davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
CHAPTER XXXIV
ACROSS THE CORRIDOR.

ACROSS THE CORRIDOR
Go THE tiQe passed. Phil PLAYED Nit, NTH
~ his newspaper and thought Of little
else. He heard nothing from home:
Evidently his mail was held PACK, II
there were any, on account OF the news
that might be in 1t.
Daring found that they were much
more careful in this respect with the
men in the condemned cells. =
He had been here for a month"; ana
had grown to know each man by MS
voice. although he had seen but one Or
As Yet. none had passed through the
little door at the end of the corridor.
But in the fifth week the man In the
cell across the passage from PHI was
destined 10 so through the little portal
from which no prisoner ever returned
That week the paper had more SOM
Der tone. There were fewer Jokes, ana
the noise OF the condemned wing was
At length the day of the mans exc
cution came. He sent the guard from
cell TO cell with little souvenirs for
his fellow prisoners TO remember him
by.
It was a sad day, hard one. But
when 1t was passed and the cell across
the corridor was empty, things took
their natural course and the paper came
out as usual, fun of trifting jokes that
would have grated the day before.
Daring brooded quite little over the
disappearance of the man III the oppo-
site cell. He could picture himself be-
ing led out In the same way through
the little door to the electric chair. It
caused him TO think and plan in crafty
way that was new to him
The Pickering of an ides had been re-
volving in Phtl's head ever since that
day. 1t was that Of escape. He nuTsed
it, and allowed his imagination to work
upon II until il became quite real.
1t was novel scheme he had plan
ned, and he had no hope of ever using
the plan, but IL was always there 10
be thought of. No one had ever tried
To escape in exactly the same way
that Daring had planned. and he liked
to~iie and think of il at night.
AS to the actual accomplishment of
the thing, he thought little of that;
the possibility alone was what inter
ested him.
Even as he worked on the prison
paper the thing kept running through
his mind. II seemed such a sure plan.
And vet, what good would it Go him TO
get out His life was blasted. There
was nothing in the outside world for
him now. There would be no one
there to welcome him.
About that time q parody came out
eddy the prisoners. 1t was There
will be One Vacant Cell" by the
ghost of the man who wrote. There
viii be One Vacant Chair.
II had 70 deal with the empty cell
across the corridor from Phil and
the thought was cleVerly brought out.
The printing@of this poem brought
same thing, and the vacant cell soon
became the topic OF conversation.
The cell remained vacant for ten
DAVIS
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
By ROBERT CARLTON BROWN
-AUTHOR OF--==
1.-THE BURDEN OF PROOF

Meanwhile the same idea of escape
was smoideTing IN PhiiS nina t1e
thought of 1t continually, in very
morbid manner. His imagira ion kept
adding details, and one day he Iouna
himself actually making preparations
for II.
That startled him. He awoke to the
realization of what a hold the idea nad
got of him, and tried to fight II on; iof
he did not want to escape; there was
Cothing that he wanted to get out TOT.
He was far safer and better on IN
the condemned cell. Some time ne
would take little walk down the cor
rldor and disappear through the door,
then II would be all over.
Had it not been for the prison paper.
Phil's thoughts might have got the up
per hand and he might have been led
as that was favorite trend of thought
in the @Iace
In his pessimistic moments he re-
lieved himself by writing for the Muir
derer's Fireside Companion.
He began to make epigran2s that were
well received by the prisoners one
that tickled them immensely was:
Murder viii get out. but murderer
It was strange to Daring that these
men liked best jokes about themselves
and their crime. The jury was car
TONED every time the paper came out.
Some of the cartoons were good
One represented the jury as twelve
men in football clothes. The football
was the prisoner. and the dozen men
were kicking IL about for all they were
worth, trying to get it over the goal
into a space marked ''iail"
A few days passed <and the cell
across the corridor Mad been empty
for over two weeks. Every man was
anxious 10 see somebody occupy IT,
They wanted the number complete. as
IL had been. so they would not have
10 think of the man that had occupied
It. and what had become Of him.
There was great excitement in the
room when two guards entered alb
ruptiy with scrub pals and soap. The
empty cell was cleaned out, and new
blankets put in
The prisoners watched eagerly, and
continually questioned the Guard.
Yes" he admitted. there's a new
one to be brought in today. We had
orders to get ready for him.
Then the men fell to drawing i'm
aginarv pictures of the new prisoner
and writing jokes about him.
One had a pictuee Of a fuli-bearded
Russian. with long hair on the top of
his head, and the prison barber, a
funny little Frenchman, that they all
liked. was working franticaIly at the
mass Of hair, and finding vent for his
annoyance in a sting Of French 0athS.
Every man w tched eagerly all day
long for the advent OF the new prisoner.
It always proved to be great event.
and a thousand speculatiOns were made
concerning him
Il was one large family, and they
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15

