Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-28

udu uGtu nNHAtHIcus TUT kHfEE years
Bob Terry. high-strnng and super
sensitive. had been a number. a
thing TO be pointed u to visitors. a
lifeless. sexless thing deprived Of
everything save the privilege of
thinking. And thought had only
made things worse. The warden was
speaking again.
You should be glad, my boy"
Yes. sir.
and you should realize that you
are lucky. II is unfortunate that YOU
were tent here unjustly. But il is
also fortunate that the state disc0v-
cred it's mistake. The world knows
already that you did not commit this
crime
"Yes. sir"
The prisoners voice was flat and
toneless. He stood rigid, immobile,
eyes never leaving the corner or the
~warden's desk.
You're taking il pretty hard,
Terry. can't cay that / blame you.
Il would be absurd to claim that the
state had been fair-it is ridiculous
10 promise that it can never atone for
this Injustice. You have spent three
years in this prison-and, unfortu-
nately, prison-whether Justly OF I'M
Justly imposed-has a way Of leaving
its mark on a man.
You see. m boy, I understand
certain things about you which per
haps you yourself do not know. 1
know that you are doubly bitter be-
cause you should never have been
sent here in the first place. | know
that you are crammed with false
ideas and thoughts which have been
born in the prison atmosphere. But
the state was not entirely al fault:
occasionally it must do an injustice
in is effort to be just. You have
been the rare victim-and now the
state is sorry and will do what il
can for you. And / want TO beg You
to leave this bitterness behind"
The prisoner looked up. and while
he spoke quietly. there was q tinre
Of satire in his words.
The state IN very kind 10 me-
Simeon Mason bit his lip. elm
afraid you don't understand.
mo. sir"
I'VE are anxious to help"
"Yes, sir"
And | personally"
II understand, sir. have appre-
ciated your fairness. That il sincere,
sir"
Thank you. Terry. NY job isn't
an easy one; some wardens are too
prone 10 forget that their charges
are human beings. At times ! think
my weakness is that ! am too ron
scious of that fact. But my problem
isn't the thing Of interest. I Just
wanted 10 give you this Ietter-and
70 tell you that any time the going
gets a BIT rough and you feel you'd
like 70 talk things over"
Thank you sir" They faced each
other IN silence. The warden was
baffled. Until this moment no hint
of emotion had been betrayed BY the
young man. Then, May / 60, sir ."
Yes"
The young man turned SWAY and
Mason extended the letter which ~
held. Just a second, Terry. This
is for YOU
"For me -" Bob Terry accepted IN
envelope gingerly. II vas his fir
letter in three years. He glance
curiously at the address. Then h.
betrayed his first symptom Of emo
tion.
His face darkened beneath the
prison pallor. his cncc-powerful fi~.
ure stiffened and his fingers invol.
unfairly contracted. He tossed the
letter on the desk.
II don't van is." he exclaimed
harshly.
"No"
Its from Peter Borden"
II know il. The damned old hypo-
critic wants 90 say he's sorry. He
wants 70 undo IN a sentence or two
the thing he did n action Tc hell
with him and his letters. OhfF'
Terry pulled himself together. The
urison fear Of three years Rripped
him. III beg your pardon, Captain.
II didn't mean to-"
Simeon Mason laughed. Don't
a~pologize. You're not a prisoner any
longer"
yes. sir. 7 forgot
About the letter from Mr.. Bor-
den
= don't want Il. sir
Hadn't you better read it,
= don't think 50"
II do. Come now. Terry-don't be
foolish. Put this in your pocket"
Very we'll sir" The mask had
settled o. the prisoners face once
more. "Tll take III" Terry balanced
the letter In his hand and shifted
uncertainly. when may I leave the
prison. sirf"
The warden rose and dropped q
! friendly hAna on the boy's shoulder.
ANY time. Terry. Can't you under
stand You are free"
Steam ~feathered from the siren.
and instantly the rintter pf machir-
cry IN the prison cotton mill wns
| stilied Their. Nv pairs and thress
and fours. the prisoners frnnrra ont
/ ~ the mill. MOST ar thnm "a waite.
Is few wesring the strired garments