The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-10-02
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prisoner, was more or less nervous, and
terrors of the unknown seized him. The
world outside might be crumbling for
aught he knew. Aloud he said with
gruff humility
"Where's Mr.. Parr. pleaseP
The warder viewed him suspiciously,
sick"
Then an earthquake indeed rocked
Murphy's universe. He turned quite
sick and made frantic and profane
appeal under his breath. The warder
struck in, impervious, with a singsong
formula
"Now, 45, you'll get reported if you
use foul language"
The rebuke fell senseless as a song on
the wretched Murphy's ear
''Oh, otficer!' he gasped, with pale
lips. ''Is-she-very badY'
"S'pose SO or they wouldn't have put
his work on me-"
He slammed the door repressively on
a futile, hoarse entreaty for details. The
four narrow walls seemed to close in
upon the prisoner and crush his heart,
He cursed the warder, the system, the
government; pulled himself up short in
superstitious horror, rushed about his
strait limits madly, then stopped and
squeezed himself in Il corner, mutter-
ing:
''I'm-Im nothin'! No right to feel.
They'd give me the lash for it, p'raps.
O-O-God.' Struggling for expression,
his dumb soul made all sorts of un-
couth noises, as a dumb tongue does.
Then, in his desperation, he vaguely i'm
itated the attitude of praying infant
Samuel in a much creased print Faysie
had sent him. With hands piously
clasped and upraised eyes, Murphy, the
hardened rascal, knelt, trembling, and
made his first essay at prayer, starting
from the church service which he had
sometimes mechanically mumbled.
Almighty and most merc'ful Father
-Parr-and especial me-is miserable
sinners, and you know the sort o.
bringin' up I've had. But Parr is de-
cent chap all round, which you'll p'raps
take into account, and near as fond O.
her as this old blackguard. But then
he's got wife as well, and I've got no
one! Can have me to burn up and well
come, only it don't seem somehow to
me as you're as fond O. burnin' us as
folks makes out, and, besides, I'm no
account to burn UP or not. But Parr is
a good officer, if bit regimental, and
set on her. And l was a devil till-till
| seen her little bit O. hand on mine
at shot drill, you 'member-and o God
% God-O God-don't you let little
Faysie diep'
This at intervals through the mad
deningly long day, with occasional
frantic efforts at sack making and un-
tasted meals pushed aside. The new
warder looked in to inquire what he
was "up to-" He answered submissive
ly:
"Nothin' Frettin' bit; that's all.
Prisners will'
The officer retired obviously, and
with the shutting of the cell door at
night blank desperation closed on Muir
ply. In the morning, however, as he
mechanically cleaned his cell, Parr
himself appeared at the door.
Murphy uttered a sort of voiceless
shout, and hope and fear centorted the
dull wanness of his grotesque features.
Parr was pale, red eyed, disorganized.
He had not come on duty, only appar-
emily to challe wordlessly for Murphy's
benefit, who questioned, fearing the
question, Worse-or-better?
"All right" He read Murphy like a
book for once. "Out O. danger, brother.
The doctor says So"
On this Murphy flew at him, and the
two big hands met for a second and
two Speechless looks. Then Parr re-
tired with sort of husky giggle, and
Murphy blubbered irresistibly, but in
a suitable undertone. When the two
met again, both were gruff and shame
faced exceedingly. No word of that
brief and fevered interview, when both
hearts We're stripped bare by that blast
of anguish, was ever said, yet it re-
mained as the strongest link of this
odd fellowship.