The Press., 1917-01-11

I fnilC them.
 T wonder if that is as good as it
 sounds. boy9' asked my Gouverneul Faulkner gently as he looked down at I me with both a laugh and sadness
 influencing the smile of his mouth. sometimes I badly need two of my l self. They are at me from waking to l sleeping, and often feel cut into little bits and I can't even say so. In fact, l youngster, Pm squealing to you more | than I've let myself do since became
 the chief executive of this state of liar beth. Now, turn off into this road and go straight ahead. The prison is about
 a mile back there at the foot of that 1 hill.''
 IT like those squeals," answered
 to his smile as put my cherry against the spring wind and raced down that long road at a great speed that pre- vented any more conversation at that
 moment. My pride bade me show to that gOuverneur of Harpeth what good driving in a fine car was able to ac- | cOmplish.
 Therefore it was not many minutes before We stood within the doors of that very grim and terrible home of the human beings who have sinned with
 great crime. I know that am never to forget that hour and am to carry
 forever the wound that 1t inflicted upon my heart as walked through the dimness and grayness and still Dess of that dark house.
 At last, with many unlOckings of heavy doors by the director of that prison, we stood in a room that was as d cage in which to keep the human animal that crouched down upon hard bed ill one of it's corners and leaned a head shaved bare of any hair upon a very thin and white hand.
 Leave me, superintendent, for few minutes. The young man Will stay by the door to let you know when I want yOu." said that GOuverneur Faulkner to the superintendent. who nodded and left the room as I took a position over beside the heavy iron bars that swung together after him-
 My man." said the GOuverneur Faulkner in a voice that was so gen tie as that which a mother uses to a child in severe illness, "I want you to let me sit down on your cot beside you and talk to you about your trou- ble."
 Got nothing to say, parsOn. done it, and I want to swing as quick as the law sends me-" answered the poor human from behind his hands without even raising his bowed head.
 II am pot a minister, and I've come to talk to you because some of your neighbors and friends think that there may be reason why you should not be hanged for the death of your brother.
 Ut is my duty to help them keep you from the penalty of the law, which you may not deserve even if you de sire it. Gan you tell me ycur story as man to man, with the hope that 1t will help you to a rcprieve?" And as he spoke I observed a tone of com mand come into the voice of my GOu. Verneur Faulkner that was as clear end beautiful as the call of the bugle to men for battle.
 "I done what I had to, and I'm ready to die for it. I've got nothing to say" answered the man, with still more of the determination of misery in his voice. ''AIy neighbOrs don't | know nothing about it. and I don't ! want 'em to. Just let them keep quiet and let 1t all die when the state | swings me"
 "SO there Is some secret about the l matter that you are willing to die to I keep, is there?" asked the Gouverneur | Faulkner, with a quickness of com mand in his voice. What had your brother done to Mary Brown that you killed him for doing2"
 Curse you! Whats that to youT'' snarled the man as he sprang up from | beside the gouverneur and leaned, | crOuched and panting. against the bars