The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-05-14
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THE SILENT CELL.
AuAAA~uAA~~a Q 90
BY Harold Carter.

BY Harold Carter.
81 Wouldn't advise you to try the e1'
pertinent, sir" said the chief warden
OF the State penitentiary.
But you say there is no physical
torture, warden" said the member OF
the pardon board. Nothing but dark
ness and solitude to tame refractory
prisoners. Why, my dear man, can
spend a couple of hours there and
come out as fresh as daisy. I'm
sailing for Europe tomorrow to In.
vestigate the prison system of differ
ent countries, and want to add this
last experience to my investigations
here"
LET me put in comfortable couch
for you, then," said the warden.
"No sir. l shall go as convicted
prisoner does. And, by the way, tc
heighten the illusion, I'll put on
stripes"
"Very we'll, sir. Your desire, as
understand, is that all your surround
ings shall be such as to create in your
mind the illusion that you are pris
oner under long sentence?"
Quite so," said the member Of the
board.
The warden called a trusty, while
the member was discarding his
clothes for the stripes. Take this
gentleman to w s." he said, and the
con let and visitor set off together
They descended gloomy stone stair
way and stopped at the door Of a cell.
above which the light burned dimly.
The trusty turned the key upon the
visitor and extinguished the gas. The
visitor was left in complete darkness
Cautiously he felt his way around
The cell, as far as he could ascertain.
was about the size of hall bedroom.
and absolutely empty. The walls were
perfectly smooth. There was not the
faintest light or sound. The visitor
could not determine in which direc
tion the door lay, for it fitted com
pletely into the walls.
He sank down upon the hard fool
and closed his eyes, striving to bus!
his mind with thoughts of his work
He had said farewell to all his asso
ciates; on the morrow he would be
aboard the ship. And suddenly the
thought came to him; if he were real
ly forgotten, he might languish there
| for all eternity Nobody would know
Of his whereabouts.
One hour, as he adjudgee, slipped
by, and another. He grew impatient
He strained his ears to catch the ap.
preaching steps of the warren. And
when they were long, overdue, he
heard them, very faint, IN the cor
ridor A trap door was let down from
somewhere, and in the pale light the
visitor perceived loaf of coarse
bread upon an iron tray.
Here's your days food" said a
a voice, gruffly.
Excellent, warden" said the Wis.
itor, laughing nervously. But isn't
my time up YETI"
"Git out" said the voice. "Six days
more here for yours, F 49,
Say, let me out" cried the man in
; side. Il said two hours, and it's long
past that now. I've got my boat t.
CATCH"
"Well I'm gol-darned," said the
voice admiringly Pretending to be
the man from the pardon board, ain
: yer, Bill Castles. it's agin the rules
to talk to yer, though, so take ,yei
medicine" And he was gone.
Supplied, the man remained crouch.
ed within. Had the trusty really walk.
ed out in his clothes and left him
there? Surely prison discipline was
more strict and intelligent. And yet.
would they play such trick upon
him, high official of the state? He
waited. Then the hours began to roll
by. A terrible fear beset him, and he
began to shout, moderately at first.
then more and more loudly. And at
last, thoroughly affrighted, he pound
ed the walls madly, raving and
screaming, until he sank into stu
por.
A day later, as he guessed, the loaf
was again flung into his cell. Then
for the first time he realized how ra-
venous he was He leaped upon it
and tore it eagerly.
For Gods sake, listen!" he scream
ed. I'm Robert Smythe, of the par.
don board Whom do you think !
| am? Call the warden"
Good for you, Bill Castles" said
the attendant, slamming down the
trap door. And the long night de.
scended on him again.
Times not quite up, sir; it's only
an hour and a half" said the warden,
throwing open the door. Il thought
it'd be all you'd want. Won't you
come out? Why-why-"
Upon the floor of the cell lay the
torn shreds of the prison garb. And
in far corner man, nude to the
skin, with bleeding hands, crouched
and gibbered and muttered vacantly
at the warden.
In spite of the reputation for lati.