou: consciousness.
MY Godr' said Corder. What grand
creature! Bernhard could not do better.
Without blink. without a f1inch!'
He di6 not love his daughter. but how he
admired herr
Down the long corridor the silence was
broken by the clank of a great lever. The
prisoners awoke but were silent. The guard
tranped down the aisle before the cells
Then he stepped.
Number six hundred and nine" he call
ed out. He unlocked the door. The white
blanched face of Jim Treat looked out be-
tween the bars.
The warden wants you. Come along"
The door was unlocked and Jim Treat
stepped orr with the halt and measure of
the lock-step which he had practiced for
Eve years. With the halt and lock-step
the grea. muscular man with the invalids
face Passed out of the corridor. The great
lever was thrown again.
A moment .ater the striped figure stood
before his sister.
He sazed al the men and women In the
room and raised his hand to his forehead.
Poor fellowr' one OF the women exclaim
ID.
Corder's ewes we're frozen TO his da1gh-
ave-
The convict looked slowly about the room
from face to face. without emotion. The
warden stepped forward. The convict
shrank
Jane Corder arose.
Treat" said the warden. ''This is your
sister. Here
The convict turned to Jane Corder and
rs eyes rested iistlessly upon her beautiful
face.
Il fear the pardon has come too late"
'aid the vardens wife audibly.
The convict felt great thrill He had
beard the word. This was not his sister
He had no sister. There was some mis-
axe. Some other prisoner was to be par
ioned and they had taken him by mistake
Freedom, His form Strengthened His
ungs filed. Ee took one step towards the
woman. Jane Corder went close 10 him.
Here. Jim. Here is your pardon"
oh" cried Ned Corder Historically. All
yes were turned on him instantly. The |
\ omen had turned pale from the shock.
Bu. the same moment Jane Corder had |
,dd5led in the eonvict's arms and whisper |
d a1gTily IN his ear:
kiss me, you beast. Kiss ne"
hen the crowd turned 10 the convict |
gain he was holding the woman close In |
lis arms kissing her cheek again ard again. |
Then he looked up still holding the wo- |
nan in his arms. There were tears In his |
yes
Mr.. Corder." said one OF the women. |
fWhy did Won make that horrible noise - /