The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-06-08
). q = HeePef sne aaio dnicKIIE
please take me to my husband"


Taking another dollar from her
purse. she slipped the bill into the
mans hand. feeling that, here as
everywhere else. one must pay for
privileges and courtesles. Her guide
led the way and ushered her into an
elevator, which. at signal, started
slowly upwards.
The cells IN the Tombs arc arranged
In rows IN the form OF an ellipse IN
the center Of each Of the six doors.
There Is room to accommodate 900
prisoners OF both sexes. Tho mon are
confined IN thu new prison: the WON.
en.feve-in number. In what remains OF
the old building. Only the center ofeach
floor being laEea up with the rows
Of narrow cells. there remains broad
corridor. running all the way round
and flank on the right BY high walls
with srcaG barred windows. An OBJ.
server from the street glancins up at
the windows might conclude that they
were those OF the cells in which pris-
onerS were confined As matter OF
fact. the cells have no windows. only
grating which looks directly out into
the circular corridor.
At the fourth floor the elevator
stopped and the heavy iron door
swung back
This way" said the keeper. step
ping out and quickly walking along
the corridor. Hes in cell No. 1856"
A lump rose in Armies throat Tho
place was well ventilated. yet she
thought she would faint from cho-
king feeling OF restraint. All along
the corridor to the left were iron
doors PAINTED yellow. In the upper
part OF the door were half a dozen
broad Sits through which one could
see wh=t was going on inside.
Those are the cells. volunteered
her guide.
Annie shuddered as. mentally. she
pictured Howard locked up in such q
dreadful place. She peered Though
one OF the Sits and saw narrow cell
about ten feet long by six wide. The
only furnishings were folding cot
with blanket. a wash bowl and lava.
tory. Each cell had its occupant. moa
and youths OF all ages. Some we're
reading, some playing cards. Some
were lying asleep on their cots. per.
haps dreaming OF home. but most OF
them leaning deJcctedly against the
iron bars wondering when they would
regain their liberty.
Where are the women?" asked
Annie. trying to keep down the lump
that rose chokingly in her throat
They're in separate part of the
prison" replied the keeper.
Isn't It dreadful?" she murmured.
Not at all" he exclaimed cheer.
fully. These prisoners fare better In
prison than they do outside. I wager
some OF them are sorry to leave"
But its dreadful to be cooped up
in those little cells. isn't IT." she said.
Not 80 bad as 1t looks" he laughed.
They are allowed to come out in the
corridor to exercise twice a day for an
hour and there is a splendid shower
bath they can take"
Where is my husbands cell?" she
whispered. almost dreading to hear
the reply.
There it Is" he said. pointing to
door. mo. 1856"
Walking rapidly ahead of her and
stopping at one OF the cell doors, he
raped loudly on the iron grating and
cried:
"Jenries, here's lady come to see
you. Wake up there"
A white. drawn face approached the
grating. Annie sprang forward.
Howard" she sobbed.
rs 1t you. Annie?" came a weak
voice through the bars.
Cant go in to him?" she asked
pleadingly.
The keeper shook his head.
mo. nm. you must talk through
the bars, but won't disturb you"
He walked away and the husband
and wife were left facing each other.
The tears were streaming down An.
MES cheeks. 1t was dreadful to be
standing there SO close and yet not
be able to throw her arms around him.
Her heart ached as she saw the dis.
tress in his wan. pale face.
Why didn't you come beforer' he
asked.
'I could not. They wouldn't let me.
oh. Howard she gasped. What q
dreadful thing this is! Tell me how
you got into such a scrape"
He put his hand to his head as II it
hurt him. and she noticed that his
eyes looked queer. For a moment the
agony Of terrible suspicion crossed
Der mind. Was 1t possible that in q
moment OF drunken recklessress he
had shot Underwood? Quickly, almost
breathlessly. she whispered to him:
Tell me quickly. It's not true, is It?