The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-20

way to a place called q dining room.
 l watched them for a moment and for some reason the words of the text of an old-fashioned preacher whom had heard Cnce in the mining camps of Oregon came to me. I did not then know where such words were to be found in the Bible. but I recalled them clearly: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world"
 That winding and crawling striped line made me think of that old ser pent." but I was yet to learn how much devilish influence could obtain among prison inmates and in the very atmosphere of an old-time prison It. self.
 few minutes later a guard, &C., companied by prisoner carrying my breakfast stopped In front of my cell Bread. a chunk of cold boiled beef a little bit of black looking thin gravy and black cup of coffee.
 The food upon and in tin vessels was passed through an opening at the bottom of the barred door,
 That was my first closeup view of a full fledged convict. He was small, middle-aged. greyish man. His face was lined deeply; he had hooked nose and beady eyes, typi- cal jail-bird mouth-drooped at the corners-and upon the whole he was enc of the meantst looking person. ages I had ever met. I was thinking to myself that no kind of hard luck nor Imprisonment of any term what on such an expression, when I heard the prisoner speak in quick, hard sounding accents to the guard.
 
 Gift From a Thug
 I'd like to give dis guy some sugar out of me own supply" he informed the officer. .I got little dat bought wit a few pennies from de commissary.'
 All right" answered the guard. 'rf he wants it." And they both looked at me inquiringly
 "Yes-thank you" I returned. And I wish that l could do something for you"
 pouring a goodly measure Cf sugar from a small paper sack into my cup. Oats all right-an' ifdey allow ye smokin' in here, I'll see dat yous gets it."
 "Goodw I said. And do the cons know about my situation here?"
 He's not supposed to talk to you tco much" the guard interposed.
 "Oh! I didn't know that" But had caught nod and a wink from that grey head and beady eye that told me the convicts knew tho whole layout" already.
 That was my first knowledge that always, in some manner, prison in mates find out about practically all unusual occurrences in the outside pd w fhorA Ia strict discipline and a quasisilent system news travels quickly all through a prison. Moreover. another truth yet I glimpsed at that me- ment-a truth that will apply in the free world the sa- ,e as in prison: the hardest-looking person may have. to use a good. old-fashioned express sion, soft and warm heart toward one in need.
 That was anything but an inviting breakfast but 1t tasted all right. The guard and prisoner went on down the corridor to my partners cell. I heard no conversation at first but presently picked up the guards voice.
 None for n sguealer
 DO you want to give this man | some sugar, too?"
 | q do not came the answer promptly. No explanation was of fered for the refusal but I knew it was an implication of the same thing that Blackie and his near neighbor had expressed down in the city jail on the previous evening, when they hoped that the threatening mob fight find my partner first l was sitting on the edge of the cot thinking when the door bars be- gan to slide back-having been drawn lever fashion from one end of that tier-and the guard came down and took the large paddock from my door.
 You're wanted up in tho office" he informed me.
 "I haven't a coat or hat here." remarked thinking he meant the outer offices. My polcemen's uni form had been left there.
 "Thty've sent your clothes up here. I think. I saw the runner bring something in from the outer gate and your name was on the bundle" marched ahead Lf him through two inner gates and up stairway to kind of combined office. picture gallery and apothecary shop. There was a desk. an old-fashioned camera and glass-fronted. tall case, filled with many labeled bottles. Near tho case a man in prison garb was stand ing and I could see he was passing out through a set of bars back of him to other prisoners such things as pills, salts, bits of gauSG bandage and the like.
 Good morning, Mir. KAne-over this way, please"
 |. faced about and returned tho greeting of the fellow who had taken a part of my description the pre- vious evening.
 Strain Tells on Weight
 Now. then. If you don't mind." said he. Just remove your clothes: we'd like to get your weight and measurements"
 I had lost eight pounds in two days.
 Now your height" said he. He wrote down feet II inches.
 The few marks and scars on my body were recorded-including white streak made by an insurgent bullet in the Philippines, and small barbed wire cut due to the activities of wild broncho in Idaho that threw me against fence-and then came questions regarding my place of birth, former occupation and various other matters.
 Where were you educated. MT Kane?" the man asked.
 "In a little backwoods schoolhouse in southern Missouri and over quite bit of territory throughout the world" I answered.
 Just a common school education?" And he looked doubtful. What grade did you reach?"
 There were no graded schools there them" I explained. but per haps I would have been classed as an eight-grade pupil"
 "The newspapers have 1t that You're highly educated" he informed