The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-02

naphtha into certain suspicious cracks and
holes. In an hours time the counte rfeiter is
oil the .Srty.third month Of a 1--WE. year bit.
The eounterfeiter now devotes his energies
TO- to- making his calling and election 10 as sure 6 as
the head COOK. the hospital steward. the shoe:
maker. the shipping clerk in the pail shop, and
training to. be the successor OF the one nearest
the end q his term. Preferably he would
ewter. a furnace and TOOLS at his disposal. It
would 90 hard IL he could not %contrive some
bits, none too glarinGly spurious to pass cur
and he might even work off some on the
deputy, ONCE ln a while. for groceries. Such
having been pinched; but any one OF these
places reserved for "fayoritesS as the rank
bench like ali ordinary. petit larceny prisoner.
There are prison politicians, who were not
He understands how to awaken the soli"itude
the armpits and he Knows enough to gail, thle
enthusiastic support OF the chaplain. The
mind the indlscreeet remarks this Convict made
IN the fulness Of his going out last time but
the deputy and the night watc,hman stand BY
a full. rugged ship in a bottle to his little boy;
he not have quite q how-de-do with the latter
In the saloon around the corner. whore modern
cibyili%a,io n ny'eRRdss It's sole g,e Ell, 2 to t q dls,
days have dragged out their round. almost as
interminahlc as that Of the next thirty months.
the least amount OF work at all consistent with
hard labor and enjoys the greatest share OF
n' What G 1eae. to @S Mien the hose sei fGRn toii OBI Of Prison
life com lets? The master. counterfeiter has
a belly of which he IL very fond Ia a sense it
made sacritlces: and oh. the prison fare 1t is
very, hard. He must have hospital %retions;
fers DISTINCTION Now. here arises a rscur:
rent problem. Hospital ratione are granted
t tIg q pntie 1sir win d bscom i. i 2sihs 41rss or the o t9nt
pares through i%atness for 'hibernatine. Sick;
the hospital ~rations from tho doctor for the
frst month; the chanlain pleaded Tor their
The spirit through the desh. Alter thai. The
counterfeiter bribes the waiter for for the hos
nital to reserve dainty portions for him; he
into sharing his all2wance with him. He fiat
t tnn the sg ! 1p il, iti Df the g T" o. sock;
his shirt, as he sneaks by tho messroom win
dow. And all the While he persists in tales of
I pad.nf' to half thd E War%an h1 nnr hpm9rSHs' n all i'm.
isEaNle. In his ohseduious good nature, until
,ha, rernleYed and overburdened official cries
sake. give this man anything that will serve
Having thus made the best Of everything. the
or course there come times when evon his dull,
stolid, Nerves are, faulty drawn and vibrate
sunday. and the men are locked un for fifty
odd hours. with but the short break for SER
or his knife is dull, or the strings Of the 2ither.
which he has 80 ~paintully wrought, are broke ell.
the master counterfeitnr NAY, become, restless
"a parlous case in prison. Up and down the
narrow cell he will pace. three strides. no more.
kicking and smashing In his rage his cherished
furniture up and down, grinding his teeth and
blaspneminG: until in his frenzy he tears the
flesh on, his breast with his nails. and dashes
his head against the stone wall.
But.so furious n rebellion against conditions.
induced by hat;wearIness OF sp!rit WHICH may
morning. as the counterfeiter eyes the double
calendar which he keeps, on the white, washel
gone by is longer than that ofthe days TO come,
he is actually, ashamed OF himself; and when
the gong strikes and the men march, out, he
need some sprinG medicine"
countsrfciter may be but he is never remorse-
ial; He u eats 5. and sleensS' u d, there lies hi9
air., and actually thrivss and grows fat on it.
Rolled up on his narrow bunk. with his prison
clothes on and his dirty blanket ,wranped
less the head mailman ventures. to lower one
OF he tai windows a little. and then he will
day presents schemes Tor concocti"n ami exc
c,tion. to avoid work. to obtain extra food.
and to trade and pilfer, dickering with this
newcomer and that short-timer. until he ac-
cumulates plugs Of tobacco. which ever have
u merchantahIc value. and may yield pennies
over against the day OF his going out.
And it is wonderful how RAPIDLY this day ap.
aud started on the downward grade. TO an
old convict. after he has become rehabituated.
a day IN prison Is a neriod OF time almost in
sleep over a week without knowing it. He
comes to reckon months as free men do weeks.
turkey he is to consume on Thanksgiving Day.
and in the fall will gloat In anticipation OF the
fruit and lee cream which the Fourth Of july
nature maintains its equilibrium he continues
the one modern instance Of a lotus-sater.
reached there comes an ominous change. The
m master counterfeiter grows thin and haggard:
he is r%es.les. at nirI!t; not fuil Of fury. but
dreams. His coarse tests are missed along the
tier. and the waiter coilacts his tins from the
can work such marvels? Is the man repent-
gun to SOFTEN All; no; not yet. not while |
he'rt and lungs and digestion stand by him.
die is aiIsi 4 that Is all perhaps some Of the
is a warrant lodged in the Office against him.
and %hen he zoe; out q policeman may arrest
and the money from the State still in his
rocket! A dreadful thought thnt. of going
mere! NJ wonder the counterieiter grows
pensive and wan
But n reassIrinG letter arrives from New
York. The friendly clerk who brings 1t drops !
a hint regarding he warrantless condition OF
the Office arc Richard Ia himself again. Comes
then the night before his discharge, and the
couuterfeitar stands at the grating Of his cell,
clinking to the bars. intent. e~Xuliant. impa-
tent. ~eycitel. Along the tier s.ridcs the War
den. the old man. making his rounds. He
the cell. stops short. hesitates ana then
%retraceS his stepS.
Martin" ho SAYS. for that is the master
rounterfelt"rS prison name. not his real one.
Il m sure il won't do any good. but I hone this
NAV, be n lesson to you. Remember you are a
man -
That | will. Mr., Warden. and thank YOU"
Martin. Tn through. There's moth
Ing in It. and I'm getting old. I'll 60 back TO
my trade. YOU count on that. and he honest,"
Back to his trade. YOU NAV count ON that
goes Martin, but not to he honest. Oh, no.
Nfter his first blowout in the saloon around
he corner. which leaves nut little remaining
IF his, savings and the money from the State,
pack he goes TO his old haunts. tho old gang,
he store of hidden queer. and the distribut-
ng dagoes. OF course. the Secret Service
have never lost sight OF him since the
orisnn door closed; of course he is caught
again in the very act and IL convicted and sen.
cnccd and returned. And then the ridge Is
again, and the rounds OF term
vacation continue. until the tough physi.
% ! lNAA 4 IrN arr ,V --1 L