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

Hca0 pltlIully IOWeJo0--3tO00 there
behind the grating and wouldn't look
| around.
The. image. .of.. his scall- >ons of the
topmost cages reached by that mar
row iron stairway. He, too, would
be lying understanding the officer
on the bridge--thet high bridge up
| near tho ceiling--ths officer walking
back and forth. Once q prisoner
had climbed up the Esating-up and
up--swunE himself across. the iron
baIs-reached the winde.lst him
self down the outer walls. An in
credible feat. But man, penned up
| like an animal locked in long, sti-
fling hours--a man compelled TO walk
with. his hands chained kcf1fc him
Douglas compelled to cat with his
fingers Such men risk dcs-
perate odds.
His whole life in prison /. Jud-
it'll sat up now, leaning forward, her
arms hanging imp at her. sides. His
whole-life in prison. And she would
go over to see him on visitors
H would work in a juts mill. She
had read stories Of men in San
Quentin frightful stories meat
thrown on the tables in troughs az
though pigs were being fed. And
once a prisoner Eeachcd in with his
fork and pulled out rat cooked
with the steward the men ate the
stew
She now buried her face. attempt
ing to shut out the image of Douglas
sitting at such a table. But she saw
this iniagc--saw his fine. hazel eyes
O,n1 ,np us.A
push his plate; saw him blanchcd and
crucified. And she prayed stormily:
"Oh, God no! Almighty God!"
Then there came an image Of him
when he would bid goodby--goodby
TO poor little Emma, leaving her
alone in the kitchen; goodby to Ju-
dith. And he would 20 across the
bay between two officers. hat
slouched over his face
Judith got up. wrapped an old
lounging robe about her. She leaned
on the mantcl. her face pressed
against the cool bricks -.
"Judc--Jude, is that you standing
there? Or only u. shadow? It's you,
Jude"
Sandy's voice went stealing along
Judiths ncrvcs-swect. appealing
voice the little throaty laughs
vanished. She went over softly
stood quietly at Sandy's bed, touched
Sandy's cheeks.
Would you like something's"
"ies-sit here" Sandy reached up
thin hand. In the dim. wavcr-
ing freight it looked a white, waxy
lily. She tucked it in that childlike
way Of hers in Judith's. "Sit here,
Judy. Oh, how good you are! And
| all I've done is bring you pain.
| wonder how much!"
Judith WINGED.
isn't it strange. Jude, for yom
way?"
Yes, it's strange
And ID what does your mother
"She's in Scbastopol yet. That
saves tho whole thing. / write 10
her and she never notices the post
mark And I've told Maud that we
had an automobile smashup near
Los Angeles. and that we're staying
in little mountain retreat. You
see. sent the letter by Hal and he
brought me her answer. He cx-
planned this by saying his mother is
III and he goes every weekend south
to see her. She thinks it's bit
queer, but | don't have to explain
/. to her.
"lf Alice knew! II they would
!, find out-oh, hut feel SO far away
from them all from every one but
sou, Jude!"
Sandy turned her fingers and scru.
tinized them as a baby does. She
purscd her lips. Finally she smiled.
II wanted so to be loved. Judith.
and in all the world there's only you
| who cares. Yes--only you. Isn't
this IA strange way for u persons
life to cnd?"
ooh, your lifc's not ended"
The JOY Of it is. I wonder how
CHANGED to 20 the way | did.
Judith, isn't it rather cruel that we
have no sure way--no light along
| our path-nOnc at all
"Ah. you don't answer, Judc-you
just stand there and I can see sor-
row in your face. You think I'm to
blame that went wrong
from the beginning-I let myself be
showed into things Wasn't it
fatal error! If I'd ever stopped to
reason it ! would have known /
didn't want marriage thcn--that de.
grading kind of n marriage
| should have known what | wanted
had some kind Of purpOsc---some
kind of goal. II anyone had held up
torch that would have shown me
myself and I wouldn't have
fallen for Isabcl's hypocrisy. That's
| all it was. but she didn't know it,
Isabel gave nc nothing a decent per-
son could accept ;. and Just
flohndcred about, having nothing
better within myself
"Oh. Judith, say something -
"You say you want light along
the path but what difference would
it make? Would that have brought
YOU surely to happiness Z"
Il know what you mean! All,
Judc--you had light You al
ways stood out tor the. hest you
knew, and what do you get and what
does Douglas, get! All because Of
me? So, no one goes wrong alone
dragged you with me -"
Judith stopped down hastily and
kissed hcr. She raised Sandy aud
for an instant put her arms about
her.
you've been crying. jude
you make me cry. I'm glad to
be here with you. do love
you. S9ndy-"
Then Sandy said: III he would
come to sec me Just once, Jude just
once. viii you, give this letter to
! Hal! have it under my pillow
Judith took the letter. She stuck
it In her pocket.
Sunday, she didn't give It to him.
knowing that he'd have. no chance
to pass it to Douglas.
Monday morning Sandy saw the
corner Of the envelope sticking from
Judith's pocket.
She stared at the corner Of the
envelope. She swallowed hard.
1nAifh didnk sUiva The 1nkfart 1ndifh