The Washington times., 1902-07-06

| lying down and tssing among those who
stood or sat up.
Il cannot get any. John, brother" said
he to the dying man.
Thank ye, Jake" he answered. never
turning his gaze from my face, nor
changing his look or position. / looked
up and saw face like his own. and saw,
too. the man swallow suddenly and heard
him cry in piteous tone:
They will not give me any. not drop
to save him. and, turning to a grated
door through which came the little light
we had. he leaned over another sleeping
figure and spoke to the guard standing
with a musket over his shoulder.
VIII you get me little water for my
brother?"
There amt none," said the man.
He is dying, and but a little water
would save him!''
There amt none." said the man in
precisely the same voice as before.
I'll give yon guinea for glassfulI"
pleaded the wretched man, moving over
one OF two others to reach the barred
door.
There amt none" came to him again
exactly as before. as the guard walked
away.
In ploment he was back by his BROTH
ers side, for the lad had been
caught with a sudden and terrible
fit of coughing that shook his whole
frame. and then he rolled over on his
back and lay with his arms outstreched,
staring with wide open eyes at the cell
ing. his chest falling and rising in long
straining breaths.
With faint cry the other stepped to
the bars and cried out down the cor
ridor:
"will you not give me an inch Of
candle. man."
The guard returned slowly.
My brother is dying there-therei
Do you not see him? I cannot see his
face. For Gods sake give me bit Of
candle to see him die!''
There amt none!" said the guard.
and walked on.
Then the boys body shook and
strained upward in a strange inhuman
fashion. as 1 have seen a fish on tb3
sand gasp and swell for water in his
gills. lie turned his eyes toward his
brother. tried to say something. and one
hand made a faint move as II to lift
itself. The brother caught the move
ment at once, and knaeling down took
the hand and looked steadfastly in the
lads face. we others lying silently and
hAf cot
into his Jaw.
Its all right, John." said he softly.
but firmly. It's all right, lad." The
eyes looked steadfastly at him. Right.
brother" cried he again. Keep thy
grip, lad,'' And he took the other hand
rs the hoy suddenly raised his head.
opened his mouth for an instant. and
sank gently back with his chin sunk
into his chest and FAY still-and died
then aad there.
Now. if it please God" cried the
other with quiet tears running down his
saIlow face. IF it please God that ever
get away alive. I'll De most bitter
enemy."-
And / lay back upon the floor and hid
my face in my hands
Could 1t be? Could it be that but
day or two ago 1 had passed this grim
building? Could ie be that. almost in
sight Of its gray walls. l had sat and
eaten and drunk and been happy in that
simple touch of her foot beneath mine?
Could II be 50? II did not seem pos
sible Could it be, too, that that genial
Baron Riedesei and the voting boy
prince and his comrades knew aught OF
this? And yet why not? Did not we
up in Connecticut this two years know
this hell and the other hells swinging
at their rotten cables in the river, that
held their crowds of living and dying
and dead?
must get away from this scene! I
could not stand 1t. And so with severe
pain I rose carefully and, picking my
way over and among the two hundred
and more men in that long narrow room,
made TO rome of the small windows.
Each was crowded two and three deep
with silent figures clinging together in
the hot air. their faces touching cheek
to cheek and filing the lower space of
the window. Each man had his mouth
open drawing in long breaths.
Would you but let me get Whit of
air. friend?'' asked one of those on the
outer edge of the group. But no sooner
had | spoken than a voice hehind me
said:
That Is not your group"
l turned to him and he must have seen
my bewilderment. for he asked:
When did you Gomez
But just now. this morning"
You do not know then that the room
is divided into groups of six men. and
that every ten minutes group must
change to allow another six to breathe
The air
NO. did not know it, said wearily.
And then without interest, but without
was assigned to group No.
b. Turning again 10 him who had spok-
IN first, l asked what group those men
COW by the window belonged TO, and he
.old me 7 was No rs.
Then l cannot get to the window for
IN hour and a half"
THAT is 1t. my friend
80 be it. II these men who have been
here so long can stand it, so can L. And
was about to lie down, feeling unable
n stnnd and knowing another of thnse