Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-07-08

work he asked to be allowed TO share
cell.
The fifteen year man made the same
request. and the old burglar and the
country boy became cell companions.
They separated for the time being.
No. 6O.1OS was sent to the machine
shops and turned over to the convict
foreman. who questioned him and test
ed him as to the value and use Of
many tools and who found him worthy
and we'll qualified for place on his
staff. The burglar needed no examina-
ton of that sort. He had been through
It all before. He was given the work
ing tools Of his craft and began cut
ting garments with other prisoners,
who gave him looks of recognition and
signaled greetings with their fingers in
the deaf and dumb code or clicked out
telegraphic messages in the Morse with
their scissors.
The midday meal in the mess hall
was choked down by Montgomery with
mighty effort His interest in ma
chinery kept him from breaking down
during the afternoon. After the even
ing meal he was marched to his prison
tier with battalion of convicts, and
guard showed him his cell. He found
the fifteen year man already there.
Every cell on the tier was busy
photograph by this time, for the rule
of silence was now suspended. and the
men could talk all they pleased in the
cells or from cell to cell. When the
chatter became a babel Of sound, a
guard warned those talking loudest
and the roar would die down.
"Well. what you in for and for how
Iong?'
The country boy turned to the ques-
tioning burglar. II was convicted Of
murder. lam in for life.''
The burglar grunted and scanned the
face of his cell mate closely.
My names Bill-Bili Hawkins" he
said. I'm in for burglary. You're
green. I'll put you next to things
Bill was eager to talk and paused
for moment as If considering the line
Of conversation or monologue he would
indulge In.
You got the white disk on your
coat" he began finally. III you keep
it they'll let you have newspapers and
eats and tobacco. It's the first term
disk. Mines red This is my third
trip. Second term men wear a blue
disk. AS soon as any one of us vio-
lates regulation, off goes the disk.
kid, and you'll never win it back. Get
that?''
Montgomery nodded.
Bill explained that after year of
perfect conduct he would be given a
white chevron to add to the disk, and
it would entitle him to write letter
once every two weeks and that once
every month he might purchase little
articles for his comfort
But you can't slip 'em along to any
CT your friends" he said IF you do
and they catch you it is good night for
the white disk and the chevron and all
the good marks that would count for a
communication man."
After four years Of perfect conduct
marked by the disk and four white
chevrons, Bill explained, he would be
allowed to receive visits from friends
once month, could write letter once
| a week. could receive box Of cooked
food every three months from home
If be had a homeland could take
newspaper and keep it for two days
on stretch.
For these instructions the boy thank
ed his cellmate simply.
Don't call me Mr.. Hawkins" pro-
tested Bill. Call me Bill. This amt
any place for the mister business
Bill had gradually loosed his clothes
as he talked. He was now ready to
retire. Montgomery saw him lift his
long, powerful arms and take hold
upon the edge Of the upper pallet.
Without touching the lower one with
| his feet he drew himself up and swung
into bed with the agility and ease of
| an Orang.
Good night he grunted from
above
Montgomery prepared to retire, and
when he was ready to creep under his
blanket he knelt and bowed his head.
The cell lights had been turned out
Hearing no sound from below, Bill
leaned over the edge Of his pallet and
peered into the checkered shadows
made by the tier lights shining through
their bars. He saw the boy in prayer
and held his peace.
James Montgomery had started the
long treadmill jaunt to the grave of a
life convict. The gong awakened him
in the morning, and he fell in line out
side with the men of his tier to be
counted and accounted for in the morn
| ing report Of his tier warden. The
morning meal was dispatched in ST.
lence, as prescribed by the rules. and
he started work in the machine shops
The careful training his old mother
had given him stood him in good stead.
Every task that came to his hand he
did Clearly and quickly. He found
that the dreaded rule of silence was
an advantage. He had much to learn
about machinery and could apply him.
self to getting this knowledge without
distraction of any sort. His foreman
found him efficient. steady in his work
and willing. He promised to become
one Of the most useful men who ever
worked in prison garb.
The weeks passed into months ant
the months finally rounded out year