The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-10-18

"Yes, we find him guilty of wilful murder, melord
answered the red-faced juryman, guping and wiping
his face with red,bordcred handkerchief which he
looked at Immediately afterward. Instantly, as it
seemed, ten thousand eyes were turned upon Poman.
The red-taced juryman sat down with bump, but a
itle man at his side nudged him. and he sprang up
again I'VE recommend the prisoner to mercy, me-
lord" he continued Con what ground?" the Judge
inquired leaning forward and toying with the velvet
cloth "Prcyous good impulse and sudden character" "
the red-aced juryman answered Il will forward your
recommendation in the proper quarter, the judge re-
piled He pulled the velvet into the shape OF cap and
put it on, and suddenly clergyman bobbcd up at his
side his loose sleeves tapping like crows wings.
Have you anything to say why sentence of death
should not be passed upon you?" the judge inquired.
Il didn't do it. I'm innocent said Poman. and
I'm an Adventist" he continued, looking with resent
ment upon the representative of the Established
Church The judge talked to him for a while, the
clergyman stretched out his hands and presently Pol
taken away He felt extremely proud OF the
notice he was attracting and strutted Of the dock
He looked up hastily. The Eye was watching him.
He hated it.
During the first OF his three weeks Polman in fact
exhibited precisely those qualities which his alers had
anticipated He had gone into his cell docely and
proved excellent prisoner. 1t during the second
week that he awoke suddenly in the middle OF the night
hearing the pounding of his heart. Something was
bursting inside his head sickening terror tortured
him, and his throat and tongue felt as though they had
been lined with cmery-paper. And all at once some
body seemed to say: You're going to be hanged!
You're going to be hangcdp
He sprang from his bed tossed off his blanket and
ran to the faucet in of his CELL from which
flowed continuous trickle of water He placed his
mouth under it. Instantly with click, the trap of
his cell went down Polman looked round The Eye
shone out from the centre Of human face For the
first time the prisoner realized that this was part Of
man.
He went back and lay down under the gaslight He
pondercd through all the creeping hours of the night
He must anticipate the fulflment of his sentence.
Somewhere, assuredy he could obtain piece Of glass
a metal edge, little flexible cord But his concrete
cell contained neither spliners nails In one cor
water trickled necessarily from the faucet into
plugless basin; in another cement shelf with
Bible opposite the door or iron rcses, were rveted
two planks of perfectly smooth paned wood with
sraw-stufed mattress, pillow of the same kind and
two blankets of hbrous substance. His food came
to him in vessel of soft tin. His spoon of wood
And outside fixed on him, always the Eye.
Suicide impossible When the watchers saw that
he had ceased picking at the threads in the blanket
they knew that this stage Of his captivity was past
With the disappearance Of this hope terror became
rcgnant. Although he was not conscious of the lapse
Of time several days had been spent by him in this
manner.
When the cloud lifted from his brain Polman began
to perceive pair Of Shoes from time to tre t., Ter
the steel door outside He now connected then with
the face above in other words they were part OF the
personality of his jaer. Sometimes, however they
wider and larger than at others there must be
u
Especially at night when his terror awakened him
and his heart pounded in the cage of his ribs when
the sweat streamed down his face and limbs and the
nightmare of sleep had changed into wakeful de-
rium Polman began to feel the yearnng Of sick
man toward those who attend on hirn When the dawn
stole into his CELL dimmng but not obscuring the gas
light when the town noises began and birds sang
somewhere without Polran began to plead with them
Bat neither answered him. He tried to break down
their impassivity with sudden questions. One day,
while seated upon the floor. he heard a name called
and saw the square boot shifted The next morning.
when the flap Of the door was down. he called suddenly
to the man outside
"Donaldson"
The ailer started invountariy The prisoner had
caught him; he aftcrward caught Evans the head
jaiIer, in the fashion.
He pursued his advantage when the flap down
for his breakfast
Fine day, Mr.. Donaldson he began. q to
tell you I'm ready 10 meet my end. You needn't mind
talking to me about it" Donaldsons stare was per-
fectly npassve Poman changed his attack SAY,
old man. who won the Rugby cup: he continued
Donaldson did not relax an eyelid.
"Everybody's got to meet his Maker some day" said
Polman Il know lis the law. I don't hold YOU
sponsble, Mr. Donaldson I haven't any ill-feeling
against you You'rc only doing your duty. But you
know I'm innocent old As Gods my maker.
swear I'm innocent Ny lawyer rogue. l want
to send an explanation to The Home Secretary. want
some paper and ink and pen-a hne-ponted steel
pen" he continued, with cunning afterhoaght Il
cant write with 2 stub Won't YOU get it for me, Mr.
Donaldson There why we shouldn't be
good friends. is there?'
Tie jailer stared at Poman stolidly his expression
The Welshman leapeJ forward with
saarl
My Cod. won't you sav word to me-" he shrieked.
Il haven't sail anything haTt your feelings, have
Il ] didn't do it J tell YOU WiI YOU listep Il
nlan7 II YOU can't talk raise your right hand for