Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-11
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

with sunshine, and we stood in the same
yard, across which had marched thou
sand times in striped suit and with
hair cropped. The same warden who had
received me and who had given me back
my money and civilian clothing when l
left led us now. 1t seemed to me that he
had not changed particle, the same
iron-gray hair, the same keen but kindly
gray eyes, and if / had counted the wrin-
kles In his face l should probably have
found them the same in number / was
introduced to him and I shook hands
with him. but took care not to give him
a strong grip. He looked pleasantly into
my face, but he did not know me from
Adam.
We prowled about sometimes with the
warden and sometimes without him: occa-
sionally a member of our party left the
main body and hunted around alone. hop
ing to find a hidden horror. but my inter-
est was far different. l could tell my as
sociates more about the prison and prison
life than they would learn In a hundred
years from such trips as this, and the
thought actually gave me feeling of
superiority,
We passed more than one convict whom
knew we'll. An old 'lifer'' named Walk
err was bold enough to ask me for chew
of tobacco. In the old times L had OBJ
tanned tobacco for him more than once.
and now, borrowing a plug from MEM
Der of our party who chewed, | presented
it to him. He thanked me and shuff1ed
away like the warden. not knowing me
from Adam
Our wanderings took us bye and bye to-
ward the blacksmith shop 1t is possible
that indirectly l led the way thither,
drawn by the strong attraction old asso-
Citations always have for us. 1t gave me
strange thrill when I went into the
place. The great bellows was going and
the bed of Goals fared into white heat
Hammers were ringing on iron with
steady rhythmic beat. but they stopped
when we entered. The warden was telling
us about the methods of the place and was
giving us the names of the men who
worked there Four of them l knew. and
one. stalwart scoundrel named Carter.
from the western part of the state. had
been second to me with the great sledge
in my day. Now l OWNED at once that he
was my successor with that massive tool.
i looked about and walked hither and
thither while the warden talked, and
when I at last came back to the little
group which he was addressing 1 paid
heed to his words because he was speak
ing of things that affected me.
This has always been one of our least
troublesome departments, he was say
ing. Il think the physical labor the
regular beat of the hammers and the
vivid colors of the fires have soothing
effect upon the men, OF course that
seems far-fetched. but l am inclined to
believe in it..
I did not doubt his theory at all.
knew it to be true. Who should know
better.
I'VE also have here something that
marks achievement continued the war
den. land it is this great sledge. The
man who can swing it is the real king
of the blacksmith shop. Show them
how it is done. Carter"
One of the men with his tongs put
a piece of iron in the Goals. and the man
at the bellows began to pump. The iron
was quickly at a white heat. then it was
taken out and held on the anvil. Carter
meanwhile had been leaning on the great
sledge, satisfied smirk on his face. l
new the scamp-a twenty-year man
strength and would make the best display
he could for the members. Now he lift
ed the huge hammer and beat with
rhythmic stroke upon the iron, spreading
the regular music of the blows and the
great muscles on Carriers arms coiled
and uncoiled as he swung the heavy tool.
When the iron was beaten Nat he let the
hammer drop by his side. and leaned
upon the handle ready to receive the
applause that quickly came.
Harrison felt approvingly of his mus
Gle.
Il suppose few men can swing that
hammer" he said.
Not many replied Carter, with the
calm satisfaction of one who is Of the
chosen few. There amt moren two or
three in the whole place who can do it at
all. But there was man once, real
man. Oh! he was a man. / tell YOU.
"A man once. a real man. we'll. who
was this mann asked Harrison, his
interest. aroused.
/ felt a sudden chilling of the blood,
because I knew what was coming.
1T was Johnson. Charlie Johnson" re-
piled Carter Hes been gone two or
three years nova burglar he was. He
was lighter than me and built more slim.
least ways he looked SO. but he did have
chest like a brick house. l think he
Just naturally turned into iron while he
was here. You ought to have seen him
swing that sledge."
What kind of a man was he, this real
MANI asked Harrison.
l think it was chance question merely
intended to carry on the conversation
do not believe he had the remotest sus-
picion, but my blood chilled again.
Young fellow replied Carter. tall.
good lookin-he came from Louisville. l
think-I kinder liked him. he never did me
no HARM an I'd like to know where he is
now"
1t looked like a startling coincidence.
but 1t was not, the conversation had led
to it almost inevitably and now l turned
lily race away 1IOuI SdIttI, PietcHulHS "
examine things on the other side of the
shop. Yet is was impossible that he
should recognize me, especially in such a
group. Put man in the world in which
he has never been before. in d world
which hitherto has seemed impossible, and
a month later his own brother would not
know him. AS 1 stood thus, with my face
turned away, all my courage came back
and with a certain hardy defiance, melted,
perhaps, by what the warden was just
then saying. / felt as II challenge were
being made to me- and. as there Is a
reckless strain in us all / was ready to
respond.
would any of you gentlemen like to
try the hammer, and see how heavy 1t
is?'' the warden was asking.
Harrison shrugged his shoulders
Thank you no. he said. lit is beyond
my aspirations"
Peden seized the handle in tight grasp
and swung the hammer once or twice on
the anvil, but it was obviously with an
effort and he put it down again. pantingi
ut proves to me that Pm a farmer and
not a blacksmith" he said, I've enough.
What do you think you could do Clarke ?
With shoulders and chest like yours you
ought to have a lot of strength"
Maybe I have" l said recklessly. AT
any rate I'll try
seizing the handle, / swung the hammer
lightly aloft. The old familiar feel of 1t.
| familiar despite time passed, sent a singu-
lar thrill through me. For the moment
was companion to Carter the convict a
brother convict, and l was full of pride
| because / could WELD the great sledge so
easily NV muscles frightened and my