The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-24

ike tnal one, IL was certainty dandy"
 If he doesn't, I will" I promised him.
 I could hardly walt to begin try ing for an interview with the warden.
 That interview came unexpectedly I saw both warden and deputy on a tour of inspection. l knew that they would reach the dining room within a half hour; l went there at once and waited.
 Only the bread-cutter and I were present.
 you?" came the warden's usual greet ing. And then without seeming to hear my answer; T tell you. things are shining in this dining room these days-how do you do it, Kane?"
 I'm fortunate in having a good 1 bunch of men," I answered.
 That helps out wonderfully, al right" he returned. T know how it is; if 1t wasn't for having good men under me, l suppose this place would fall away short of what it ought to be-"
 could tell that the old gentleman was out on regulation jollying ex- rather in the place-that morning for the purpose, slangily speaking of peddling lot of hot air.
 He started away.
 By the way, warden" I addressed him. T have arrangements made with my attorneys to furnish me with some law books and kind ot direct the reading for me. if I may have your permission to get the books and read law for a time" The Plan Carries.
 Law, Kane?" he looked at me doubtfully. Haven't you had enough of the law2"
 Not quite" I answered, "and I'd like something to help pass the time'
 T hardly think it would be con- sistent, Kane" he replied. There are plenty of good books in the li- for you would put the front offices to quite bit of trouble"
 Most prisoners would have quit right there, but I had found out that in that prison man had to fight In one way or another for every thing he got.
 Frank, the downtown teamster goes next door to my attorneys off, fices every day" I urged, and he said that with your permission he'd go up and get the books for me. And then he could leave them in the front office and they could come right in with the mail baskets"
 Het see, hane ana ne Stroked his stubby moustache thoughtfully- who are your attorneys?"
 "Frewin, Edmondson and Smythe T I answered.
 "oh. yes. Judge Frewin is a par ticular friend of mine." He turned to the deputy. "The judge is going to be elected to the supreme bench Anson?"
 At the time my case was dis posed of in the courts" I said, Judge Ffewln advised me to make the best of 1t up here in every way; he sug- gested that under the present man agement I'd no doubt be able to take up some kind of study that would rom MT: Smythe about the reading of law, he spoke of how glad they all were to hear that"
 Say, Anson." l was interrupted 1 by the wardens speaking to his deputy. The teamster could bring those books up, couldn't he?"
 Yes, of course"
 And you'll see that they're sent in to Kane won't you?"
 I'll see that they're sent right in.' '' the deputy promised. And the two officials passed along on their tour of inspection.
 That first consignment of law | poSh' iNeill commentaries, came on schedule time. And because of them and resolves made by me after reading them, the rest of my inn 1 pr1sonment was caused to take on Varlous unusual features, which in turn led to experiences that show truth Is stranger than fiction.
 CHAPTER 25.
 In reading of law I found myself nd ial While because of some generations behind me that had turned out a few lawyers, preachers, schemers and the like who had to exercise some thought in their activities I had a kind of natural aptitude for reason- ing, still in the study Of those com mentaries I would find scores of Latin phrases that were to me about what a problem in differential call culus would be to an Igorote. Being determined to surmount the handi- cap in some way though, in order that l might learn thoroughly all the principles involved, I cast about to find a way out.
 Perhaps my seeking for a way out of each immediate difficulty was que largely to that ever present big Job Of seeking a way out of that walled city-which way would, I felt sure, come in due time. And my thought and effort In seeking was soon regarded.
 There was g-lCoking but grayheaded fellow in there who had a classical education; there was also wreck of a man we'll past mid- dle age who had been a practitioner Tn the courts of both the United States and England.
 From the first man I soon learned both the meaning and correct pro nunciation Of those Latin terms i; from the latter I learned their inn mediate connection and application, also l learned from him everything of which l was in doubt concerning court procedure, wherever that seemed to have special bearing upon my studies. And upon the whole, everything went smoothly, net only as to returning the books and get ting others when desired, but as to my study of them in general
 As might be understood, however, my system of studying was not so smooth-running as one could estab- lish in different surrC undings. There were matters to interrupt occasion ally, not only during the actual be- tween meals hours, which were my own. but also such happenings as would tend to upset one altogether for few days at time One of those events peculiar to prison and brought closer to me because of my work as head waiter l shall here tell of.
 O O O
 Four FeaSts A Year.
 There in the prison we had four special days upon which an unusual meal was served. Those days were New Year, Fourth of July Thanks giving and Christmas. It was as a result of Fourth of July dinner, or rather lack of it, that I came in touch with 34 fellow prisoners who had decided to kick up the kind of row that most persons call a mutiny.
 Until long afterward I was unable l tn find ha l, l. tle