things
At length another guard entered hur-
Tiedly and gave signal to the regular
Got to put the blinds down now
coYs, said this man, rising and lower
ing. the Shade on the first cell
MS ne e2ming2" queried several
Tel him to stick around while
Give him a royal welcome. so he'll
want TO STAY" remarked the cartoonist,
"oh. he'll want TO stay all right when
he sees himself larnpooned in the prison
paper. laughed Phi.
That's right. We're apt TO see an
explosion returned the attendant as
he carefully pulled down all the blinds.
Here he conIes!" shouted one of the
men, and a heavy silence fell on the
room.
pairing listened closely He heard ths
'chek-clacks of an attendants felt
sOies, and then a peculiar light sprinsy
step that he recognized.
Dropping fiat on the floor OF his cell
ne tried to peer beneath the blind that
was tightly drewn.
He could make out nothing but feet.
and from those he could rot make cst
anything.
Suddenly the voice Of the new prisoner
was borne 20 Pills ear.
II there Is any mail wilt I get Il
here2" asked the man.
l'tilHB ; HedIt jumped lie knew that
voice. II could belong TO no other.
| Could IS be possible that the new pris-
oner In the cell across the corridor
was
At that moment Phn's curtain was
snapped up.
He got quickly 20 his feet, flushing.
.Playin' a game OF hide and seek 80
| asked the guard good naturally, for
they were not at all strict with men
/ that were to be killed almoss any day
Looked that way, didn't it?" grinned
Fhil, sheepishly.
yep" was the reply. IN tell Tommy
about it, and he'll cartoon you in to-
morrow's paper"
Yes, and as editor, I'll reject The
cartoon" replied Phil in z loud voice 80
that the man across the corridor. could
hear
Phil knew that he had recognized the
man Dy his voice, for as Daring smoke
there. was quick movement in the
curtained cell opposite, Vhica showed
that the new man hid heard and
| recognized Phils voice, too.
The Continuation of This story VIII
Be Found I'm Tomorroyy's Edi-
fiOn of The Times.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
MISS adams FIRST
WOMAN PRESIDENT
Chosen Head of National
Charities-Judge De Lacy
i Third Vice President.

BUFFALO. y. Y, June 15.-Miss Jane
Adams. OF Hull House. Chicago. is the
president OF the National Conference
OF Charities and Core sion Tor 1910. i.
The election was unanimous This is
The first time in the history of the con-
ference. covering thirty-siS years. that
a woman has been at the head OF the
organization.
The other officers elected were: First
vice president, K. H. Nibecker; Glen
Mills. Penn; second vice president, Ans
ley Wilcox. Buffalo. y. Y; third vice
president. Judge Willl2m II. De Lacy.
Washington, ID. c.; general secretary,
Alexander Johnson. Fort Wayne. Ind:
executive committee. ". Gates. san
Francisco: Frederick a. Gavisz, Indian
apolis; A W. GutTidge, St. Paul: c. NJ
Hubbard, Cincinnati: A. ]. Mckelway,
Atlanta: ". H. MeLain, St. Louis; Jul
ian Mack. Chicago; Max Senior, Ciucin-
natl: Col. Thomas d. Osborne. Louis
vile. and Miss Mary Perry. ST, Louis.
Speakingon public recreation this
York. announced that one of the great
est factors In constructive philanthropy
Is the provision for public recreation,
not the reViYals OF past recreauons, '
he said, but the intelligent lnteTpreLa 70
tion of the possibilities present in mod
ern life. such as the constructive use Of
lecture halls, parks, art work shops,
Libraries public baths, splendid streets
and buildings.
The Rev. :. Friedman. president of
the Denver board of charities. declared
that a great wrong was done by sending
advanced consumptive patients away
from home to health resorts.
Edward Soicnbergers OF Pennsylvania,
and others also spoke.
At the general session F. A Fetter,
of Cornell University, delivered an adj
dress on 1.-THE Comparative Study OF
the State Board of Charities and Cor
rections in the United States"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15

