The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-06-25
Released
II
BY FRANK w. oJRNEY

(Copyright.)
Prisoner No. S62 stood before the
desk Of the deputy warden. High
above his head was the arched roof
Of the rotunda. from which the cells,
tier above tier. radiated like spokes
Of a wheel.
Motionless he stood. his shoulders
dropped, his pallid face expression
less. His suit Of gray had been dis
carded for blue serge Of cheap ma
terial-a product Of the prison shops
which had absorbed the indescribable
but unmistakable prison odor. The
flannel shirt had been replaced by
coarse but warm sweater which came
well up around his thin neck.
A trusty passed directly behind the
deputy warden. and from his lowered
eyes shot glance which No. S62 cor
rectly interpreted as one OF congrat-
ulatiOn and farewell. For No. 862 was
about to receive his discharge.
For twenty monotonous, tagging
years had this barren citadel Of stone
and steel been his abiding place. Day
in. day out, year in. year out 1t had
been the same routine. until 1t had be-
come part Of his very natare. His
record had not been bad. as the be-
havior of 'long-termers" averaged;
nor had 1t been sufficiently good to
earn for him the liberal reduction OF
sentence which the laws OF the COM
monwealth provided for model pris-
oners.
He had tried to live up to the rules.
but something within him had led him
astray at intervals. What that some
thing was he could not understand,
much less explain. To the prison off,
Gals he had been a mystery. His first
lapses had been attributed to cunning,
yet there had never been any ugliness
/ in his actions or expression. but rather
a listless disregard of regulations
| which earned for him accomplishing
days in solitary confinement.
The last time this had occurred was
fourteen months before. The prison.
ers in No. 862's corridor had been
lined up for the march to breakfast
When No. 1862 deliberately left his
place and started for the door near
| the head of the line. He was sharply
ordered back, but continued at a mod
crate, shambling gait, as If oblivious
| of his surroundings.
Two guards, trained by years OF ex-
perience, grappled and threw him to
the floor. The other prisoners were
ordered back to their cells. and NO.
S82 was led away to the dark room.
That night every prisoner and every
cell in the corridor were searched. but
nothing Of a contraband nature was
found. Latterly the guards had come
to accept No. 1852 as eccentric-"bat'
ty," they termed It; and while he was
regularly disciplined for his subse
ouent slight infraction,of the rules he
was no longer considered vicious OF
treacherous.
| The ponderous deputy warder
clumsily welded the pen which was
closing the twenty years history of
human life.
I At last the entry was completed ant
plotted, the book closed and showed
into place. The deputy warden ex
tended his pudgy hand over the desi
in the nearest approach to cordialit!
which he could assume.
.Goodby, Williams" he said. "Tak'
care Of yourself and don't get bacl
here. You're old enough to go straigh
the few years you've got left"
williams hesitated, then slowl
placed his limp hand in that of tn
deputy warden. He moistened hi
lips. and his face worked spasmod
ically, but no sound came from hi
throat.
Slowly, like one under the influenc
Of an opiate, he turned his face towar
the door which separated him from tn
freedom which had been denied TO
nearly half his lifetime. Even the
he hesitated, as IL expecting to b
called to account by some one In al
thority.
There was no sound except the scuf
scum, scuff Of trusty's felt soles q
he passed through the rotunda. In
prostitution at the deputy warden
desk had summoned the doorkeept
from one Of the long rows OF of1ct
beyond the double steel doors, an
they had swung open, inviting WI
liams to the new world beyond.
i Az he passed the portals his hea1
i seemed to rise and turn In his breaa
and he caught quick. sharp breat
: II was the Unborn fear Of being Gale
back, punished. and again made
4 face that incorporating grind, b
no hand stayed him. Vaguely
. heard the doorkeeper's gruh but KIN
" words Of farewell. They were
!. meaningless tumble Of sound to b
!. dulled comprehension.
II Down the stone steps. along Z
!, short, tiled path. and he was on q
sidewalk. His pace did not Quicke
!. his head was not lifted. His ey
! ware .downcast. and there was q
% l> 6untoa ft1rffve look at paSSel