The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-08

T INTERVALS during the night
" Phil heard the strange sound
~ below He peered over the edge
of his bunk TO see what Brad
shaw was working on. But his cellmate
was hidden from view among the bed
clothes underneath.
Suddenly the thought of that needle
Bradshaw had broken in two came to
PhiTs mind. What had become of the
other piece? He had also noticed that
Bradshaw had played with small thin
file in the shop the day before. Could
il be that rs cellmate was making an
effort to escape?'
In the morning neither spoke. It was
a great relief TO Daring. But the looks
that Bradshaw give him every time he
caught his eye caused him to wonder.
After breakfast Phil lined up with
the others for the march to the shoe
shop. But a passing guard ordered him
long snake-iike body of men wound its
way out of the building.
Then the attendant took him by the
arm and hurried him again to the cap
tains Office.
That official was waiting for him
I've been thinking some Of your
case" We're the captains first words
Ordinarily. I would give YOU a few
days in solitary to let you know what
punishment is. I'm going to be lenient.
The officiaTs jetty little eyes peered at
Phil, making the latter feel most IN
comfortable
''Trusty No. iii was telling me. too,
that you wandered out of your cell on
your first day" the other went on.
7 didn't I just touched the door and
it
Don't talk backi' ordered the cap
tain in an ugly manner. I'm afraid
you've got too much spirit for a place
like this. Discipline is what we de-
mand here and its what we get
Phil thought of Bradshaw suddenly.
Surely his cell-mate had been as much
TO blame for the tight as he
'Remem Der" the captain continued,
I'm being lenient with you just to see
what viii come Of it. If YOU step over
the bounds in the slightest way again
you go to the solitary, or maybe the
whipping post. ! think from your
looks, No. SSS1, that you'n be init
mately acquainted with both before
your stay here is out"
Phil WINGED. Was il possible that
they had whipDing-pOst in the peni-
tentiary2 He had never heard of that.
Piqued by the prisoners silence the
captain broke out:
ado YOU understand me2"
yes" answered Phil simply.
Then the official waved his hand
and No. SSS1 was led back to the
shoe factory. thousand thoughts OPP
Bradshaw gave him an evil grin as
he took his place at the bench beside
him.
Phil was thankful that his ceIlmate
did not make any effort 10 converse
Instead, the man worked on Sullenly,
and after his first look at Daring paid
no more attention TO his presence
1t was 4 miserable day for Phil. He
remembered the threat that Bradshaw
had made. He knew that the man 8
mean nature would give him no rest
until he had got even
What was the dIing for? He wished
that in some way he could find out
what Bradshaw's purpose was.
That night his cellmste made no at
tempt at conversation. Phil jumped in
TO his upper bunk and reread his letters.
The man below was quiet
In an hour or two silence reigned in
the place, and PHI dozen on. He had
taken slight cold the night before
from the fight in the bathroom. A
1T of coughing awakened him
He opened his eyes and lay still for
some moments. From the low lights in
the corridor Phil figured that IL must be
after y. The coughing having passed,
he turned over and composed himself
for sleep.
Quarter of an hour later he was just
dropping of when the ''click-clack'' OF
a guards soft shoes attracted him. The
man passed and then silence Teigned
Phil had not moved. The sleepy feel
ing stole over him again, and he was
Just about TO dozen on. when the sound
he had heard the night before suddenly
broke on his ears.
This time he did not start Up in bed
His heart leaped and his blood pulsed
madly, but he controlled himself
''ZZZZz-. ZZZZz-. ZZzzZ
The sounds were scarcely audible, Phil
felt rather than heard them. They
seemed 10 vibrate through the springs
10 his bed. and the sound was low,
droOning. Daring was sure that they
could not be heard outside the cell.
For fifteen minutes he lay GREATNESS,
listening to the file biting through some
metallic object.
Then there was a sudden silence In
moment the patter Of a guard shoes
was heard down the corridor. Two min
utes later the footsteps returned. and
again all was silent
It was not long before the file below
began 10 vibrats again