The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-24
How Number Eight
Become Number Nine

| modern inquisition; but to do two at
one and the same time maddening
Sum number one: Given two men. one
| a. Z. to die on the morrow, by grace OF
block and double-headed sword; of
whist value to him is an hours compan-
ionship with the other, C. D.? Second
sum: Take the same two men; of what
value to G. ID. is an hours companion
ship with A. B., considering that the
same &. Il. is TO be released on the NOR
row after ten years of Los Perdido?
! Truly "A battling puzzle, complicated per-
haps by the fact that neither A. II. or
c. d. had knowledge OF the impending
changes. nor did Pedro Martoval him
self, as will be explained later, know
for which the scanold was reserved and
for which Gods sunlight and sweet air
For ten minutes did Pedro Martoval
bite his fingers: then. like a man of
not solve. Let each purchase this hours
companionship at its legitimate value
neither knowing aught of freedom or the
scanold. Thus the sum simplified itself
to the value of sixty minutes talk to
two men who for ten years have wearied
of themselves and Pedro Martoval
There was no room for fear as TO the
means OF payment: men of a certain rank
have stu friends. even after ten years
and humane Master Pedro always hon
estly handed the doles Introduced TO their
rightful owners-would they not all come
Dack TO him and at little cost2 Clearly
1t would have been feeble policy to di-
vert the stream to his own purposes: il
would probably have dried at the source
ana been barren Of benefit forever alter
The man who cannot be honest TO his
own profit must be q weak rogue in
deed, and no weak rogue would have
held the keys of Los Perdido for twenty
years.
WITH rattle and crash Pedro flung
open the door to the right, and an added
crimness fell upon the passage; it had
been black tefore, but now you could
see its biackness. The cell was 9 feet
square and II feet high. with two win
dows. end-up against the roof. windows
Is Inches long and inches wide, which
opened out toward the blank wall of the
neigFbCring house u feet away and sug-
gested daylight A mattress was stretch
ed from one corner to within n ward of
the opposite wall: a stone block tIIe
height of an ordinary table, filled the
diagonal corner, and beside il was fixed
another ana smaller block to serve as a
seat. Fixtures were wise precaution
IN Los Perdido, since you cannot brain
your saoler with an immovable stone
block unless. indeed. you invert the
gaoler, and that requires time and
/ strength besides occasioning outcry,
which at such times is to be deprecated
For their lower half the walls were pol
ished into CLASSY smoothness like such
antiques az the Gaul o. the Capitol or
the much-be-kissed bronze toe of St Pc
ter. mute evidence of the continuity
OF occupation. The upper half project ed
full quarter-inch beyond the lower by
reason of accumulated layers of NTH
There were no house-cleanings at Los
Perdido.
On the block in the corner. with his
feet on the stone stool, sat the prisoner
finGing up and catching morsels of crust
as Juggler does balls in circus-one
Two, three fourth rhythmicai success
SION ! he light was atrocious, but after
ten years nature proves its adapta bilftv
10 circumstances. and becomes tolerant OF
atrocities, so that the player seldom
tailed In his game.
As the key grated in the lock he leaned
70 the hoor and stood facing the gaoler as
the door opened. What FOOLS trick Is
lhlS, master PEDRO. coming at time
when one neither eats nor sleeps? is
Faith answered the gaoler. III its
1901 trick to do a kindness, then I'm
thought lttie talk
The other turned and stopped for his
crusls which had fallen on the floor
'Oh, aye, but when the door opened
and not for breakfast dinner. or supper
why, why, / thought-I-Eh ?-let us talk,
II after ten years there Is anything new
TO be said" and he tossed his ct-lsts into
the air. one. two. three. four, and began
his juggling anew.
Master Pedro was somewhat at n loss
His scheme was In danger of falling fiat,
and he well knew that even in Los Per-
dido freshness and excitement had a good
influence on the market.
'Senor Enrico. how clever You are
with your hands: but, in spite of your
play. does ii not come that you are dun
at times?"
Again the prisoner let the crusts fan
on the floor and looked up curiousiy
My friend he said, lis the King dead
perchanCe, or have you only gone stark
mad to ask such a thing? Dull. Saints
in Heaven, what "A fool question:"
Then" went on Master. Pedro, "a little
change, say an hours gossip with
neighbour. would not come amiss?"
The prisoner laughed.
My friend everything in this world Is
q question of cost. and 4 have learnt val
ues In my ten years. Nine years ago