The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-10-16

had he come here, this Brazilian:
Merely to amuse himself with the cap
tive? The cruelty seemed improbable;
he could read nothing in Noels face
that limited OF delight in the pain of
others. 1t was not a soft or a gentle
face, but it was of tempered metal, not
base. And nothing in the narrative of
the Little Bald One" had spoken of
wanton cruelty in its hero.
In his absorbed in~tentness upon Noel
he was quite of how closely
Noel was studying him. In the pause
that ensued the prison seemed very
still; only the stir of insect lite
troubled the damp, foul air, and the
occasional ring or stamp of a horse
waiting outside the gate. Bruce
gasped, breathless with the tension or
waiting upon the event. Surely, he
thought, there must be an event; Noel
would not simply go and COM 40
more. They were both white men,
in a country where white men were III
the minority. He did not expect Noel
to free him, of course; but if he could
have a cell from which he could see
out! Or, if he could have some
occupation!
I'm the prisons in the south of the
United States of America, convicts
sometimes are hired to outside men in
need of laborers. or paroled in custody
Of their employers Noel finally spoke.
d you know of that custom?"
Eyes"
NoeIs penetrating gray eyes consid-
erately looked away from the strained
face before him.
Il understand you are a mechanical
engineer, Mr.. Bruce. A college gradu-
ate?"
Pennsylvania, yes"
would you like to vary the monot-
ony Of your sentence by working out
side on parole?"
Bruce caught his breath. All the
evils attendant on peonage Of which
he had read at home rose before him.
He knew absolutely nothing If Bra
lillian custom in such matters. He
had a panoramic vision Of convict
camps. Of himself in subsection to a
native overeeer. Of toll and abuse; yet,
better anything than dry rot and
creeping insanity in this loathsome,
seething den AT least he would be
outdoors sometimes; sometimes
breathe Imprisoned air.
Yes" he made laconic reply.
He had hardly known what he ex-
pected from Noel's visit, but he was
conscious of renewed detection and
vague disappointment
Good! You are on parole then,
with the understanding that any at
tempt to escape means your return
to this placer"
YES" said Bruce again.
He wondered il he could ever be so
supremely wretched as to grasp at
relief. Perhaps! He knew not at all
what he must expect from this future.
Noel looked at him curiously, as II
wondering at his attitude, but he made
no comment on the absence OF en-
thusiasm concerning the proposition.
He dropped the gray riding whip with
a decided movement, letting it swing
y Las WIlSI ny As OT6lQ0Q loop.
smile was infreQuent and illu-
minating as an unexpected light.
f"Good!" he repeated his approval.
Someone will come for you. Just al
low yourself to be guided. please. /
will bid you farewell, Mr.. Bruce"
The Latin formaiity OF the leave
taking aroused Corey Bruce to a sense
his own lack of g~raciousness. He
could not doubt that Noel meant kindly
by him in offering this amelioration
his sentence, however dubious it's
prospect of comfort.
T--thank you, General Noel" he
stamn1ered, raising his hand to his
c;r-..c mechanical eefc-t &c adt.s-
his missing spectacles, an old habit
OF his when in moments OF embarrass-
ment. lawfully good Of you to trouble.
over'my affairs! I am-grateful. Be-,
fore. o go. nay I ask what I am
to be turned over to? For whom I
to work. I mean?"
Noel turned back with an air Of sur
prise, standing in the narrow corridor,
his broad shoulders seemed to
fill, he leaned to survey the prisoner
across the wooden bars.
prise; standing in the narrow corridoA
(To he continued. next uaak