Evening star., 1924-01-13

was deafening.
open the gates" commanded Sher-
wood. Lock them behind me and
don't reopen them again even If you
think it's to save my life"
The deputy crossed the yard.
| neither hurrying nor hesitating, and
hammered on the door with his fist.
; The clamor inside suddenly died.
open the door. boys" he COM
manded. "I'm coming in to talk to
YOU. I'm alone and unarmed."
The man on guard unbarred the
door. and Martin Sherwood stepped
/ quickly in and faced the mob.
For five seconds that seemed an
hour there was dead silence. 1t was
broken by an inarttculate, unhuman,
menacing roar of rage that rose to a
scream.
A man rushed at the deputy and
spat in his face. Calmly Sherwood
| drew out his handkerchief and wiped
his cheek, but never for an instant did
his eyes waver from the inflamed ones
of the man he faced.
I'll remember that. Kelly. when I
get you in the Jacket" he said slowly.
The convict laughed. but pressed
, backward, cowed by the fearless as
surance of his antagonist.
* x X x
BOSTON BLACKIE forced his way
i" through the crowd. He was
| within ten feet of the deputy warden
before he saw him. He caught the
deputy by the shoulder and turned
him toward the door.
Co" he said. Get out before they
kill you"
Sherwood threw off his hand.
You may be able to command this
convict rabble. Blackie," he said in
voice perfectly audible in the silence
| which had fallen on the mob, but
you can't command me. came to
talk to these men, and I'm going to
do it,
From the rear came a metal weight
which missed Sherwood's head by
inches. The screaming blood cry rose
again. One struck at the deputy's
head with a shuttle, but Blackie hit
first and laid the man senseless at
his feet. Then he jumped to the top
of a loom.
Men, II you want to hang" he cried,
his voice rising above the bedlam,
"I'll go along with you. If you'll listen
to me first"
The outcry died down and Blackie
talked to them.
All through the harangue Sher-
wood stood listening, his face mex
pressive.
Deputy" said Blackie, turning to
him. I'VE have been told you said you
would keep the men in Punishment
Hall in the straitjacket until they die.
if necessary, to flnd out who smuggled
OUT the letter complaining about the
rotten food. Is that true?"
TT is" said Sherwood.
I'VE make three demands, then"
said Blackie: First. the release of all
the men undergoing punishment; sec
ond, your promise that no man con-
cerned in this revolt shall be pun
ished; third. your guarantee that
henceforth we get the food for which
the state pays but which the COM
missary captain steals"
And II I refuse, what them" asked
Sherwood.
"At noon we will destroy the MILL"
Boys" said the deputy, Il have
listened to your spokesman. You
know I can't grant your demands
without consulting the warden, who
is in San Francisco. 1 will do this,
however: l will declare a half holi-
day. Come over to the upper yard.
have your dinner as usual and we'll
all watch a ball game in the after
noon. Before night I will give you
your answer"
With the thought OF the machine
guns and rifles that covered the upper
yard in his mind, Sherwood smiled
grimly.
Wait" cried Blackie. when the
men in Punishment Hall are free and
you, Mr.. Sherwood, who have never
been known to lie, have told us We'll
be fed right and no one harmed or
punished for this mornings work.
we'll go into the upper yard-not
before"
Boys" said the deputy, do as I
suggest. Why should you let this
Notwithstanding Blackie-"order you
around. Come on up to the yard. and
I'll issue an extra ration Of tobacco
all round. Are you going to go along
with me or stay here with him?"
We'll, stay" answered Blackie for
the men.
A shout from the men proved
Sherwood's defeat
you're quite general. Blackie,"
said the deputy. iii give you an
answer in fifteen minutes. But"-he
looked straight into Boston B1ackie's
eyes-"the next time you and 1 clash
I'm going to break you like this
He jerked the straw from his mouth
and twisted 1t apart. Then he
walked out of the mill.
A quarter of an hour tier ten pain
racked prisoners were welcomed
back to the mill. With them came
the deputy warden's acceptance Of
Boston Blackie's terms. In the midst
of the turbulent jollifcation a half
witted, one-armed boy, nicknamed
'"The Squirrel" drew out his mouth
organ and tried to express his Joy
in the one way he knew.
"cut out the bum music!" cried
burly convict. where d'you flgger
in this, you nutty SQUIRREL"
The boys eyes filled with tears
and his notes faltered.
go ahead. Play, little Squirrel"
Boston Blackie said encouragingly.
Goodbye, dear one" he said. I've
You're one Of us, you know, and
we're all happy"
That night Boston Blackie lay on
his cell bunk anxiously probing the
future. In his mind he still saw the
broken bits OF Martin Sherwood's
brook straw futtering to the mill
floor.
X X x