The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-07-05
THE JAILER'S BABY.

tieved. At the same time it was de-
clared absurd that baby should be
allowed companionship with q MUIR
derer, and beyond all decency that bot
Ties OF laudanum should be left within
Its reach. Indeed, there was a great
deal Of talk, and much disappointment
over the affair.
In fact, 50 much was said that
the jailer resigned and he and his wife
with the baby, who had done all the
mischief-moved to another town. The
jailer's wife declared that his nerves
seemed dreadfully upset about the
whole thing and she was glad he had
given up the "jail business" Farming
was nicer work, anyhow, she allowed,
and the baby seemed to thrive better.
AS for the baby himself, he told me in
strict confidence just how it happened.
The prisoner had never made the
slightest effort to escape. From the
time sentence was pronounced he
seemed to begin to die. He would sit
for hours without moving muscle,
would neither eat nor drink. A hor-
rid sort of stupor possessed him, from
which the kindhearted jailer was pow
erless to rouse him, until one day he
thought of his baby, Ted, the only bit
fof sunlight in the gloomy house Of
bondage. The lovely child blossomed
like Sharon rose In this desert of sin
and death, and the very sight of him
might, SO the jailer thought, bring
peace and healing. So one day the
baby was brought to the DEATH
watched cell. His tousled. yellow head
peered curiouslY in, and his small
voice had a ring of pity as he said:
Dark, poor man. And the prisoner
came to the grating and stretched out
eager hands, clasping the tiny fingers
which rested trustfully in his. And
nobody disturbed them, for the poor
man" was crying, and SO <hey were not
afraid.
The baby came again, and often, and
they noticed that the prisoner would
always eat what he brought; bit of
candy, or dirty lump of sugar was
his daily Offering, and it was never re-
jected. One day the jailer came, too,
and they both watched the boy. He
was playing horse with a new piece of
pine board. The prisoner glanced at
1t and said, grimly: Wont they need
that In the yard?"
The jatler could not answer. hut
kept his gaze on the baby, who had
distracted the attention of the guard
In the corridor. The prisoner grasped
the door with both gaunt hands and,
putting his ashen lips as near the Jail
er's ear as the bars would allow, said.
suddenly: Have you any idea of
how you are going to die" The TALLER
was alarmed and distressed. He had
hoped to lead the prisoner to forget
his impending doom, if only for re-
spite of an hour, but this question
showed him how poorly he was sue
ceeding. He pretended not to hear and
made move as IL to 60, but the child
ran to him and, putting the stick
through the bars, Hsped: "See horsy?''
A smile distorted his face as the
man took the piece of wood, then let
1t drop with shudder, speaking rap.
Idly and low. dying is bad enough,
suppose, under any circumstances
but none Of us is heroic when forced
to sit, day after day, for certain
hour, when we are to begin the pro
cess of 'rotting in cold obstruction.
God! can you think, man, how 1t feels
What devilish irony in the fate that L
who have always hated any public dis.
play he choked, and the baby
laughed should die this way; should
perform the closing tragedy Of my life
before gapeng crowd. 1 tell you
man, 1t must not, shall not be-"
His voice had sunk to anWhisper. hui
his face was 50 livd With fear and
threat that the jailer grasped his baby
and moved step away from the cell
door. The man behind 1t laughed. a
dry, high-patched laugh.
n beg that you won't be frightened
y am not going to do anything violent,
except to myself IL possible. Do Won
hear, man? Except to myself. Listen
to me. Every night you pray that
your baby there may never be in such
devil-ridden hole rs this cell. By
those prayers, and as you hope fol
mercy for him, charge you have pity
and listen to me. have no thought
of escape. do not fear death. What
would life be to me now? killed him
for her and now-nOw must die for
him. Be 1t so, but not that Way'-
and he pointed TO the bit of new wood
the child had dpopped-seGod! not that
way" Then as the TALLER moved lit.
tie nearer, the man staggered to his
feet and whispered hoarsely: .An old
bottle. i could break it in pieces: OF
q rope, but no, the guard would see me.
Some drug; anything SO 1t be strong
enough, but bring it, oh, let me have
1t before lsefore they come to me-"
Not a word had the jailer spoken
during this plea Of agony. Then the
guard came up with the little one.
The kid wants to kiss man, and
the prisoner stretched his arms
through the grating and stroked the
curly head. The beautiful baby face
lit up with an angels smile. "By-by,
man." he said, and his father carried
him away with no sign of response to
the wild look of entreaty in the eyes
of the doomed man.
Next day the baby came again. This
time he passed the guard, returning
his challenge. Hello, 2-year-oldw by
only dignified stare. He toddled up
to the prisoners cell and the first
glimpse of the yellow head brought
the wretched occupant forward. His
attention was attracted to small tin
can the child carried. 'sSee therev'
And the little one proudly tapped ii
against the iron grating. With fever
ish haste the man seized It and with
an effort wrenched of the cover. In.
side was small bottle containing 8
brown liquid, which he smelled. then
sighed as with an infinite relief. A
seconds hesitation; glance upward
which was more despairing inquiry