and Phil snaIy selected the one that
seemed most expressive.
The paper was called The Munietef
Fireside Companion.
The first number was a great success.
But one copy was issued, ai.u PM
printed that laboriously with the color
ed crayons.
one of the prisoners, who was COM
mercial artist, made the humorous
draw .ngs. and every man contributed
some choice bit.
It was wonderfully well received by
the men. and vote was taken In winch
II was decided that the paper should be
published every other day.
Phil threw himself into the work
gladly, for it helped to keep his mind
of the little door at the enc of the corr
ridor.
Every half hour or so the attendant
would stop at Phil's cell and hand in
various manuscripts from the other pris-
oners Phil would read them carefully,
reject those that did not appeal to him.
and then read aloud those he had re-
jected, so that no man would feel hurt
in not seeing his contribution in print.
Daring knew each man by his voice,
but he had not seen a single one of
them. One of the rules in the condemn
ed ring was that the prisoners should
not see each other any more than neces-
sary.
Each cell was provided With curtain
that was drawn down to the floor when
one of the men was taking his exercise
in the corridor. Also, whenever a new
prisoner was led in the curtains were
drawn so that none should see his face.
II was a peculiar provision, and yet
the men were murderers, and such peo-
pie do not care to be stared az.
The MurdereT's F1reside Companion
became a great success. Its 5 1scrip-
tion never grew. but il became more
and more popular each lay among the
select gathering that read Il.
Il was a godsend to Phil. He las
awake nights thinking up funny poetry
to insert In the columns Nothing but
humor or sarcasm was re, lshed by the
men.
The efforts were crude, but amusing
LimeriCks, jokes, and jingles Continued
q flow into the editorial office. Then
Phil would take the best and carefully
sheet. After that was finished the
guard would take Il and pass il from
one cell to the other, after reading II
himself and laughing good humoredly
A joke would last the men Cor a
day or two. II a Jingle struck them
just right they would learn il and
everybody would roar with merriment
one Jingle. written bv the man whC
drew the colored pictures, made bis
hit;
A little boy went in a barn
And lay down on some hay;
He had just smoked his first cigar,
That's why he felt that way.
The next day a parody came out
which immediately became popular De
cause it poked fun at State" the
name by which the rank tobacco fur
nished to the prisoners was known. II
was called state because the Sta =
print The word State in the prison
paper l. the great amusement of the
conviess.
A little Con died in his cell.
Heart failure" papers say.
That weren't the cause at all-weil.
Bed been smokin State that day
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
PLAY GAME OF BALL
BY ELECTRIC LIGHT

CINCINNATI, June I5.-BasebaH by
electric light was given a try-out al
League Park last night Immense re-
mated the field
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
WANTED---TO BORROW
SIS FOR ALIMONY
Failure to Obey Instructions of
Juvenile Court Causing Robert
worett Some Worry.

There Is only one sure way 10 beat
the Juvenile Court and that is o-obey
its commands to the letter, all of which
was proven when Robert r. AVorett
came up before Judge CSllan charged
by his wife with failure 20 pay her the
SIS a month which the cOurt had order
ed him TO pay.
ST paid the store bin and lots OF
other little bills for her, judge. said
WOretL 7 haven't any money now.
VIII you 60 back ard live with her
again" inquired the judge.
I don't see how I can, judge, after
she's had me arrested this way
"KNhy didn't you give her the s25
you promised here"
II paid the store bill and other bills
and kept her ali last month, judge. e"
replied Worett
well, you'll have 10 pay her that
money. III give you until tomorrow
night TO bring it in. You promised 10
pay 1t and you'll have TO do it."
So Worett, VINO failed TO comply with
the Juvenile Courts commands is look
ing for some one 10 lend him So.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15

Their humor was developed, but
food for conversation days on end.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
svnOpsis of Chapters Already Published

