Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-01-25
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Did Not Want
Liberty
By JAMES BLACK

0VOU'RE IA free man, 1929 The
governor has pardoned you"
The trowel fell from the old CON
vict's hand. The wardens face
wavered before his eyes. His hopes of
thirty years-come true at last!
Thirty years had passed since his
sentence Of death had been committed
10 one Of life Imprisonment. He had
killed in hot blood-over the woman
he had married, who had proved faith
less to HIM. That was why they com
muted his sentence. And for thirty
years he had dreamed Of this day.
For ten years past he had been a
trusty, in charge Of the penitentiary
greenhouse. He had done wonders
with 1t, made 1t an asset to the peni-
Tertiary. he had forgotten It now.
II don't know who'll look after the
greenhouse. Blake" said the warden
Blake" Yes, he was Blake. fle
had almost forgotten that,
What are you going to dot"
Get a Job, suppose" What differ
one left now-no one.
On the following day Blake, at
tired In new blue suit, with a con.
siderable sum in his pocket, departed
for his old town.
But 1t had changed beyond recogni-
ton, the whole quarter where he had
lived had been pulled down, every.
thing was different he stared in as
tonishment at the high buildings. And
the motor cars-they went 80 fast
They went so fast that the end Of
the dry found him an inmate Of the
town hospital, with crushed Rib and
dislocated shoulder. As he had money,
he was given a private room. A month
later, when he was discharged, he
found he bad just nine dollars In the
world. All the rest had gone for the
room ana attendance.
With the nine dollars he took
ticket back to the penitentiary town,
That was more like home to him. For
three nights and days he roamed the
streets. Who would give wsrk to an
old man with Wild eyes and disjointed
speech
Apd'thep the great resolve was born
In HIM. The penitentlary greenhouse,
which was barfed on the inside at
night, projected out of a corner of
the grim building, 80 as to catch the
sunlight. And Blake knew all about
that structure of steel and glass.
1t was only to get a foothold on the
brick base and pun up the catch Of
the side window that admitted air
The next night found hin inside
the place. The moon was shining
brightly. he uttered cry. 1t was all
going to ruin.
Nobody had watered any of his
flowers since his departure. The
begOnias were shedding their leaves,
those polnsettlas which he had been
raising for the wardsn's wife were all
dropping The ferns we're dying in the
dried pots. And ruthless hands had
cut away all the Towering African
lilies that he had priced so much.
Forgetful VI everything else, Blake
set to work. Ne attached the hose, he
sent streams u water over all the
pots. lie made cuttings and planted
them in little of that fine, soft sand
that stu remained. He pruned, he
gathered deAd leaves and piled them In
n corner to make compost.
The sun eaIae up and found the
old man hard Mt work He labered on,
forgetful of the passage Of time. Now
those pesnies, in which he had taken
such pride
The waroNn and the chief keeper
found him kneelinE in a pool of muddy
water, busy at work. A glance at
the open window told them all.
The warden stepped forward and
touched the old man on the shoulder.
Blake looked up and uttered startled
cry.
For Gods sake don't send me away
couldn't get work felt like com
hitting another murder to get back
herel"
BLAKE, this is lucky for both of
u.s." the warden said. THE commits
sioners we're talking Of trying to get
man from outside to take charge Of
the greenhouse. None of our men
are able to- How would you like the
job7"
A slow smile dawned over old
Blake's face.
like it2" he stammered. warden,
| believe I'll have some better poin
settias for your wife than ever"