The Washington times., 1922-12-05

STEADY Ralph" Obenchain.
2. That she has not lost her faith
In mon because Of the Paul Roman
Love Judas" episode.
8. That she is not impoverished.
There was introduced to the
world during Mrs. Obenchain's first
trial the lone man in a million"
He was STEADY Ralph" Obenchain.
her divorced husband, who came to
Los Angeles from his Chicago law
office and stood resolutely by her
In this interviw Mrs. Obenchain
dominates two additional men in the
million, thus leaving in every million
Of men ,997 Of no especial dis
tinction
Calls Roman Worst"
IF went through Hades looking
for the worst man In a Million" she
declared In the only words Of bitter
ness to which she gave utterance.
II would find Paul Roman"
She referred to the ex-convict
with whom she had a correspond
ence while she was still q prisoner
in tho county jail and who turned
her letters over to the district at
torney to be used as evidence
against her.
But the third man In a million 10
to be found among the jailers Of
the world. He is-or was-in the
employ Of Los Angeles county as a
turnkey.
he Is the man whose confidence
In femininity has put to shame the
oft-repeated cynicism. 1.-The Light
That Lies In Woman's Eyes. and
Lies and Lies, and Lies"
Irish blue eyes of Madalynne Oben-
chain at the dusk hour one eve
ming and believed what she told
him. What she said to him was:
Her Walk to Freedom.
Il want a breath Of fresh air.
l will not try to escape"
Mrs. Obenchain characterized her
wax to freedom as "a breath of
fresh air." Her story of it fol.
lows:
II will not say definitely or ap.
proximately when 1t was that 1
was able to leave the Jail alone.
for the reason that l do not want
to involve anybody. Therefore, the
turnkey must remain nameless and
the date indefinite.
Il received word one evening
that one Of my lawyers was at the
jail to see me.
When I reached the lower floor
learned there had been u mis-
take in the message. that the law.
yer was on the way and would not
arrive for an hour. I started back
down the hall to return to the
women's quarters. strolled to.
ward the elevator. glancing through
the doors toward the street.
An Overwhelming Desire.
Suddenly there came to me an
overwhelming desire for breath
Of fresh air. The air In the jail
was very close and we got no
exercise.
at was at q quiet period of the
evening with little activity In the
Jail and with no visitors passing
through the changing doors.
'rmpulsively, and with not even
a remote thought Of escape. my
mind conferred on my desire for
fresh air, turned from the eleva-
tor without ringing the bell for the
to the first barred doors.
THE turnkey on duty, which
means on guard. was reading q
from me behind the paper.
Speaking through the bars I
said, What is the chance for q
breath of fresh ARR
Apparently thinking was q
visitor who had used this form of
speech to say that I was ready to
so, he spoke without looking up
from the paper.
Continuing reading. he said. oh.
very good y
Guard Opens tho Door.
Then he rose to his feet. lower
ng the paper % he did %. Look
;ng In my direction for the first
lime. he recognized me. His face
flushed with embarrassment. I
smiled and he smiled.
"'Do you mean what you said?'
lie asked. :
Yes. I replied In all earnest.
ness, I want a breath Of fresh air.
[ will not try to escape
without Questioning me further,
he opened the door. I hesitated, not
wanting to bring him into possible
'srepute. DO you mean can 60
,ut for a breath Of fresh ARR I
,sked. Sure he replied. I mean It
you 90.
HE opened the second door. Once
outside OF this, I turned and looked
,ack at him and asked again. Are
ou sure you mean it?' He smiled
nd said, Sure. mean IT,
He smiled and said, I know you
ore not going to escape, 90 ahead
I'm be back in forty.five min.
utes.' said.
IAN right he replied. and his
key clinked In the lock and the
loor changed shut.
Hardly had taken more than
two deep. satisfying and exhilirat.
ing breaths of fresh air, when, n
crossing to Buena Vista street
came face to face with q newspaper
reporter who had talked with me
many times In the jail. He recog.
,ized me instantly.
Imagine my chaSrin.
Reporter Proves Friendly.
"I convinced hin. a. did the
vrnkey. that q breath Of fresh air
was my ownly motive. and that II
be wrote q story or told anybody Il
would cause trouble all around and
keep me from ever getting another
breath Of fresh air under the same
circumstances.
Hardy had he walked on when
mat a aArond man Win rocoUptwod