The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-08-04

life rather than tell what you do
know! Well. think Il over. 1 aDShx
fool yourself on what ff6.ip may
do. Face the. worst death -hangS1
by the neck until. dad. The best
isn't much better. Life In . place
like this-a stinkine hole like this
. convict for life, You're Is. IN
come around IL the morning"
Five-thirty. Locked In his cell.
Small space. six by eight. Dismal
yellow light from the low power
electric bulb waveeing through the
bars.
Corners, his cell mate, lay on his
cot. His was the lower berth. ne
chewed tobacco and leaned over TO
spit on the floor. Glanced up to
say: "Smatter, kid9 You look done.
Going against your A big wad Of
tobacco went spattering to the floor.
"For Gods sake-keep it in your
facet"
Corners grinned: "'Scuse me, kid,
Not used to ritxy society. Sorry
you're feelin' low. Don't give up
the ship till it heavss you into the
sea: I've seen fellows get out Of
awfully tight ;ams."
Douglas took up . book. He sat
on = bench and leaned against the
iron door. Two days between him
and verdict. Face the worst
death penalty.
Three cells from theirs. there was
. fellow sentenced to swing. Wait
ing here now on appeal-waiting in
q fury, that made his eyes always
bloodshot in m anguish that made
him walk up and down the tanks
with little speedy jerks Of his whole
body. Caught redhanded just after
he'd shot policeman. Waiting to
be hanged. waiting for the rope
have it looped about his throat, the
black cap pulled over his face. A
moments pause-the last moment
Of life. Then q body plunged Yudely
and with bitter shock through the
air, jounced down 50 the neck would
be broken; otherwise the gallows
turned to . shambles; do it neatly
hate his neck broken. The warden
and the prison doctor kneeling-the
minutes. perhaps tkirtesn-desd.
He felt nauseated. They wouldn't
find him guilty. How could they I
He'd never be sentenced to death.
Too many unexplained angles.
Twice he crossed the room. Twice
! saw his face with startling clear
ness. He crossed the room, stopped
down as though leaning over some
thing or searching for something."
Yes, leaning over the body Of Ra-
mon. He was there when . man lay
dead. The jury knew this. They
would want to know why.
And II he couldn't tell them they'd
believe he must have some guilt
guilt enough to warrant life impris-
onment. Guilt enough for them TO
order him walled up for the rest of
his life. He becoming convict
sharing . cell years and Year,
xtifling - tobacco juice spattsred on
the floor. Locked up IN, . vault
every day from o'clock TIL 3 the
next morning.
That jury Of twelvs men could do
this to him-to him. . free, guilt
less human beings fellow who loved
the sunlight and the air, who liked
swinging . tennis racket, who liked
pretty girls and danelng and music,
who went 90 jsuntily bf q New
Years eve or > football day., ~,
II wouldn't happen-it c6VldR 7 xap
pen 80. |. not 70 him! . Si'''
He began TO pace the cell-three
steps then about-turning round and
round. He thought Of the solacs he
rave bis mother -
IN . week It will BE- over
all over"
Now she shuddered. All OVER
And then Of Norman Wood'a
words: ITS her reputation against
pour life" Yea. 8sndy's happiness
i-Sandy's Notwithstanding him
70 prison for life-for his whole life
She went down there that night "a
Ramon. Why did she TOT e only
Eshe hadn't gone. Sending him "a
He went to the grating and tried
to get : cool breath Of air-suffo'
suddenly he Thought Of Judith
remembered her eyes filled With
tsars-Judith's lovely violet EYES
And suddenly he remembered IL
SvOW AVoA &vW WWOu Nc ASUoVO WXu
at midnight-how white Ahe grew
and how he flushed because 81 thu
unexpected swsstness IN Judith',
1ips-dear Judith-all those walks
/; they had taken 81.
| He held the bars. finding his hand,
appallingly Vet and shaking !.
Saturday morning his attornej
conferred with him. He said: sWeil
you've decided % speak? 4
dossnt matter-I've decided Il fol
you."
CHAPTER III
s. Nothing can force him t. talk
He looked up and asked: sWha,
| would YOU do. Hal, IN nv .plaoo Z
4 Whist could / answsr. Juditkf ii
/ % What he's doing 50 would you.'
"But she could clear II. I'm sure
she could clear IT,
Judith and Hal Hume standine Over
the stove In The kitchen of the hunt
ink abaek. sGstnndaH,. et6nlne nv
sstaraay after Aver lfiidisses 81
ss.s ss Il IL i, III .-.s