Part 16 (2/2)

”Then better don't talk to me”

”Oh, I ain't scared of him He can't catch _me_, not he He didn't see h”

”But be careful”

”It's all right He's gone out in the yard now He has no biz in the block,[15] anyhow, 'cept at feedin' time He's jest lookin' for trouble

Mean skunk he is, that Cornbread Tom”

[15] Cell-house

”Who?”

”That screw Fellings We call hier”

”What's corn dodger?”

”Ha, ha! Toosdays and Satoordays we gets a chunk of cornbread for breakfast It ain't much, but better'n stale punk Knohat punk is?

Not long on lingo, are you? Punk's bread, and then some kids is punk”

He chuckles, merrily, as at some successful _bon esture of warning, tiptoes away fro:

”All O K Road's clear Tom's been called to the shop Won't be back till dinner, thank th' Lord Only the Cap is in the block, oldNorth Block it's called”

”The woot a speshal building South Block's th' new cell-house, just finished Crowded already, an' fresh fish coht Know any one here?”

”No”

”Well, get acquainted, Aleck It'll give you an interest Guess that's what you need I kno you feel, boy Thought I'd die when I landed here Awful duuy advised ht he was kiddin' ht Get acquainted, Aleck; you'll go bugs if you don't Must vaie?”

”That's what they call me here I'm an old soldier; was at Bull Run Run so da”

Eagerly I look forward to the stolen talks with Wingie They are the sole break in the e of a word Silently the one-armed prisoner walks by, apparently oblivious ofheart I peer between the bars for a cheering sign of recognition Only the quick wink of his eye reassures uard

By degrees the ingenuity of Wingie affords us ather valuable inforie says They know I'm ”on th' level”

I'm sure to find friends, but I eons,”