The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-09
CHAPTER XXI.
- md SOLITARY.


~uE, captain of the yard stepped
back when Phil threatened him.
His arm dropped 10 his side and
the cane fell at his feet.
Then. with an ugly leer. he approached
the prisoner again.
You'll regret this, No. SSSl. l didn
strike Won because 1 know something
that will be a lot better for you, he
said. Il know your caliber now, and /
have many ways of treating such lei
Turning TO the guard he gave him. a
significant look, and then continued TO
Phil:
this thing over. I'm going TO give you
five days in the solitary. When You
come GU. 1 hope to see you more tract
able.
phil made no reply. He had heard of
the horrors OF solitary confinement
Take him away ordered the cap
tain, with a sweep Of his hand.
Phil was led out of the Office through
q long bGilding and finally they came to
a stop before a circular structure of
solid brick From the dismal aspect OF
the place Phil knew IL to be the soil
tary,'' of which he had so often heard.
The guard produced key he had
taken from a nail in the yard office and
opened the big outer door They step
ped through a short passage and stop
When this was opened Phil was showed
in without ceremony, and the door vas
slammed and locked after him.
He was alone. Very much alone
Daring had never conceived such utter
blackness as he found IN the cell. It
was horrible
When he tried 10 walk across the
floor he found himself suddenly whirl-
ing about with a dizzy sensation. 1t
was impossible 10 walk straight. He
felt that he was Keeling like drunk
en- man.
Soon Phil bumped up against the
farther wall. How hard and tough it
felt. He circled around il, guided by
one hand. II was impossible for Tim
to gauge the size OF his cell, but he
knew that il was large and built in
the form of a circle.
At length, utterly weary, he sank
10 the smooth floor and lay PROSTATE.
Suddenly he was sitting up. gasping
for breath. II seemed that he could not
get any air As a matter OF fact the
ventilation was good, but the darkness
caused strange vagaries Of fancy.
After long hour OF effort in try
ing to calm himself. Phil fell TO think
ing what he could do TO occupy his
time and keep his mind from becoming
a blank.
He remembered having heard some
where that prisoners in solitary con-
finement invented many interesting
games TO while away the time and keep
their brains busy.
He tried 10 think Of something 10 do
The situation offered but little.
There he lay in the middle Of a big
bare, brick room There was nothing at
hand with which he could amuse him
self, and yet he knew that something
to occupy mis- mind must be discovered
or he would break down.
Suddenly thought occurred to him
Pulling himself 10 a sitting posture. he
nervously united the string TO one Of
his shoes.
Il was a stout, thick cord. and Phil
pulled ii through the metal eyes eager
~, for the thought had given him a
chance 10 entertain himself and keen
his mind busy.
At length the shoestring was in his
hand. DexteToUsly. Phil made loon
knot ia one end and through that drew
the other end. This made a perfect
slip moose. Then the prisoner held his
tiny lassO in his right hand and thrust
the left arm out straight from his body.
He had originated little game 10
while away tie hours and keen his
Imagination from working too steadily.
The object Of the game was to lassO
the forehnGer on his left hand, which
he held up straight each time that the
lassO was ready 10 throw.
of course, ne could see nothing and
had 10 rely wholly upon his sense of
direction in aiming AT the finger At