Evening star., 1901-02-02
Fairfax Follows "OId" Remnant.

Fairfax Follows "Old" Remnant.
When prisoner has escaped the COVER
nor and his staff expect to be busy The
small percentage of dangerous convicts.
found in every prison. grows very warm.
1t is angry and envious, ripe for mutiny.
and sore inclined to follow in the footsteps
OF the fugitive. And every class in the
prison-except, perhaps. that of the "blue
dress men,, whose release is near-feels
the disturbing influence of a bold escape.
Great that day, among all the brother
mood OF the broad arrow. was the fame of
old Remnant.
Fairfax was a prisoner of approved be-
havior. He kept himself a man, as far as
one may do under that Egyptian sway and
having sense enough to ignore the wasDish
incivliities of the type of warder who likes
to put the gentleman lag in his place
1t was rare for him to be in trouble In
two years he had not once tried to find out
the weak places in the rules-a favorite
sport In that unsportive arena.
But Fairfax had liveier and more Dcr-
sonal relish of "OId'' Remnants light than
any other man in Longstaff since he alone
had been prlvy to the design; and Fairfax
the self-contained, had the f1dgets as badly
any one that morning He hoped he
was not going to lose his head
man in one of the quarry parties struck
work and said they might as we'll let him
out as old Remnant. No one except
Fairfax believed that he had broken mas
sisted out Of Longstaff.
We'll run you in instead" said the war
der of the mutineer. and off they marched
him.
Fairfax himself was twice hidden to he
brisker with his work: Fairfax, the dill
gent 1t annoyed him. for he was working
below his form
An the warders were inclined to show
their teeth. and when a much-fretted war
der does this it may be nasty for the la o
within his reach Fairfax had no mind to
take fire if he could help it. but all tenn
the pricking heat did not soothe them.
Keep step there, won't you. What's
come to you this morning?'
This was addressed to Fairfax on the
marsh or from the quarries. Fairfax was
aware that his step was perfect.
BE hanged to your
The imprudent answer had left his tongue
almost before his mind had framed 1t.
Very well, my boy!" came the ominous
retort
Early as it was the chief warder had deal,
with number of petty cases (the COVER
nor holds his court later. and his temper,
too. was on the down grade. Abusive
language" to an officer as striking too
deeply at discipline is never condoned In
prison. But Fairfax had a very clean bill
of conduct, and the graybearded CHIEF war.
der. despite his unwonted irritation. was
not disposed to make this a case for the
governor '''e
"A prisoner of your station and educa-
tion," he said. '1s expected to keen a ctv;,
tongue in his head, even when his tamnsr
| Is little tried. Perhaps twenty-four ho,irs
solitary confinement, with pla n fare viii
be long enough for you to get this lesson
by heart
As penalties are meted out, this was q
mild one many a man has been tied to the
trlangles for hot retort upon warder
Fairfax then. instead of returning IN his
own cell. was hailed away to .'chokev" :"
Chokey. the punishment cell. is no longer
the black hole" of the old days, but n is
very still and dismal, and twilight reipns
there through all the gaudy moons of sIIm
mer. deal plank is the only furniture
there Is nothing to read and ''plain'' is a
generous description of the fare Chokey
was unusually full that day (thanks in the
main. to "Old" Remnants example). or
the apartment which had been assigned TO
Fairfax might have been sealed for par
ticular reasons.
As he took in its solid proportions. his eve
growing reconciIed to the murk his spirit
within him did obeisance to the genius of
"Old' Remnant. What man. to have
eluded such fastness! Fairfax examined
the iron-plated door. sounded the cement
hccring with his foot and snote the walls
softly with his hand How was it done?
Had "Od' Remnant bribed his warder
after all? II not. then the annals OF pris-
on-breaking held no feat worthy of place
with this.
1t struck Fairfax as curious that the wall
facing the door. which appeared to be Of