The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-14

CHAPTER


CHAPTER TWENTY-HINE
When the cen door closed on Dick
stood watching the range, hoping he
would come out again. In prison men
grow superstitlous. | wondered II his
bitter conviction that the pardon would
never be granted was a premonitlon.
| went back to the offiee-the chill
breath Of fear putting down the ardent
hope the warden's promise has raised.
Every man in the pen knew
Dick had done. They talked about II,
advancing the most fantastic theories as
to Dicks method.
ain Porter came over 10 the warden's
office tina night. His visits. were al
ways welcome. There was in Bllls
warm, quiet humor, a sunny cheer an
uplifting happiness that seemed 70
catch ono by the neck OF the spirit
and shake him free from h haras-
sing pettiness OF prison lie.
When Billy Raider and | could not
rouse zach other. we kent our ears
tuned for Bllfs voice at the door. lie
would come in, sniff the m~oOdiness IN
the air and breeze 1t away with a dash
Of his buoyant gaiety. j..
happiness, but the truth as he saw II.
He was not an incorrigible optimist.
There were times when silent gloom
lowered like a black wrath about him,
But he had an abiding faith In the
worth OF life and a sane, poised view,
point that all the cruel injustice OF
his prison sentence could not dlstort.
Bill accepted life on its " terms.
There was In him none of the futile
cowardice that quarrels with the bar
gain OF existence; mocks and sneers
and exhausts itself in self pity, TO
him life was but a colossal experiment
marked by millions OF inevitable fall
ures. but destined, non the less, for
an ultimate triumph.
His heart was crushed In prison, but
Ms mind did not lose its clear. I'M
biased insight. He would send out a
word, a phrase that seemed to pune
ture through tho film OF our dissatis-
faction. The grotesque world, fabri-
Gated OF depression, set itself Alright
and we were compelled to laugh n
agree with Bills droll honesty.
Colonel. / sumise o were ran.
dora's imp when the Posts o OF
troubles was ~opened?" He handed me
IN account he had Just read In one OF
the evening papers. 1t was the first
time l had ever seen him manifest the
slightest curiosity.
told him about Dick, He wanted to
know exactly how tho safe had been
opened. He thought of q man filing
his nails TO the quick and then filing
until the nerves were exposed bothered
hirN. He had a dozen questions to ask.
81 should think he could have taken
an easier way he said,
Suppose he had sandpapered the ball
Of his flngers2 1t would be less cruel.
do you THU k IL would be as effective?
Did It seem to pain him.; He must be
n fellow Of enormous grit. Brrrr. ]
couldn't do II even II IL would open
the bars Of our little private hell here,
What is Dick Price like? What gave
him the idea In the ~heginninRY'
| was amazed at his gossipy quiz
zlne.
Hell, man, you must be first cousin
to the Spanish inqulsition," rallied.
Y"Why are you so much interested?'.
Colonel, this Is a wonderful episode
no said. ut will make a great story"
| had not thought OF 1t In such a
light. Bits mind was ever on the alert.
II was like some wizard camera with the
lens always In focus, Men, their
thoughts and their doings, were snapped
In It's tireless eye,
All life. as he tells us In 1.-THE Duplic-
itv of HargraYes." belonged to him. He
took thereof what he pleased and re-
turned Il as he would.
once he had taken II. Il was his.
He stored II up in his mind. When
he called upon It, 1t eame forth bear
ing the stmap of his own originally.
Bill took no notes. Once In a while
no would lot a word or W down on
4 scrap Of paper, a corner OF a nap
kin, but In all of our rambles together
| sever noticed the pencil much In evil
dence, He preferred to werk his un
failing memory.
It seemed to have boundless space
for his multudinous IDEAS. He kept
them mentally ~pldgeonholed and tabu-
lated, ready to be taken out and used
at q moments notice, II was years
before he made Dick Price immortal in
the story OF Jimmy Valentine.
I've had II in mind, colonel, ever
since you told me Of IT," he answered.
"But | was afraid il would not go.
Conyiots, YOU know, are not accepted
In the best society ever in fiction"
Porter had never met Dick Price.
One night / brought them together in
the warden's office. II was odd ia
note the instantaneous sympathy be.
tween these two u~napproachable men.
Both held aloof from the other pris-
nners: Dick because he was moody
BIN because of his reticence. And yet.
between the two. there seemed to
spring up an immediate understanding
Porter had brought over a new mag
azine. He handed II to Dick. The fell
low looked up, a glance OF wistfnl swift.
ness dartlng across his flushed face.
i've hardlv seen one since I've beer
here" he said, snatchlng Il quickly ant
sticking Il under his coat. Porter die
not understand, When Dick left,
told him what his sentence had heer
that he could not receive a. book, (
visit or even n letter.
Colonel. do they starve a mans sou
and kill his mind like that7" He sale
nothing more. He seemed shocked ant
bitter. In Il moment he got up to go
At the door he turned,
We'll for him that he has not mucl
longer to live"
The words sent n gust Of white fur,
over me. / began TO fear again.
went over to the ranges every nigh
to see Dick. He was getting worse.
begged the warden to press his case
J At last the day came when the gov
ernor was to pass upon It. There wa
nothing for him 10 do but to Sign Il
Dick had performed his part OF the bar
gain. The state could now pay off Il
obligation. told Dick.
You car have n nice little feed wit
the old woman day after tomorrow.
said. He Didn't answer. lie didn'
want me TO know he hoped. but In spit
Of himself his breath came hurried
and he turned his back quickly.
knew then that this silent, gratefl