Paul Daring and Bob Stevens. two
cousins. are accused of the murder OF
their rich uncle. VINO. on the night OF the
crime was about TO change his viii IN
favor OF Phil. Bob having proven IN
worthy Bob manages 10 throw suspl-
cion on Phil who. after trial. IS SEN
fenced to thirty years in States prison.
His celImate there is Bradshaw, " no
hates Phil because on his testimony ~
was convicted OF stealing and sentehced
70 a ten-year term. Pills trials AT the
prison are many. and through no fault OF
his own he becomes known as an az
r,rrIqible convict and receives the badge OF
of ghame-red stripes. Letters from hts
sweetheart, Alice Arlington, tell nm ma
her family is forcing her to marry SOD
tborsrb thew know her heart IS PM e
He hears of a plan to escape from prison,
and on the night of the attempt Boes 20
the rescue OF an unsuspecting guard VIM
Is about TO be murdered He Is accused
Of numbering the guard and put on tTlal
for his life. There seems niue Hope A9L
him and as the Jury retires letter IS
,1acpd IN his hands.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
Ocean City, n. ].
New York.
Rhode Island.
THE THORNDIKE

JAMESTOWN. r L Open June q.
DELIGHTFULLY."- situated the Bay, directly
opposite Newport Fine Bathing Fishing
and Sailing Single rooms $40 to 81 per
week Get Szeur reservations Write for Book
let. GEO. B. SELOVER. Proprietor.
my9-Su, tn. th-3Ot
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
FEW COLORED VOTERS
BEING REGISTERED
Disfranchised by New Municipal
Law of Annapolis, Democratic
Managers Allege.
Managers Allege.

ANNAPOLIS. Nd. June 15.-The Dem
ocratic managers say that under the
new municipal registt alton law all but
81 Of the $50 cOlorcd voters in this city
will be disfrauchised-
The registration open 4 yesterday and
Will come TO an end I is evening. The
total registration up 20 the time the
booths were opened this morning was
- OF which 10 were cOiored-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
SIS, 600 FIRE LOSS
IN WISE, VIRGINIA
Flames Start in Hotel and Sweep
Over Most of Business
Section
Section.

BIG STONE GAP, Va, June "a
fire which broke out in the Miller
House, a leading hotel of Wise. the
county seat, nineteen miles north Of
here, quickly got beyond control and
swept over most Of the business sec
ton Of the town. causing $4,000 loss,
about one-tHird OF the loss being COW
cred BY insurance.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
$500 &c ID Connecticut.

MOSSUP, Conn. June 1.-THE +. T.
Salisbury block in the business center
Of this place, and ia whics were 10
Gated a bowling alley, twJ stores.
was burned. The loss is about $50 900,
with partial insurance.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-21

Five residences are 10 be built at the
northeast corner OF Twelfth and I
streets northeast by the H R Howen-
stein Company. II Is intended to have
them completed and on the market by
June 1.
The houses are to contain six and
eight rooms and q bath each. They
viii be constructed of steel and modern
ly equipped IN every respect
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-21
WORK SOON BEGINS
ON HOME FOR AGED
John Dickson Memorial Will
Be Built on Fourteenth
Street Extended.

Following the purchase Of an entire
block Of ground north of Saurs sub
division, Fourteenth street extended, by
the estate of the late Henry Dickson.
announcement has been made that
plans Will be drawn at once for the
erection on the property of the John
Dickson Home for Aged Men The
building, which is TO be built with
money left by Henry Dickson for the
erection Of a home in honor of his
father, viii cost not less than SIC, 900.
John Joy Edison represented the estate
In the purchase of the land, which was
made through the real estate office of
Easiey & Hill. for S26,5OO The tract
is bounded by Fourteenth street ex-
tended on the east, by Piney Branch
road on the west, and Emerson and
Gallatin streets, respectively. on the
south and north.
1t is announced that a board of tr11s-
tees for the home will be appointed
within a few days
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-21
Boys Highly Praised as They
March Past Executive
in EllipSe.
COL. ROSS THROWN
TO THE PAVEMENT
Commander Sticks to His Post
Till Services Are All
Finished.
,ers of the High school Cadets are

