The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-01

elbow, with touch Of excitement in
his face. Then, recognizing me,
aye gods! What's the big idea?" He
looked completely amazed.
This is my coat" said l, without
changing expression.
"Say, this isn't April Fool. What's
the joke? ?"
"Well," said l, "perhaps it is joke
and perhaps it isn't"
Then l told him of my secret am
bition to get real inside view of a
jail, and that l was expecting him to
make good on his threat of few
days before.
Sweat broke out on his face.
Come" he begged, lets 60 to
lunch and forget this whole bust
ness"
II should say not" l answered,
all the while guiding our steps to-
ward the police station. "And where's
your sporting blood?"
This gibe went home, and while
had the advantage, l made another
| lunge.
"This is the chance l have been
seeking for MONTHS" l said. II
can't imagine your going back on
me-"
And so ! was brought up in court.
] was proud of my friend as he
put on long face and swore out a
warrant before Cleveland's young
assistant prosecutor, John Boylan.
, Six Months
; Judge F. L. Stevens, man with
kindly eyes, but with lines in his
face that told of constant contact
with world of evil and suffering
1 lectured me not unkindly. The grav-
Ell pounded on the desk.
Elizabeth Sprague. six months,
he said.
was led out. turned over to a
policeman and within an incredibly
short time. found myself locked in
with the scum of big city.
had secI~ their hats, and for the
present. thare was nothing else
about them that wanted to see
But | was doomed not only to see
the women themselves, but to ca,
with them, to talk with them, a,
times to peer down into the abyss
where their crafty, ugly. depraved
thoughts WFltneO.
A scuffle, a curse, sharp com
mand, the sound Of the impact OF
flesh on flesh brought me suddenly
to my feet.
In the outer room the matron ane
a policeman were bringing in new
prisoner. 1t was sort of free for
all wrestling match.
The three plunged into the room
| Tho rn0ioornoro <hn !
a deft twist of their strong arm:
dispatched the woman prisoner will
Keeling velocity into one of thu
cells.
Livid Rage
In livid rage, she legained her fee
and made for the door. 1t slammed
in her face and the rasping boil
was shot. Her fury broke into ;
storm Of such language as hat
not imagined existed on the earth.
The policeman went out, straight
ening his clothes. The matron wa.
rubbing her wrist, which was rec
and swelling from an ugly scratch.
She said nothing. This was a mer,
trifle in comparison to many of tn,
hurts she received.
| went back to my cell, shaker
with fright.
What next, in this place where
was Gagged with smells, vile sights
crawling filth, rage and obscenity?
l wondered why Dante had no
described hell as a cage instead o
giving the souls of the dead unlim
tied space in which to roam.
! l felt that had experienced tn
prison feeling, but what knew thel
was a mere shadow Of the horro
that crept upon me during the late
days and weeks of life behind bar
and locks and gray walls.
Nothing could shock me anew,
thought. But ! was wrong.
Looking up, ! saw one of the pref
test girls, l had ever looked a,
Trained in the doorway of my CELL
She was young, slim and graceful
Her hands were delicate and he
feet small. Her clothes reflected ex
quisite taste.
She had good features; fine gra
eyes, we'll poised head and an ap
pealing expression.
She stood and stared at me.
Copyright. 1925, NEA Service, Inc.