The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-10
CHAPTER XIII.

AN INCORRIGIBLE CONVICT
He captain of the yard was not In
his office when Phil Daring was
taken there. So the prisoner was
shown to a narrow, hard bench
where he waited for the officer TO re-
turn.
Trusty No. TN came into the room
and cast a curious glance at Daring.
More troubIe?'' he asked the guard
who was waiting to make complaint.
Eyes. I don't know what well do with
him. He's the most incorrigible con-
vict we've had for some time. Always
picking a fight"
Phil smiled cynically TO himself. How
thew distorted the facts! Not once had
ne. been in the wrong; yet he had earned
an unenviable reputation in prison, and
ne would DOUBTLESS have to suffer from
it.
How he wished that he dared TO ask
for his mail He was almost sure there
must be a letter for him, yet he knew
that they would not hand it over while
he was in disgrace.
He took A VOW TO let anybody and
everybody walk over him in the future.
It did no good for him to assert him
self: he always got into trouble.
Bradshaw was responsible for most
of II. The man was taking a mean
advantage Of their changed positions.
But * would do no good for him to
attempt TO tell the captain that
While Phil sat thinking thus gioOmiiy
the prisons chief officer stamped into
the room and shot his keen eyes around,
taking in every detail
When his eyes rested on Daring ne
dropped his hands with q gesture of
utter despair
what! You here again?' he cried.
Daring made no answer.
What Is It this timer the captain
asked of the guard.
..Fightin'" was the laconic reply.
I'VE ought to. send 1881 around the
world as a pugilistic star; think we
could make money out of him. said
the captain. cycling Phil.
He's a mean one, all right" put in
the guard.
PhiFs lips curicd. He began to see
that when Il man is accused OF wrong
he never gets the benefit OF the DOUBT
ana after that there is no chance Tor
He wondered II when ne got out peo-
pie would still treat him Ike criminal F.;
and then the thought came 70 him sud
denly, that II his release did not come
Let's see" unused the captain. NO.
SSN, I think IT would do you good to
consider all you've done since you We
First you tried to walk out Of the
door because il was unlocked. That
was the day you came here. Ihen you
had a fight with your celimate and at
tackled No. III IN the bathroom After
that YOU we're caught with tools stolen
from your bench. Then you were put
in solitary aud had to pick a fight
there"
As the captain recounted Pills his
tory his voice became moro low and
mean in tone; Daring stood looking at
him with as n dch calmness as he could
That won't do cried the captain
suddenly. We've got to tame you and
tame you right row
he broke Of and looked square at
Phil for a long interval
DO YOU know what / am going 20 DO
with YOU No. SSSl2" was his question,
when he had finished.
wei, I'm going to have You whip
@Whipped?" cried Phil in astonish-
ment
yes. twenty lashes at the whipping
post. was the quick reply
Daring staggered back.
DO you think you'll behave after
that2''
i've behaved right along" answered
Daring hOtly-
III thats what you call behaving
scof1ed the officer, I'D hate 10 see you
when you're acting up
You may nave the pleasure Of wit
Messing that. tOO,' said Phil calmly, 1T
you go too far
What do you mean?'- cried the cap
tain, his face daTkening.
Il mean that I'm apt TO fly of Fhe
handle If ycu try any tnhumau punish
ment on me-
You'll talk differently when you
come back from the whipping post"
wen wait and see" was the pris-
Oner's quick reply.
"Coufound youi" beloved the cap
tain, beginning 10 lose his temper. IF
YOU answer back again I'll take your
copper away. Nothing seems to do
you any good. You are the most In
cOrrigible man we ever had here.
Again the smile flickered over Phil s
/ face. How they misunderstood him. 1t
was more painful for him TO have to
fight than anything ne could imagine,
particularly 10 be forced TO fight with
his uncle's eX-coachnIaH Yet they
blamed IL all on him and seemed TO
think that no Teveled v blood