The Argosy, March 1907 — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

“Tt helps kill the worst day of the week here—two solid hours, you know. Better come.”’ 3 But when Wib saw the _ short-term men, witnesses, and men held by the grand jury for trial (they occupied the barracks together) file slowly across the yard when the chapel bell rang he turned faint and could not fall in_be-! hind them. He had heard the scuffle and tramp of the convicts from the State wing filing into church first, but they were out of his line of vision. This sight was too much for him, however. The long line of striped figures, each man with his right hand resting on the ~shoulder of the man in front, their eyes fixed upon the ground, looked like some monster serpent weaving its way across the yard toward the chapel. Its effect upon Wib’s mind was beyond expression. By and by the convict orchestra began to play, and then the voices of the men joined in unison in the service. Wib sat in the debtors’ court and _ listened, and wondered how the poor creatures could raise their voices in hymns under such conditions! There were no quoits or dominoes to- day. The prison regulations made the Sabbath more rigorous for these incar- cerated men than ever did the orthodox creed of the old-time Calvinists. After church service the dinner (save the mark!) was served. Fortunately, the breakfast had been plentiful—the suc- culent baked bean and pork of New England; but the dinner was a mess of hash and boiled hominy. 3 Fortunately, some of the debtors had had other eatables sent in the day before, and they shared with their less fortunate comrades. Wib had been generous with the food Bella brought him, and he was welcome now to a portion of Barney’s supplies and those of the Jew. The latter, because of his religious scruples, was much worse off than the other debtors. His friends supplied him with almost everything he ate; but one day when they had neglected him he was obliged to fast, for the penitentiary offi- cials did not supply kosher meats for inmates who happened to be of the Hebrew faith. ; After dinner there was a long and THE - ARGOSY. wearisome afternoon. library and read in their cells. The debtors had the same privilege during the week, as well. The “ good con- — duct’ men could draw a book from the But the workhouse inmates, sitting on — their hard benches, were allowed this day (and as a great favor) to peruse certain tattered magazines and religious papers that were supplied by charitable people. No newspapers, of course, were al- lowed within the prison walls, and any- thing printed in the magazines regard- ing prisoners, or prison life, was torn out before the men were allowed to see them. — At four o’clock the debtors marched back to their cells. They were fortunate in being served their usual supper; but the workhouse inmates and those con- fined in the county jail went supperless to bed on Sunday nights. There was no night-school on Sunday evening, either, and Wib wondered how the men used to activity could stand the long hours (saving that devoted to the church service) confined in the narrow limits of their cells. Sometimes he felt that he should go mad himself and scream aloud. His companionship with Billy Grist was all that saved him, perhaps, from losing entirely his self-control during this first week. Mr. Ware’s mysterious letter was a subject for much cogitation on Wib’s part, and every subject that took. his mind off his present surroundings was welcome.- He seized with eagerness the letters Bella had sent on to him from the Fallowsea post-office when they came to him on Monday morning. There: were two, the final replies from his letters of inquiry; and neither was from Adrian Lowther. _ The _ post- masters of Colfax, Missouri, and Colfax, California, neither knew of the man Wib tried to reach nor of people by his name in their locality. At once, in his mind, Mr. Ware’s veiled words took on added significance. In some way the old gentleman had learned that Adrian was near at hand. Yet, even so, how could Wib reach his witness while he remained himself con- fined in this jail? It all added to the young fellow’s anx- GComichboo <SuiGO