The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-03
THE MAN IN THE DUNGEON.

! rectors, sitting in session at the prison
mad heard and disposed of the com
plants and petitions of a number o
convicts, the warden announced tina
r all who wished to appear had beel
heard. Thereupon certain uneas,
and apprehensive expression. which
all along had sat upon the faces Of tn,
, directors, became visibly deeper
The chairman q nervous, energetic
abrupt, incislve man-glanced at
slip of paper in his hand. and said I,
. the warden
5 Send guard for convict No. IA,
2OS."
The warden started and became
slightly pale. Somewhat confused
he haltingly replied, "Why, he has
EXPIRE ssed no desire to appear before
you"
Nevertheless, you will send fol-
him at once" responded the chair
man.
The warden bowed stiffiy, and di
rected guard to produce the convict
Then, turning to the chairman, he
said
Il am ignorant of your purpose in
summonlng this man, but, of course,
have no objection. l desire, however,
to make statement concerning him
before he appears"
When we shall have called for a
statement from you," coolly respond
ed the chairman, you may make one"
The warden sank back into his seat.
He was a tall, fne-looking man we'll
bred and intelligent, and had kind
ly face. Though ordinarily cool, cou
rageous and self possessed, he was
unable to conceal strong emotion,
which looked much like fear A
heavy silence fell upon the room, dis
turbed only by the official steno-
grapher, who WAS sharpening his pen
ellis. Presently the chairman, without
addressing any one particularly, re-
married.
There are ways of learning what
occurs IN prison without the assist
ance of either the warden or the &C IL
victs''
Just then the guard appear ed with
the convict, who shambled in painful
ly and laboriously, rs with a string he
held up from the floor the heavy iron
ball which was chained to his ankles.
he was about forty.hve years old.
Undoubtedly he once had been a man
OF uncommon physical strength, for
powerful skeleton showed under
meath the sallow skin which covered
his emaciated frame. His sallowness
was peculiar and ghastly. 1t was
partly that of disease. and partly of
something worse; and it was this
something that accounted also for his
shrunker muscles and manifest fee
bleness. The dingy suit of prison
stripes which covered his gaunt frame
was frayed and tattered; his hair had
not been recently cut to the prison
fashion, and, being rebellious, stood
out upon his head like bristles; and
his beard, which, like his hair, was
heavily dashed with gray, had not
been shaved for weeks. These Incl
dents OF his appearance combined
with very peculiar expression of
his face to make an extraordinary
picture. 1t is difficult to describe this
almost unearthly expression. With
a certain suppressed ferocity it COM
blned an intiexbility of purpose that
sat like an iron mask upon him. His
eyes were hungry and eager; they
were the living part Of him, and they
shone luminous from beneath shaggy
brOws.
Upon stumbling weakly into the
room, faint with the labor of walking
and of carrying the iron ball, he look
ed around eagerly, like a bear driven
to his launches by the hounds. His
glance passed SO rapidly and unlntel
ligentIy from one face to another that
be could not have had time to form a
conception of the persons present, un-
til his swift eye encountered the face
OF the warden. Instantly they flashed;
he craned his neck forward; his lips
opened and became blue. his forln
grew rigid, and his breathing stopped.
This sinister and terrible attitude
all the more 80 because be was wholly
unconscious of twas disturbed only
when the chairman sharply commend
ed, Take that seat" And then he
sank into the chair. There he sat,
conscious and intelligent, but slonch-
ing, disorganized, and indifferent.
The chairman turned sharply to
the guard. why did you manacle
this man. he demanded, when he is
evidently SO weak, and when none of
the others We're man,acled7"
why, Sir" stammered the guard,
surely you know who this man is;
he is the most dangerous and desper
"We know all about that. Remove
his manacles."
The guard obeyed. The chairman
turned to the convict, and in kindly
manner said, 'Do you know who we
| are?'
The convict got himself together a
little and looked steadily at the chair
man. No. he replied, after pause,
His manner was direct, and his voice
was deep, though hoarse.
I'VE are the State Prison Directors
We have heard of your case, and we
want you to tell us the whole truth
about it,
The conv1ct's mind worked slowly
and it was some time before he could
comprehend the explanation and re
quest. When he had accomplished
that task he said very slowly, Il sup
pose you want me to make a com
plaint, Sir?"
Yes if you have any to make"
The convict was getting himself ir
hand. He strai gthened up, and gaz-
ed at the chairman with peculiar
intensity. Then firmly and clearly
he answered, 'tPve no complaint te
make"
The two men sat looking at eacf
other in silence and as they looked {
bridge Of human sympathy was slow
ly reared between them. The chair
man rose, passed around an interven
ing table. went ap TO the convict, ane
laid hand on his gaunt shoulder
Il