The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-06-01

wiped off Judith's hands. Without
looking at her, he said: And of
all of US, it's hardest on)you, Jude
hardest on you"
That night Judith moved her
couch Lear the fireplace. She
couldn't sleep and lay staring at the
little gold-magneto flames. How en-
ergetic they were.
The shade at the open window
kept tapping. 1t worried her She
would doze little. Then the shade
tapped and awakened her freshly to
scenes-troubling scenes and images.
The image of Douglas with his fists
bound and held so bitterly before
him-handcuffed. Then the way he
stood with his back to her, his
brown head pitifully lowered-stood
there behind the grating and
wouldn't look around
The image of his cell--one Of the
topmost cages reached by that mar
now iron stairway He, too, would
be lying awake-hearing the officer !
on the bridge-that high bridge up
near the ceiling-the officer walking
back and forth. Once "a prisoner
had climbed up the grating-up and
up-swung himself across the iron
bars-reached the window-let him
self down the outer walls. An in
credible feat. But a man penned up
like an animal-locked in long, sti-
fling hours-a man compelled to
walk with his hands chained before
him--Douglas compelled to eat with
his fingers. {. . Such men risk des-
perate odds.
His whole life in prison, Judith
sat up now, leaning forward, her
arms hanging limp at her sides. His
whole life in prison. And she would
go over to SEEK him on visitors
day.
He would work in jute mill. She
had read stories of men in San. Quen
tinZfrightful stories-neat thrown
on the tables in troughs as though
pigs were being fed. And once a
prisoner reached in with his fork
and pulled out a 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 image-saw his fine, hazel eyes
somber and embittered; saw him
push his plate; saw him blanched
and crucified And she prayed
stormily; "Oh God-no! Almighty
God"
Then there came an image of him
when he would hi good-by-good-by
TO poor little Emma, leaving her
alone in the kitchen; good-by to Ju-
dith. And he would go 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 mantel, her face pressed
against the cool bricks
"Jude-Jude, is that you standing
there? Or only a shadow. It's you,
Jude"
Sandy's voice went stealing along
nerves-sweet, appealing
little throaty laughs van
ished. She went over softly-stood
quietly at Sandy's bed, touched
Sandy's cheeks.
Would you like something's"
"Yes-sit here" Sandy reached
up thin hand. In the dim, waver-
ing freight it looked a awhile, waxv
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 Won
and I to be here in this mysterious
way?"
Yes, it is strange"
"And what does your mother
Think"
She's in Sebastopol yet. That
saves the whole thing. 1 write to
her ana 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 ex-
planned this by saying his mother is
i'll and he goes every weekend south
to see her. She thinks it's a bit
queer, but I don't have to explain
to her"
''If Alice knew! If they should
find out-oh, but l feel so far away
from them all-from every one but
you, jude"