Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-01-31

oON| oNN'f caPPVoS 40 nNtRAhk
you from other nuts"
She came close to him and looked
up at him wistfully 80 he stopped and
kissed her. At once tears suffused her
eyes. you don't mind what | look
like, do you, Doctor Burt? You're KIDD
enough not to feel sorry for me-"
Amazingly she had changed-slipped
out Of one personality into the other
as one slips out of a coat. "Will you
do something for me, Doctor?" she
continued, and he saw that she was all
nerves now. I'm looking for a girl
named Penelope. l can't remember her
last name. but l do wish you'd try to
find her for me, even with so little to
60 on"
"Where does she live, Nance?"
"Out there, somewhere"
you've been reading a poem. l
think, Nance-a poem that runs:
And you, my sweet Penelope, out there
somewhere you wait for me,
With buds of roses In your hair and
kisses on your mouth.
She trembled with eagerness. "Why,
you know her, Doctor. That's the
Penelope I'm looking for"
"Oh, if that's the Penelope, why OF
course I'll find her for you. Good-by,
my poor dear girl, and remember to
look for me at the gate the day you're
released from San Quentin"
A deputy sheriff took Nance Belden
to San Quentin and was decent enough
to refrain from Handwriting her en-
route. The girl was not particularly
sad. Indeed she appeared to enjoy the
brief trip across the bay In the ferry
boat, and the half hours journey by
train to G%reenbrae, where the prison
bus meets arriving deputy sheriffs and
their charges. Even the first glimpse
for the road that enters the grounds is
fanked by the homes of the officials
and guards, and well-kept lawns and
flower gardens give no hint of the
gloom that lies In waiting beyond the
main gate.
She was taken first to the warden's
office, from here she was passed on to
another officer where she was meas
ured by the Bertillon system, thumb
printed and photographed, after which
ems wing of the prison.
The building In which female con
victs are housed at San Quentin would
readily be mistaken for a hospital were
It not for the bars at the windows and
the high metal mesh fence that sur
rounds the grounds. Two young won
en- were hoeing In the flower beds (;
along the cement walks other women
strolled, singly or In pairs, chatting
and enjoying the sunshine and fresh
salt breeze that blew In from the bay,
less than fifty yards distant. About
two hundred yards off the beach, some
men In skiffs were fishing for striped
bass, and with the exception Of a guard
in a kiosk at the entrance to the
grounds, one would have to search In
vain for the slightest hint of official
surveillance.
$50 this is San Quentin" Nance re-
marked gaily to her escort. mot so
bad, my boy. not so bad"
The guard did not answer. He knew
that the realization of restriction rather
than high walls constitutes the horror
Of prison life. He took her into a
small lobby, where a pleasant-faced,
middle-aged matron greeted the girl
cordially.
"Come with me, Nance" she said,
and led the girl into her Office, where
she took charge Of Nance's suitcase,
opened 1t and searched II thoroughly.
you have nice clothes and toilet
articles" she commented. Have you
more clothes at home? These will
scarcely last two years"
"Yes. May l send for them?" asked
Nance eagerly.
"Of course you may. The women
inmates of San Quentin are not re-
qulred to wear a prison uniform, al.
though we furnish one If necessary"
"Hurrah for our side," Nance replied
c%heerfully.
"You read and write, of course,
Nance?"
DO | look like a dumb-bell2"
"Well,"- patiently there are the
prison rules. Read them, and ther
obey them strictly. Failure to obey
them will lead to disciplinary measures
! and repeated ~infractions may lead tc
solitary confinement. II you prove t.
be a good girl, you'll receive credit fol
good behavior in the shape Of a reduc
: ton In the length Of your sentence
Good conduct will also render you ell
: gible for parole after you have served
half Of your sentence; II you shoult
get into trouble. tell me about 1t first
| try to give my girls a square deal
but very few Of them try to give me
one. II you should think you're no
: being treated fairly. I'll always be GLAD
to discuss your grievances with you
You will meet ONE terrible womer
here and you will also meet some who
had they been spared the unfortunate
> circumstances which conducted t
bring them here, would be ladies. Con
|, viction doesn't mean that a person II
: devoid of all human attributes. 70,
!, will keep your person and your eel
clean. You will not be locked In you