The Washington times., 1909-06-11
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BADGE OF INFAMY


"HE captain OF the yard looked
away from Phil moment as the
door opened and trusty entered
with a package under his arm
"Oh. you got them. / see" said the
o' yes I guess they'll 1T all right. It's
the only suit we have. I can let them
out a little II they aren't big enough.
Phil watched with great interest,".
Evidently all this had TO do with his
punishment.
Taking the bundle the captain dis
missed the trusy and began TO undo II
slowly He looked up and caught NO.
MS a new suit for you," was his
laconic explanation.
Gradually the suit came TO light Oar,
ing's eyes opened more widely. he mao
seen but one like IL before, and hap
wondered what it meant.
It was an ordinary convict suit, but
instead OF having black and gray
stripes, the stripes were black ana RED:
"A very pretty thing. isn't tt?' said
the captain, holding II u Tor inspection
Daring made no reply.
DO you know what this suit signi-
fles?'' continued the captain of the
yard.
wei. it's a badge of disgrace-the
worst We have. 1t means that the man
who wears ii is a convict among con-
character, and there is an unWritten law
that goes with this suit
What is that?' asked Phil, wonder
7Anv convict wearing one of these red
and black striped suits Is apt to be shot
down on the slightest disturbance. The
guards all have orders that when there
Is any trouble they must shoot the man
in red stripes If he is mixed up IN 1t in
Then a man in that apparel hasn't
much chance" said Phil.
Not that much,7 was the Official S
reply. as he snapped his myers.
but why must I wear itY' QueTied
because You tried to XIII man. and
we have to be very careful about men
like you"
n self-defense," cried Darling, hOtly.
The captain smiled slowly.
we don't pretend to be mind readers
here. We Judge a man by his actions.
and your actions surely warrant the
wearing Of this suit"
Abruptly breaking off the captain
called guard, handed over the suit and
ordered Phil 10 follow the attends ut and
change his clothes.
Daring went at once and was soon
fitted out IN his garb OF shame He
flushed as red as the stripes when he
again appeared before the captain
Now you viii have to go through the
formality OF having your copper taken
away" was the officials remark after
he had mockingly admired the new suit.
Daring sat watching duly as several
men gathered around the captains table
and conferred
Phil understood ahat these were prison
officials from the outside world who
were called in to pass judgment on such
cases.
IN short time the vote was taken.
and Daring lost his copper Then ne
was lead back TO the cell he had orig
inaIly occupied
II was almost s O'Clock. and Darin,.
was greatly relieved at finding taat MS
ceiimate was not present. He hoped
that they would consign Bradshaw TO
another room on account Of the fights
that the two had got into.
II was q hard night for Phil. He
had gone through so much and had
sunk 70 the lowest possible standing IN
jail.
He had been in the solitary, had been
taken to the whipping-post. had lost his
copper, and now he wore red stripes. he
had reached the limit of degradation
in a remarkably short time, and yet
when he looked back upon II ali. he
could not ind one place where ne could
have acted differently.
Many other worries came TO hsrass
him He wondered how Mr.. Rogers
was getting on with his efforts for a
new trial. He thought, too, OF how
hard II would be for him to win In a
new hearing after the record he had
esta blisheJ in prison.
But there was no hope for II all: he
would nave 70 let things take their
course
Then Alice came 10 his mind suddenly.
He wondered why nothing more had
been heard from her. Was Bob going