Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 176: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ap tha gh 8 prison. The breakfast line marched from the mess-hall; a grim-faced, weary procession, representing in the ag- gregate of their “time” an age of stifling toil. , As the line passed through the gate into the yard, it broke, and the prisoners, sin- gly and in scattered groups, preceeded easily and less precisely to the point where various crews were checked into the in- dustrial departments for the day’s work. The yard became a scene of quickening activity as the mess-hall continued to yield score after score of men. For the most part these men plodded straight ahead to the checking station. Others dallied, knowing their particular crew would not be called until the last. They took advantage of the precious few minutes ‘to gossip—perhaps to plot. "|e parted in the yard of the big But there was one man in the line who turned his face happily away from the checking station. For eight heavy years he had marched into that yard from the: mess-hall, and thence to the checking sta- tion. But he had eaten his last meal in that prison; he had merely pecked at his breakfast, in his brightening eyes the far- away look of a.man who sees a vision. He had checked out to the shops for the last- time. His gaze, for the moment, fell upon the line gf prisoners following him into the yard. He stood in the morning~sunlight a # Digitized by Go ogle Roy W Hinds beside a rock wall. Far above his head mat towered a cell-house, a mountain of ca- . lamity. Just now his attention was claimed by the incoming line of prisoners. Soon his face would turn through the big gates up front, and his steps find their way into the wide-open freedom of the outside. His eyes gleamed with hope. Daniel Rodd was due to go out that morning. He had completed a ten-year sentence in something like eight years. It was all over now. His breath came. in quick, fitful gasps as full realization of the day came to him. He felt smothered. His heart thumped wildly, gladly, and so furiously that its current stifled his hmgs. The shifting throngs of prisoners moved about close at hand; yet it all seemed a spectacle viewed from a great distance. His fancy had flown , over the walls and away. The present was dim as the past. His flesh quivered; his limbs weakened. Daniel Rodd was smitten with fear. Suppose the excitement should prove too muclfor him? Suppose the onde! of eight terrible years were to end in death of ner- vous heart-failure at the final hour? He thought of his family,.and took a grip upon himself. The line was~still filing into the yard. Occasiohally a prisoner stopped to dake the hands of Daniel Rodd and to mumble good wishes. Many asked him to under- 458 Original from a ClOOOIK CO) CO