Members Of the High School Cadets are
happy today because of the compliment
paid them by President Taft, and De-
cause Col. Burton r. Ross, their COM
rnander, is recovering rapidly from his
injuries.
"A splendid exhibition, and one that
does credit TO the entire school sys-
tenn OF the District, the President is
quoted as saying after he had review
ed the parade Of the high school soldier
boys IN the Ellipse south OF the White
House yesterday evening.
Nearly 10000 persons witnessed the
review by the President, and as many
more probably saw the march up Penn
sylvania avenue to Seventeenth street
in spite Of the threatening weather.
The parade was in reality the cadets
portion of the inaugural ceremonies.
Owing to the weather on Aarch 4. the
cadets, being without overcoaJs, --er4
not permitted to march.
In Presidents Party.
The President rode his new horse,
taft" He was accompanied by Capt.
Archibald W. Butt and Col. Spencer
f. Cosby. Both OF the officers ap-
peared in full dress and the President
wore a brown riding suit. brown put
tees. and brown gauntlets, his "regu-
lation'' riding uniform. Behind the
Presidents reviewing stand" which
was nothing more than one particular
spot in the Enipse. stood. during the
review, Capt. James f. oyster, presi-
dent of the Board OF Education; SUI
nerintendent of Schools Stewart, Assist
ant Superintendent Hughes, and the
principals OF several high schools.
The Philippine CCnstabulary Band,
which marched at the head of the col
umn, was the object Of every small
boys interest along the route. The
President, when he rode past the mu-
slCians, smiled. while they played Hail
10 the Chief
Colonel Ross Injured.
Colonel Ross was injured when bis
horse, slipping on the wet asphalt OF
Seventeenth street. threw him While
his head was cut he refused to go tc
tse Emergency Hospital at the time
and remained at the head OF the ca
diets. After the review Colonel Ross
did go TO the Emergency, where eight
stitches we're taken in one of the
wounds on his head. His condition,
however, Is not serious.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-21
WILL BURY FATHER
AND SON TOGETHER
Funeral of AMI L. Barber and lie
Droit L. Barber to Be
Held Tomorrow.

The funerals of AMI L. Barber and
of his son, LIE Droit Lang Ion Barber,
will be held at II o'clock tomorrow
morning, from Belmont, the Barber
home, at Fourteenth street and Florida
avenue northwest. The bodies Of both
father and son viii be inferred in the
Barber lot at Oak Hill Cemetery.
The son died four years ago, but his
body was placed in a vault.
The services win be cor3ccted by the
Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe. pastor OF
the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church. The paIlbearers will be John
JOY Edison, William b. Cox, John w.
Foster, joan ia Henderson. b. II.
Warner, A. f. Worthington, and DR..
u. T. Sewers.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-21
APPEALS TO TAFT
TO SAVE HIS LIFE
"Ducky Holmes" Asks Clemency.
Department of Justice
Investigates.

Henry L. Schrifogle, known as
"Ducky Holmes" under sentence to be
hanged May. 8 for the murder OF May
Hamilton, has applied to the President
for clemency and the Department of
Justice is investigating the matter. The
petition which Holmes has sent to the
President bears the signatures of all of
the jurors who tried the case last No
in Baltimore, where Holmes formerly
lived.
The petition has been referred to the
District Attorney and the trial judge
for reports as to the facts and recon-
mendationS.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-21
WILL GIVE LECTURE.

Miss Frances Dinsmore, of the Blu
reau of Ethnology, will deliver a lee
ture on the music OF the Chippewa In
dams before the Anthropological So
ciety at the Cosmos Club on Tuesday
evening, April q. This will be the
first meeting of the society under the
officers chosen at the recent election.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-21
ORATORS WILL MEET
IN DEBATE TONIGHT
Georgetown and Notre Dame Will
Hold Oral Battle for
Supremacy.

A debate which will decide the su-
premacy of two universities will take
place between the University of Notre
Dame. Of South BEND, Ind, and George
town University. in CASTOR Hail.
Georgetown. tonight at o'clock.
The question for debate is, Resolved.
That the Federal Government should
control and guarantee all bank deposits
OF national banks" James Sptller.
Thomas +. O'Mara, J. T. Crosby, and
John A. Smith viii represent George
Gown
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-21
EEL WINS BATTLE
HIGH IN THE AIR

OAK ORCHARD. Del. April IA
mid-air fight for life on the part of a
three-foot saltwater eel, made captive
by a hawk here this morning; finally
ended In the release Of the eel.
The battle was won by the eel wrap
ping it's folds around the hawks wings.
rendering Il helpless to fly The eel
was too large for the bird.
Wedding Decorations a Speciality.
Shaffer, 18th & l., uses choicest flowers.
--Adyt-