Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-28

capped the eve OF the warden himself, as
l was soon to know. One day. about the
| middle of December, I was summoned to
his private office. and I went, wondering
on the way what he could want with me.
l was about to stand in the presence OF
! a king-I use the word advisedly. as the
man who Is the supreme authority In
great prison is almost the lord Of life and
death. the nearest approach to an auto
crat that know.
The warden was sitting at his desk, but
he was not at work He leaned back IN
his chair and drew lazy whiffs at his pipe.
He looked at me a moment or two In ST.
lence when stood before him, and l said
respectfully. You wished to see me. slr?'
Yes, Johnson" he req lied at last. I've
been hearing good reports Of you, and
I've noticed myself that you work hard
and conduct yourself we'll. You certainly
earn your bread here"
He laughed dryly. Earlier should have
flushed deeply at the allusion. but in a
prison. however delicate the sensibilities,
| one grows hardened to much.
II have tried to do SO" replied quietly.
Yes. / think you have. and that is why
I've had you to come here. You look
and act like man Of education and re-
finement. What caused you to turn bur-
glar l don't know and I don't ask, but in
this place as we'll as elsewhere there are
rewards. and punishments You are doing
the hardest kind of work in the black
smith shop. / want to release you from
that and put you to keeping the prison
books. That at least is work for-for-"
He hesitated and when I smiled he
added:
For a gentleman"
I was forced to smile again and this
time 1t was at a startling incongruity.
He was offering work for gentleman.
and that gentleman a convict within the
walls of a penitentiary, yet I saw that
he meant it, and I was not ungrateful.
rs the liberty Of choice left to me?" !
asked.
Yes"
Then wish to stick to the blacksmith,
shop. 1 am used to the work there. and
for certain reasons it suits me. 1t is
healthy"
Beyond a doubt it is healthy" he said,
| and we both smiled
You have made your choice. but you
are an odd man. Johnson" he continued,
Il have had few prisoners here-none
perhaps-who seemed to me to be just of
your type
We are all unlike 1 said. and then I
added Il do not wish you to think. sir,
that l am ungrateful for your kindness
and consideration
.Oh, you're welcome to It," he said.
I turned to go and then came an after
thought.
Gould 1 say word for friend?" /
Yes" he replied. looking at me in some
wonder.
Then should like to ask you for your
Intervention. If possible, in behalf of my
cell mate. Elias Peabody. He is from the
mountains. and there is nothing wicked
In him. His crime. If crime it be, had
something to do with the revenue laws in
such a way that it fell under the jurisdic-
ton of the state and not Of the United
States. The governor has the power of
pardoning or of committing a sentence.
won't you say word to him in behalf
Of Peabody?'
I spoke rapidly and earnestly because
my heart was in the appeal and the
warden. remaining silent moment or
two. gave me so searching a look that l
flushed.
Why don't you ask for clemency on
your own account. Johnson" he said,
you might get it,
Peabody needs it more" 1 replied.
''I'll see that he has it," he said and he
turned back to his desk
I walked from his Office into the prison
yard, and stood there little while be-
fore going into the blacksmith shop on
the far side 1t was a gray day with
lowering clouds from the NORTH but I
knew that the world beyond the walls
was beautiful. 1 was tempted to go back
to the warden and seek his influence in
favor Of communication, but 1 put down
the impulse which would have been a
treason to Elias.
When I left the blacksmith shop that
evening and returned to our cell / found
that Elias was not we'll He seemed thin,
peaked and sallow. but he assured me it
was no sickness.
I'm just longin' for the mountains.
legs over twenty miles Of space" he said.
II think you'll be free before long,
Elias said. and I really meant it.
(To be continued tomorrow