The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-05-18
Two HUNDRED
TWENTY-SEVEN.
BY KATHERINE L. GREY.


Billy Ellis gave an involuntary
shudder as the big door changed be-
hind him with an ominous click. and
he glanced half furtively at his
clothes to be sure the neat blue serge
had not been replaced by the prison
gray. In his four years experience
as travelling salesman he had never
covered a territory which impressed
him as this one had done. 1t had al
ways before fallen to "the other fel-
lows" lot to canvass the shops in
/, where for the greater part
convict labor is employed, the factor
ies being situated in the yards of the
penitentiary. For two days now he
had visited shops where all the help
and, in few particular instances, the
foremen wore the prison garb.
1t gave a chap sort of uncanny
feeling to do business with bright,
smart fellow under whose able direc-
,ltions thirty or forty silent, surly men
went about their labors, to suddenly
remember that this same bright fell
lows uniform was the same dull gray
as the dress OF his subordinates, and
whose prison pallor said plainly,
"Convict." And then, after a par
ticularly good sale, to be unable to
ask the customer out to lunch-in-
stead, hand shake, brief good day
at the big door, and then-nothing
but the thought that while you are
out enjoying the free, glorious air
and sunshine, that capable fellow
must go to his four gray little walls!
Deserved it? Possibly, but how many
poor confined men were simply vic
Tins of circumstances?
These we're the thoughts passing
rapidly through Ellis mind as he
made his way as directed by the
''of1ice" inside the great hallway to
the packing room, and feeling of
relief arose in him as the familiar
serge showed him he was still Billy
ELS and not number something-or-
other.
y A shaven head was visible over
desk on his right, and he put his
question to its owner: where can /
find the purchasing agent?"
The head was quickly raised, and
pair of frank blue eyes looked square
ly into his. II am the purchasing
agent" The voice was rich and re-
fined, and Ellis was guilty of very
pronounced stare as surely six feet
of the finest specimen of manhood
he ever saw rose to greet him-clad
In the regulation gray!
Half an hour later this same your g
prison giant ushered him to the door,
and Billy hurried down the steps
with feeling that the last thirty
minutes had been spent with one of
natures noblemen.
''Now, what is he there for?" Billy
murmured. "A fellow any man
might be proud to call friend-the
white face, the dull gray clothes
couldn't hide that fact BY George,
/ wish knew the why and wherefore
but I'd as soon have thought OF ap-
preaching the Car of Russia as ask
ing him personal question"
All through dinner the mans face
Jas before him, and when he started
out for the theatre to take in a par
ticularly good show, the thought of
that frank, manly face and form
locked in behind iron bars till morn
ing took away all desire for pleasure
and he went back to his hotel. All
Acquires concerning No. 227 were
answered in the same manner. No
one knew what his crime had been
nor how long his sentence. Two
years before he had been transferred
from another prison, and very soon
after raised to his present responsible
position. and never. so far as the
public knew, had there been occasion
for regret on the part of the prison
officials.
All through the rest of his stay the
thought of No. 227 was ever with
Billy, until at last he cried, I'm
going to find out all about him, by
hook or crook" Therefore, that very
afternoon William Ellis presented
himself at headquarters. and the erst-
while jolly Billy Ellis, salesman, was
swallowed up in the grave, dignified
young man so earnestly seeking in
formation regarding 227. When he
reached his hotel that night he threw
himself into chair and chewed des-
perately on an unlighted cigar while
he went over in his mind the case of
227.
"A forger-an embezzler A young
man fairly well off, and yet he forged
and embezzled. Pleaded guilty right
at the start, and did all in his power
to have himself convicted!" A few
more vigorous chews, and then he
cried aloud. mo, / don't believe it!
He didn't do it--and I'll never rest
till know what the answer Isl"
The next morning Billy Ellis again
visited the purchasing agent at the