Part 63 (1/2)
The noteis unfanature, ”Ji His sympathies are with me, the writer says He has learned all the details of the trouble, and feels that I acted in the defence ofundeserved huuard; and he cannot bear to see me thus persecuted My time is short, and the present trouble, if not corrected, may cause the loss of my commutation He will immediately appeal to the Warden to doaction
I wonder at the identity of the writer Evidently not a prisoner; intercession with the Warden would be out of the question Yet I cannot account for any officer ould take this attitude, or e with me
Presently ”Coz” saunters past the cell ”Got your answer ready?” he whispers
”Who gave you the note, Coz?”
”I don't know if I should tell you”
”Of course you must tell me I won't answer this note unless I knoho”
”Well, Aleck,” he hesitates, ”he didn't say if I o and ask him first”
Considerable tie that the man is in a distant part of the institution, or not easily accessible At last the kindly face of the Italian appears at the cell
”It's all right, Aleck,” he says
”Who is he?” I ask iuess”
”Tell me, then”
”Well, I'll tell you He is not a screw”
”Can't be a prisoner?”
”No”
”Who, then?”
”He is a fine fellow, Aleck”
”Come now, tell me”
”He is a citizen The fore department?”
”That's the man Here's another stiff from him Answer at once”
III
DEAR MR J M:
I hardly knorite to you It is thethat has happened to me in all the years of er--and not a prisoner, at that--should offer to intercede in my behalf because you feel that an injustice has been done! It is almost incredible, but ”Coz” has informed me that you are determined to see the Warden in this matter I assure you I appreciate your sense of justice ently request you not to carry out your plan With the best of intentions, your intercession will prove disastrous, to yourself as well as to me A shop fore in the block The Warden is a martinet, and extremely vain of his authority He will resent your interference I don't knoho you are, but your indignation at what you believe an injustice characterizes you as a man of principle, and you are evidently inclined to be friendly toward e