Indiana daily times., 1921-05-16
By LAUREL C. THAYER.
City Probation Officer.

I learn again that love is stronger than
iron bars
No, there is no court record against
her.
My acquaintance with Ann began when
I found her one morning with half
dozen girls in the large cell of the city
prison on the second floor Of the police
station. She was combing her brown
hair with side comb in a pathetic but
vain effort to hide the unmistakable
signs Of a sleepless night.
My affection for her began during a
walk l shall never forget when we were
going from the county jail to the Union
Station, and I was permitted to look
into the soul of a girl. Later, when
holding her little hands in "a farewell
clasp, / saw in the eyes Of a runaway
girl that she wanted to go home to
mother"
WAS 1T THE QUEST
FOR ADVENTURE?
Poor little Ann. Was it the quest for
adventure that lured her wayward feet
to indianapolis?
She came into the courtroom in a
red velvet coat high in the neck, and
black velvet hat of the poke variety.
She looked very chic.
soldier chap from TT Benjamin
Harrison had testified reluctantly against
her in the trial several days previous, and
the case had been continued" in order
that the probation officer might hear
from her home Meanwhile, Ann had
stayed at the jail across the street from
the city court.
Officers of the court remembered how
difficult 1t had been for the prosecutor to
worm out of the soldier witness any facts
dana ging to the girl But he was on
! oath and accompanied to the very witness
chair by young lieutenant, his superior
officer.
A TRAGEDY
OF THE WAR.
yes. Judge, I met her at the fort. But
Ann isn't a bad girl. Our company ex
pected to go overseas l thought would
never see Ann again. If I came back, we
/ intended to get married"
A disheartenipg letter had come from
AIMS sister in the northern part of the
state. 1t said: I'VE can't do nothing
with ann. Sac won't work. Our father
is dead, and our brother is in the Navy.
Mother and I work in factory. am
AIMS sister. I am seventeen. / won't
have anything to do with her, but mother
says to tell her to come home, and we
win get along some way"
Ann had a grandmother in Illinois, but
the probation officers letter to her was
unanswered
The prosecutor was asking very
trou ublesome, personal questions. The
room was filled. AS she saw the army of
men around the Judges bench-officers,
reporters, etc. she whispered to the
matron: "Do | have to face all these
menf' This was the world, and it was
against her
WAS LONESOME.
LIKED TO DANCE.
Yes I went to the camp because
was lonesome and Ike to dance" she
vas saying. There was boy from
| home out there, and he asked me to come
out to see him. Then l met some other
soldiers. / didn't know the officers
would get me"
1t was a terrible moment The court
room was hushed. The Judge was
silent. A thousand eyes were staring
at her. every eye an accusing spirit
every face the face of a Judge Tears
began TO trickle down on the red velvet
coat.
The judges alternatives We the
Woman's Prison, the county jail or dis
missaL He chose the Inter. and the
case was CONTINUED indefinitely" the
girl 10 return home.
I followed Ann into the matron's
office adjoining the courtroom. The
girl was wiping the tears from two very
downCast eyes We stood near the outer
door which opened on the long corridor
on the second floor Of the police
station.
suddenly we heard heavy, regular foot
steps, coming down the corridor, and
two soldiers appeared.
SOLDIERS ENTRANCE
CAUSES EMOTION.
With a cry "Oh Cod Ann threw her
hands TO her face in a paroxysm of
emotion. and her head dropped on my
shoulder. Her entire body was in
tremor
One was AIMS friend who had test-
fled against her. The other was the
lieutenant. He kept close watch. for his
prisoner had been released from the
guard house only to attend AIMS trial.
The big uniformed man looked down
on a dropping head that refused to be
raised. But he looked with the plying
smile Of an indulgent parent He raised
the face, grasped both the little hands,
looked Ann steadily in the eye. and said,
well, Dot"
Two tear stained eyes looked up to
face in which she read no trace of CEN
sure. There was only pity and affec-
tion. The moment was sacred.
The dungeons Of London Tower, where
kings were lightly put to death, had
their big ponderous iron keys So have
the doors of prisons today.
MATRON APPEARS
WITH JAIL KEYS.
The matron held her bunch Of keys
in her hand when she asked IL I was
through talking with Ann. 1t was too
late to put the girl on the train for
home, and she must be in some ones
care until safely started on her way.
There was no place but the Jail, and
Ann was rescommitted to be released on
the following day. 1t is the custom In
jail commitments to return "cases" to
the city prison after trial to await the
close of court when the bailiffs take the
prisoners across the street.
Just then the key was an unwarranted
intrusion, an instrument of torture.
Lets watt l whispered.
The two were still talking, while the
lieutenant stood aside. "Do you and Ann
wish to marry 2" the soldier was asked.
'rYes." came the unhesitating reply.
'I love Dot, but l can't afford to marry
EG.Zs--@=s-