The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-23
CHAPTER XIX.
THE FINAL FORTNIGHT.


| A NEW feeling sprang up in Phil.
" 1t wasn't that he wanted to
| ~ escape; he wanted Bob to.
But he had no idea where his
cousin was. The guard would tell him
nothing and probably did not know.
The day they moved into new quarters
| Phil had only two weeks left Several
/ hours a day he read his Bible, and when
ne was allowed to exercise he would
pace up and down the corridor and
/ speculate on how easily Bob could jump
/ through that window and Chamber over
the wall.
As for himself he never thought of
doing it now He had become resigned
60 his fate. and the slOWness of its
coming vas the only thing that trri-
tated him.
Although the men were allowed to
/ talk in this new wing, they were much
more closely watched. The attendant
would not allow them to continue their
Murderer's F1reside Companion, and
| they had to be a little more careful
about their talking.
1t made little difference to Phil, for
he had no need of the paper, except 10
use il in communicating with Bob.
Often he remembered the crash that
had followed when the trusty kicked his
cousin He was not sure that il had
not proved fatal.
Four days after they had been in the
new place new prisoner was ushered
in and the regular Initiation began
1t tended TO lven up things Phil re-
membered the times they used to have
/ in the building opposite It was inter
esting to hear Mike, Tommy, and Brad
shaw quiz the new man.
Poor fellow, whoever he was. how hard
he took IL.
Got the price for your cofhn7" Mike
asked him.
Moo. heavens no. shuddered the
wretch. What do you mean?"
You don't think the States goir' to
bury you, DO VOuE asked Mike.
You mean that we must provide our
own cohins here2' cried, the new con-
Wet y no evidently was unwise in the
ways of prisons and prisoners.
Sure! The day you go to the chair
they make you carry in your coffin on
your back. It's a regular rule Nike
explained deliberately.
The guard passed down the .aisle with
smile on his face. Evidently he en-
joyed the foOling.
To Phil it was hideous. He remember
ed his own first day In the condemned
cell and sympathized with the poor fell
low
The new prisoner, frightened b. Mixes
jocular attempts, remained silent in his
cell
The little episode furnished food for
thought 10 Daring. No wonder so many
Of the men saged up in this wing tried
10 commit suicide. He remembered his
own black thoughts on the subject.
The jollying Of the new man cOntin-
ued
Did YOU ever see the electric chair2"
asked Bradshaw.
NO" Wavered the victim.
Didn't, heb? Well, its a very beauti-
ful thing. They have needles in the seat
Of il. You have 70 sit on those and then
the shock is sent through them and sou
die in an hour or So
THAT can't be true, cried the other
1t is. - affirmed Tommy
Phil had often wondered what ias
cinatiOn the men found in this kind
Of Talk.
Their position was too horrible 10
Daring fo- him to Jest about, but the
others had no such scrupIes
To-day is shaving DAY, isn't it2 queri-
ed BRADSHAW.
Yes" answered the guard. The
barber will be here in half an hour"
Want 20 watch out FOR the prison
barber. matey." Mike sang out 10 the
new man Hes apt TO feel faCetiOus
an cut your throat when he's Shawn
you. II don't make no difference TO
him an a prisoner more or less don Z
count for much"
The novice shuddered, but made no
reply.
Late Phil heard him sobbing in his
cell
The human Niagara" cried Tommy.
! Come on in, gents, an see the human
Niagara. in actual operation"
But the man who had broken down
was too far gone to hear or understand
the remark.
Come on, boys. let up on him." urg-