Evening star., 1947-04-06

matter with his watch? Why he still had time cup Of
coffee before going the Office There White Castle
the He stopped opened the glass door, and went
FROM the intersection on which the restaurant stands
winding road leads uphill from Columbia Avenue At the
nit four thick walls form square and inside squat
brick building the state penitentiary In the first floor
Office the warden was sitting in swivel chair phone stand
ing stark the desk before him. straight backed chair
alongside sat small woman in black, crying
I'm sorry, Mrs Glass, the warden saying but I've
told you and again there isn't thing can do
Her sbs became piercing that they seemed them
selves through her veil But he's nnocent she exclaimed
Il know he's innocent. We've uncovered evidence Our
lawyer has submitted it to the governor"
You've explained all that the warden said For nv
part I'm willing believe you But there's been no word
from the reprieve The the execution is set
for nine thirty have authority in the world to postpone
it, He glanced big white faced dial wall Its
twenty after have give order for them to 70
ahead. There's nothing else I can possibly do"
He put hand the phone She reached out goved
hand and covered his Oh won't you please wait? Please
Just few minutes 1t might make all the difference"
Il can't he said He gently removed her hand and was
about pick up the receiver when of bells came
from outside, pealing in through the open window
THERE the said. You see its only nine ocock'
1T can't be- the warden said The prison clock couldn't
be wrong I'd better check the time He reached again for
the phone but he did he looked for long second at the
woman angulShed lace he withdrew his hand Well, he
said slowly, Il suppose the town times official as any
Don't believe anyone could find fault said was going by
that All right That gives your husband half hour
"Oh, thank your she cried Thank you! l know it will
happen i know we'll hear" She stopped talking but the
warden noticed that her lips still moving silently
IF THE warden the with him had look out
the window they would have speeding downhil
toward the center of town. rawboned in impressed
tweeds sitting alone the his hairy hands gripping
the wheel His eyes crnked with kind of venoous deter
mination as he kept them fixed on the road ahead.
Odd Man Bergen. all the farm people called him. though
he was only forty He looked old rather like
who had never been young That mostly the of his
features the eathery hashness around his eyes He had
looked that way when he into the kitchen that morn
ing and found his wife alone the stove
Where's Aice?" he demanded Got some chores want
her to do for today"
Il don't know" Maggie wiped her hands on her greasy
apron as she turned to him. Most likely in her ROOM"
been in her room She's not there Where's she got to-"
Il tell don't know" she insisted but he had put his
big hands on her abby and crunced Finally had
gotten out of her. and he left her hudded over kitchen
chair, waing ..
So Alice thought she would get away as easy as that!
Eope they might call but he called running off like
sneak Meeting that sniveing college boy train going
off to marry him and live in Bradford off government allow
ance without byyoureave from her natural parents
that's what she thought He'd put stop that right
enough The train wouldn't pull in till twentyfour He
could nctza A1.~cbn~ -