Bisbee daily review., 1914-09-25


 of baggy trousers and almost shape [ less jacket He was reported to the ! foreman of the machine shop as avail able material for his force. Montgomery was struck by the quiet of the prison. There was DO sound of | voices Convicts came and went or ! busted themselves in groups over pris- | on tasks. but they did not converse. He was informed that the rule Of si- ence was strictly enforced and that 1 he might talk onlg at the close of work | and when be was in his cell. He was ! of a taciturn nature. but when he | thought that the rule Of silence would obtain through his whole lifetime the 7 thing became appalling. He had the | privilege of cell by himself or with i a cellmate. For the sake of the hu- man voice be would hear in the morn | ing before work. and at night after work he asked to be allowed to share ! a 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. l No GO,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 J and well qualified for a place on his 1 stan. The burglar needed no examina- | ton of that sort. He had been through ] Ha IT aaH Q Nas. re.HsNH | 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 fin 1 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 | a 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 a battalion of convicts, and l guard showed him his cell He found the fifteen year man already there. Every cell on the tier was a busy phonograph by this time. for the rule of silence was now suspended, and the men could talk an 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 ln for and for how long?"
 The country boy turned to the ques- tioning burglar. 'I was convicted of murder. ] am in for life"
 The burglar grunted and scanned the face of his cell mate closely.
 My names Blll-Bill Hawkins" he said "rm in for burglary. You're green. I'll put you next to things
 Bill was eager to talk and paused for a moment as if considering the line 1 of conversation or monologue he would indulge in.
 You got the white disk on your coat" he began finally. "If you keep it they'n 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 a regulation. ofr goes the disk, kid. and you'll never win it back. Get thatT'
 Montgomery nodded
 Bill explained that after year of perfect conduct he would be given a white chevron to add to tine disk, and 1t would entitle him to write a letter once every two weeks and that once every month be might purchase little articles for his comfort
 "But you can't slip 'em along to any Of your friends" he said. 'If you do and they catch you it is good night for the white disk and the cheyron and an 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 a month, could write a letter once a week, could receive a box of cooked food every three months from home if he had a hOme-and could take a newspaper and keep it for two days on a stretch.
 For these instructions the boy thank cd his cellmate simply
 Don't call me MT. Hawkins" pro tested Bill. "Call me Bill. This ain't 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 oyer the edge of his pallet and