The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-01

the death sentence. It was clerk ship there that I wanted-a kind of secretary and first assistant tO the cellhouse custodian-and the nature of the work and the hours of retir- ing were such that the picking of a man for the place was a very par ticular matter. If a prisoner in that position had suddenly gones wrong, he could have any night released up ward of 200 prisoners.
 It was kind of unwritten law that positions of that kind should go to long term men, usually men who had been there for several years and were In need of the better food and other advantages that the situation carried. There were Is applicants for the place before I wrote out my application, which I kept for a few days. One of those was Dutch Char ley, with whom I had been on Mur- derers' Row. He also had been quite student. specializing on penman- ship, and haA learned something about bookkeeping.
 I do not believe there was even one of that list of applicants that would have betrayed any trust imposed in him.
 Along with others I had been moved to that new cellhouse-that is,
 
 moved-and always before meals we would be "gonged" to our cells, then the gong signal would start us to the dining room. After returning there from the dining room, the same tapping of the gong would either re- lease us from the line formation to go about our work or send us into the cells.
 They Send For Kane.
 One day at noon the two heads came into that new cellhouse. We had been called to our cells prepara- tory to going to the dining room, and from where I was stationed 1 could hear their voices out in the in ner office-that Is, cellhCuse office at one end of the cell block. I was not trying to hear what they were saying, but suddenly heard my name.
 'Yes, you might call Kane" heard the warden say to the officer on duty.
 Kane, how are you?-sit down there-there's something I wanted to say to you" the old warden rattled eff in his regulation old-time poli- tician style, when I entered.
 "We were wondering, Kane" he went on, "why you haven't filed an application for this clerkship, which is to be filled soon."
 Well, the fact is--''
 But he interrupted, glancing at his. watch; There are 16 other appli- cations in, and we've considered all of them carefully. What want to know is, do you want the job?"
 ''I do.'
 'Then you'll begin today helping MT. Briggs there"-he indicated the cellhouse custodan-"and there'H be
 
 are moved over hree and assigned to cells; after that you1l soon be in the swing of the work-and say, Kane" he arose and toyed with the large charm suspended from his watch chain-"Ive got surprise for you. Yesterday I tCld a reporter about the movement of prisoners to this new house, and about the position of unusual trust that we are going to place you in-I also told him of your good work here and your law study, and the like-and there is actually an editorialized article boosting you." I'm On The Path.
 Am I dreaming?" questioned by way of reply.
 Well, anyway"-and he started for the head of the stairs-"keep 1t up. I don't mean the dreaming" he
  "but your good work"
 Warden" I stepped across and ad- dressed him on the third step down, T want you to know that l appre- ciate this"
 "I know you do. Kane"-he barely glanced at me, and took another step downward but what is that passage somewhere in the Bible about faith without works being dead? Good work Is what counts, Kane-more than words or faith either"
 That's right" returned, "and I'll continue to do my best"
 Then. as the gong tapped and the line started out from my tier, I stepped aside and stood waiting to fall in at my regular place. I knew that it would perhaps be the last time I should have to march in the main line, and I felt that moment more than ever before the joy that comes with knowledge that one is beginning to reap the reward incl dent to and inseparable from good work. l knew that I was, through mental and moral improvement and good work, literally working out my own salvation. The main question just then was: How much longer will it take?
 CHAPTER 27.
 In that new position my work con- sisted of keeping four smalL ledgers. One contained the names, numbers cell numbers and sentences of all men received in that house; another had the names and numbers of the inmates received and kept there, and opposite the said names and num- bers entries were made as to the clothing and cell supplies that each one was issued from time to time; a third ledger was called the mer- chandlse book, and on each Friday would receive from the men of that cellhouse and duly enter In that book orders for merchandise that the pris- oners wished to purchase from the prison commissary; and the fourth was known as the punishment book, in which all known rule violation and punishments were duly recorded. Apart from that work I distributed the mail, which came In once a day, wrote cut reports that the cellhouse custodian wished tC make to the front office from time to time, kept sick call sheet upon which the names of those wishing to see the doctor were entered, and did scores of odd jobs that would arise as ex- tras from time to time.
 During the 24 hours there would be three different men In charge of the cellhouse. The first, or day man, was on duty from 8 a. m. until D. m; the second from 4 p. m. until 12 midnight; the third from IF until s a. m.
 My own hours on duty were from 6 a. m until 9 D. m, and there were days during the week in which I would net actually do two hours fnr 11A ctnf tha