The Washington times., 1902-07-06
CHAPTER XXI.
THE OLD SUGAR HOUSE.

u
~ l knew only that I was being
L L carried away, then put into
cart that jolted horribly. and
after an interminable time carried into
a building and dumped upon the floor
OF room whether at night or in the
daytime l could not have told. as there
was little or no light then or during the
whole time / was there. So / lay on
the floor, which seemed wet, for time;
and then finding my consciousness thor
ougbIv I began to take cognizance Of
what lay near me.
A shiver or horror-that same dread
rushed over me instantly as | felt, in
stretching out my hand. the body OF
man. With a kind of spasmodic stroke
of reason / felt at his heart. the dread
growing as l could not find 1t beating.
and in another moment l turned over
and found him dead and cold. With the
sort of movement which an insane man
makes as he crouches away from some
thing. / pushed myself across the floor
eveing the body, then whirled about in
spite of the wound. for 1 touched some
thing on the other side. Twas another |
body. No, for it spoke.
Have you a daughter, friend?' it
asked
NO" whispered.
Then take her and cut her throat, II
you would keep her virgin,
what mean your" asked, In strange
awe. and. my eyes becoming accustomed
to the darkness, l saw haggard hgure
-paught but bones with the dried Skin
drawn tight over them-sitting Turk
fashion and looking at me with Wild
eyes.
ave. cut her throat that she may
live,"
where am II" I asked to the air. for
I became aware of foul odor and sick
enIng heavy atmosphere that. as 1t grew.
made me try to stop breathing TIL 1t
should pass: but that it never did.
Don't min 'im," said gruff voice
behind my head. " 'E's got 'em 'E's
lifted ere. 'E's got w'eel stuck IN
is upper deck"
1 sat up So
now dried to the wound, to keep from
tearing them away from my side. and
saw dimly a long narrow room Win
walls of stone and little Sits for WIN
tows. with every inch of floor covered
ry standig or sitting men. so close TO-
gether that in many instances they lay
across one another. I bad for the mo-
ment more room than the others.
Where am ?"
"In hell In hell,' cried the lunatic |
And she is not here. Will you cut her
throat. friend?" l crawled away from
him. fascinated by his unwinking eyes,
ill touched the dead man.
GIVE that un a wide berth. mate,
said the sailor. - 'E's just coughcd up |
is last breath. and 'e's got the typhus-
Where am II" l cried again, shrink
ng from the body.
TIE lunatic's about right" said the
ailor. in his monotonous voice. "Ye're
n ell. D. yer mean to say yer don't
now the old Sugar 'ouse?"
God knows l did. And l hid my face
n nv hands to cover my grief. Did l
now the Sugar House Prison. where my
omrades of - had lain so long. some
nly leaving to go as had seen them in
he dead carts but few hours before?
Did know that foul prison? Aye, well,
md was like to know 1t better,
What day is it, asked a quiet voice
/ nv feet / turned little and heard
long cough come from young man pale
rith the signs of death on his white
row. lying there on his side, his quiet
ace resting on his arm, his eyes locking
t me with bravery in them that was
itiful. pitiful beyond measure!
Thursday" said some voice of the
1ul darkness.
"wednesday" said l. as in5tinctively
urned toward the wasted figure.
What month. if you please?" he ask
d. without taking his eyes from my
ace
The 18th of October. friend" said l.
He lay still a moment. looking at me
Without letting his gaze waver. Then;
What year,"
'17S0, conrade. Where do you be-
ong?"
- So" said he. thoughtfully, in the
anne voice. '17sO. l have been here two
ears and near three months.
MY God."
\ rigure approached us through the