Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-02-04
CONTINUED from last week J

Within this structure Il cell awaited
Montgomery. 1t would he his resting
place at night after the days work in
the shops Of the walled city of silence.
sorrow. sweat and ceibacy. or the out
side world he would see only patch
of sky squared by the steel bars. He
would be as the police thought yegg
man should be-buried alive.
James Montgomery was stripped of
his clothes and finally stripped of his
name Both were thrown away. He
became No 60.lOS
He stood naked under the examina
ton OF the prison physician and was
then placed under shower bath and
washed clean Garments made by con
victs were given him. i'll fitting under
wear. heavy shoes and Il dull gray suit
OF baggy trousers and almost shape
less jacket. He was reported to the
foreman OF the machine shop rs avail
able material for his force.
Montgomery was struck by the quiet
OF the prison. There was no sound OF
voices. Convicts came and went or
busted themselves i'm groups over pris-
on tasks. but they did not converse
He was informed that the rule OF 81
lence was strictly enforced and that
he might talk only at the close OF work
and when he was in his cell. He was
OF a taciturn nature. but when he
thought that the rule Of silence would
III l,o
thing became appalling He had the
privilege of cell by himself or with
a cellmate. For the sake of the hui
man voice he 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
No 60,10S 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 well qualified for a place on his
staff The burglar needed no eXamina-
ton OF that sort He had been through
IL 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 chokCd down by Montgomery with
a mighty effort His interest In ma
chineIy 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 a
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 babel Of sound, Il
guard warned those talking loudest
and the roar would die down.
"well. what you In for and for how
long?"
The country boy turned to the ques-
tioning burglar. II was convicted of
murder. am in for life
The burglar grunted and scanned the
face of his cell mate closely.
MY names Bill-Bill 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
Oat." he began finally. IF you keep
lt 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 VIC
lates regulation. off goes the disk.
Kid. and you'll never win it back. Get
that?"
Montgomery nodded.
BiIl explained that after year OF
perfect conduct he would be given a
white chevron TO add 10 the disk, and
II would entitle him 60 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
a. your friends. he said III you do
atd they catch you it Is good night for
file white disk and the cheyrOn aud all
The good marks that would count for a