The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-22

And listen, Dan,' I pointed my finger toward his chest as 1 spoke: If Jack kane fails to return. I'll be willing 10 pay the full fine and I'll go inside up there and serve every day of the i've years without asking the pardon board single favor
 Well, sir" chuckled the warden. Dan Fields was won over right then. If that's the way you feel about it. he told me why l say let Kane make the trip home And then. after Justice Frewin and I were alone again, the justice asked me to tell you all that was said"
 I'm glad you told me, warden" said l. T doubt whether even you have an idea what that means to me all that it means"
 Yes, I think that I do," he re- piled. For good many years I've practiced putting myself into the other fellows place and feeling with him. l do understand"
 "You Say When"
 I'll be back on time. If I leave tomorrow, February 20, when must l report here?"
 You say when" said the war; den.
 I made mental estimation.
 How would March be?"
 Take two days more' he sug- gested, make it the seventh"
 "Pll return to this city-no doubt someone from up here will meet the train-at D. m. on the seventh of March, if I'm alive, in my right mind and the train Is on time. And listen. warden" 1 aded. If by chance the news should leak out and some fel- low should say I'll never return, you just bet him ever% cent of the $500 which I'll leave here that l will re- turn. I'm going to draw pretty heavy on my account and I'll take s4O0 worth of Liberty bonds with me; but I'll leave $500 here for you to bet If you get a chance"
 Yes" he turned back from the door to say, and HI bet $1.O0o of my own. But tomorrow is the day"
 Everything was ready on the nor row, and at 4:4O in the afternoon I stepped from the wardens car onto the curb at the Union station, shOook hands with him and walked rapidly through the swinging doors and straight to the ticket window.
 l was wearing a pearl gray hat, a we'll fitting grayish- -colored overcoat, was gloved and properly shod, car ried in my hand black cowhide bag, and perhaps had an appearance that was reasonably creditable. Moreover. l actually felt just then as if had never been within 100 miles of a pcnitentlary and had scarcely ever thought of one.
 I Back His Faith With Cash.
 Kansas City, please" I said to the man with the green shade. would have to wait till arriving at the junction town 30 miles away be- fore securing Pullman space.
 "Youll want travellers insur-
 4y,1 counted eat the fare.
 No eaid l
 It'll cost you only"
 Don't want it. brother: don't want it at all," l broke in. without looking at him. and he said no more
 To myself l was thinking: NOW what if I should begin and tell Jnis man my situation: what if l were to say to him, Listen, brother; you couldn't sell me any kind of insur- ance and bind either me or your com pany, because I'm life prisoner and I am incapacitated from entering into contract. In the eyes of the law I'm dead already. But even though dead. I'm pledged to return here alive on March [. So you see. while I'm as dead as a mackerel, still in no circumstances could 1 afford to buy your travellers insurance and get either crippled or killed. Dead though I be, still I really can't afford to get killed.' .. And as I walked from the ticket window to- ward the gate in the direction of my train, I laughed heartily to myself in thought of how, if l had told him all that. he might have straightway called the police to take an insane man into custody.
 One hour from that time, having changed cars at the Junction town, | was settled comfortably in a Pull man seat just opposite a woman with golden hair How far away my prison home seemed then-that home to which I was to return 15 days later.
 But before that return I was to meet with yet other experiences.
 (COntinued Next Sunday)
 
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