The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-09

BARNEvELD, N. T., April e.--SDoes any one
want 10 prayed for7s asked the sweet voiced
woman missionary.
She and her hAlt-dossn companions
were members Of the graduating class Of
institute, and they had come to the chapel
Of the jail to SOW the frat seeds Of q good
work upon which they would enter in
foreign fields. About forty men took
seats during the service, while a dozen
more stood about the corridor and from
time to time peered In, to nudge one an
other as they caught sight Of the team Of
some old pal who had been affected by the
proceedings.
Docs any one wish to be prayed fori'
again inquired the missionary. A hand
was raised.
Come forward. please, was the request
and the man soon knelt at the little railing.
In a few moments he was joined by
Others, and the missionary made an earnest
prayer on behalf Of the men before her.
Now and then one looked up with his
fingers screening his eyes and winked at
his companions. Back in the corridor
prisoners slapped one another on the back.
exclaiming:
bill is after a pair Of shoes, or, Jim
n6euh coat OF IObSb N NcAib hAH bV7S
to get a new leg
After the singing the alleged converts
succeeded in getting the undivided atten-
ton of the missionaries.
Good lady began one, Il am soon to
leave here. l have been unfortunate. /
am not guilty, as appear TO be, hut when
a man Is alone in the world It's hard to get
any one to believe his story. When / go
out from here it will be impossible to get
work. on account Of my appearance. l
need some shoes" and he exhibited his
worn footgear with an air Of humiliation.
That will be all right" replied the mis-
sionary. when you are released come
direct TO the mission and l will give you
some shoes
The mans thanks were profuse, His pals
also made known their Wants and the mis-
sionaries departed.
Hardly had the door closed ehind the
visitors before the corridors rang with
parodies upon the hymns which the mis-
sionaries had sung, and the alleged oon-
verts sang as loud as any.
The next few days were extremely busy
ones for the John Does and the Richard
Roes as they prepared for their approach
ing liberation They had been In jail from
thirty to sixty days. thriving upon hard
fare, making certain Of three square meals
a day, a bunk at night and an extra dish Of
hash on Sunday afternoon, when all hands
contributed their bits OF meat and bread
saved during the week and cooked them
in the old spider down at the furnace door.
II had been a grand reunion Of old friends.
Many pleasant hours had been passed at
cards and in smoking. The mimic court
Of justice, organised among the brightest
minds In the Jail, had been a source Of much
amusement, particularly when Pegleg was
tried and convicted and sentenced to fifteen
strokes with the paddle on a charge Of ex-
peotorAting on the newly whitewashed
wall
But when spring came dancing up the
valley the Joy OF lie rea awakening was
felt by these vagabonds, rogues and soaPe-
graoes as we'll as by the rest Of mankind
and they were anxious to be on the road
once more.
As the activity Of the men in the jail in
creased the duties Of Buck, the turnkey,
doubled. Whenever he appeared at the
peephole in the door there was somebody
waiting to ask him 10 do an errand.
Frenchy wanted several cakes OF a GER
tain kind Of soap, dozen pint bottles and
a quantity Of chalk. Pegleg needed some
chalk also, together with brown sugar
and number Of neat paper boxes. One
Armed Pete had TO have some more powder
and some small boxes, while Dutch was
very anxious 10 get some pure white soap
and some sheets Of pretty red paper,
As one by one the alleged converts got
away they fastened around the corner