New Britain herald., 1925-06-30

resentatives, got herself sentenced 10 prison.
 Guilpess of any crime, she sought answers to the questions
 Are our prisons humane7
 Can girl, crushed by her fellow men, regain her place in society2 This is the third story, written for the Herald.
 By WINNIFRED MASON HUCK Former Representative to Congress From Illinois
 Commonplace cases of intoxica- ton were brought in at almost regular intervals. They considered the jail a convenient place to sleep it off," and immediately made for q cell and got down to the business at hand.
 But Mabel was different. IL was early in the evening when l heard a commotion at the outer door. It sounded as If three or four persons were iabbering at once. Prisoners brought in no longer had any interest for me. But Mabel would arouse anyone's interest.
 She was drunk, gloriously drunk, singingly drunk and above all, af- fectionately drunk.
 Matron Goldman was doing her best 10 go through with the re- quircd searching. And Mabel was doing her best to kiss the matron. Mabel was doing all the talking, except for an occasional unheeded command from the matron.
 Line of Red
 The struggle went on until the matron flung Mabel away from her and left the cell room. l saw long line of red adross the back of the matron's neck. from which the blood was oozing.
 There stood Mabel, suddenly si- lent and glaring at me in kind of drunken stupor.
 Then she saw me,
 My blood froze and my muscles stiffened. She was edging closer and closer, idly, aimlessly, but always with a certainty that terrorized me. Then l called to the matron. Ma bel turned toward me and stopped to listen,
 What do you want?" said the matron.
 What what about Mabel?" I stammered, for I did not want the drunk girl to hear me say was afraid of her.
 "Aw, she's harmless" replied the woman and went out again to wash the blood from her neck.
 If went into my cell and Mabel followed, I was cornered. But out in the central space she kept stalk ing nc. l had the advantage of size and sober wits, if 1t should come 10 a fight, but the thought of touch ing Mabel or being touched by her was insufferable.
 The thought of it drove me near ly mad,
 l walked away from her, with an agonizing sloWness as if were try ing not 10 attract the attention of mad dog. She followed, regulat- ing her pace by mine. I controlled an impulse 10 run.
 Other girls came out, but Mabel never saw them. She had chosen me.
 Dots Cell
  I reached the door of Dots cell. She and Marge were in it.
 slipped in and sat down between them, saying l had come 10 make q call,
 Within 70 seconds, Mabel was at the door,
 Get on out of here with that breath" said Marge. l was aston ishcd. but glored in her nerve. Ma bel only moved nearer.
 Go on, get away. l don't want 1 no second hand drunk" shouted Margc. Mabel came in and sat down.
 T think she is sick and should have a cell 10 herself" I said hop ! ing to arouse the girls to demand that Mabel he locked up.
 "Cgh" said Dot, wrinkling her pretty nose, rotten whiskey. raw onions--'' { Sne- looks 70 me" said l, still Iriving my point "as though she were very sick"
 Narge moved uneasily. "l don't mlnd your getting drunk, she said, but you're so damned fragrant about it." And then 10 me, At that, wish l were feeling as good as she is."
 Marge, Dot and I got up and left Mabel. She followed us into the main room
 You see" said l, how she fol- . lows us'
 That was enough. "Matron," called Marge with a command in her voice that sounded out of place in prison, Mabel keeps hanging around Us. We cant get away from her"
 Bygone Melodies
 The matron unlocked the door, entered and put Mabel in priv ate cell
 At that point, Mabel burst into song.
 She sang melolles Of bygone days. Her voice was fairly good and she keut 10 the tunes rather well. What she could not sing she yelled. Shut up,' called Marge.
 Darling, am growing old" screeched Mabel,
 "In say you are and getting stale, too" called Dot, blowing cloud of cigaret smoke. Mabel fin lshed her song on high note. She's rather happy" said pretty colored girl who was in jail for adultery.
 "Oh, you're the one want to see" said Dot. Tell me what does