The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-11
CHAPTER XII.


feet and in height a foot less
than its length. Yet even this
hole he was to share with a comrade
in like calamity. And In a dribble of
summer twilight. as the massive door
changed behind him. he found himself
shut up with a young ruffian. con-
demned for murder. with whom he had
had an alteration over a trifing mat
ter in chapel yard.
The recognition was mutual, and
Tom held out his hand.
His hand was taken with an evil
grace. In a little. however. the other
looseaed a not unfriendly tongue. but
one so blasphemous and so foul that
Tom half regretted his advance. He
could not regret 1t altogether. The
vilest conversation was better Just
then than none at all. That OF Toms
whilom enemy was vile enough, with
Its horrid levity, its coarse swagger
and a forced but bloodcurdling con-
tempt OF death. Still, 1t was some
thing to listen to, something new to
think about and shudder over, and the
creature. having been alone at night
since his conviction on the opening
day Of the sessions, hardly paused till
the small hours Of the morning.
His name was Creasey. He had
been convicted Of stabbing his wife Che
was twenty years Of age, but had new
or done II; twas a pack Of lies. But
be boosted to Tom OF many q thing he
had done In his short life, and they
we're such things as Tom never forgot
In his. He lay listening and shudder.
Ing upon his bed. Yet when the other
seemed to have talked himself out his
own torments only began, and he was
grateful when the brute broke out
afresh. So the night wore on until /
or In the morning. Then there was
long, unbroken silence, then a sobblng
and a shaking and q burst of frantic
prayer from Creasey's bed; then quiet,
then snoring, and the bell Of ST. Sepul.
cher's marking the weary milestones
Of the night.
Tom never slept a wink.
Next morning In the bottom day
room, which the condemned prisoners
had the use OF during the day, he rub.
bed shoulders with third convict TN.
der recent sentence Of death. but this
was heavy, sullen, middle aged man
OF the name OF Carter. who sat all day
with his huge head between his cruel
hands and spoke 70 nobody, nor did
either youth venture to speak to him.
Overhead there was another day
room and eleven more prisoners under
sentence nominally capital, but these
were morally certain Of reprieve and
could be heard playing leap frog and
larklng and singing from morning till
night
II wish we were up there" said
Creasey mournfully. But wait bit;
the yards for US the same as for
them when it's exercise time. and then
there'll be q BIT o. fun for Us air.
The bit OF fun essayed by Creasey
was openly to incitc the eleven jovial
spirits from upstairs to badger Tom
and put him In a rage But by this
time Erichsen's reputation in Newgate
was such that the plot fell through for
want Of supporters. Tom shrugged
bis shoulders at the petty treachery
and was treated by Creasey with q sly
servillty when they were locked Up to.
gether once more. Meanwhile the bur.
den Of the day had been lIghtened By
several visitors and as many private
interviews.
Str. Macmurdc, the surgeon. and Mr..
Cotton. the ordinary Of Newgate. had
both shown Tom the klndest atten.
tons. He could see. however. that
each regarded him a. a man only too
Justly sentenced to death. The sur.
geon offered to use his influence In the
matter Of separate cell at nights. |
Tom would not hear OF Il.
mo. no." said he; ''lt would be a
poor kindness. though thank ron
with all my heart for the thought. The |
greatest rufEian In the jail would be a |