Part 66 (1/2)

Holy the minutes creep! I listen intently, and catch the sound of bars being unlocked on the botto the kitchen men out to prepare breakfast--5 A M! Two and a half hours yet before I shall be called; two endless hours, and then another thirty long ain I pace the cell

II

The gong rings the rising hour In great agitation I gather up my blankets, tincup and spoon, which ed My heart beats turbulently, as I stand at the door, waiting to be called But the guard unlocks the range and orders me to ”fall in for breakfast”

The striped line winds down the stairs, past the lynx-eyed Deputy standing in the h the centre, where each man receives his portion of bread for the day and returns to his tier The turnkey, on his rounds of the range, casts a glance intothe door inout,” I protest

”Not till you're called,” he retorts, locking me in

I stand at the door, tense with suspense I strain uard to call ue fear steals overti effort I throw off the dreadful fancy, and quicken my step I must not think--not think

At last! The lever is pulled, my cell unlocked, and with a dozen other le file and lockstep I await my turn impatiently, as several men are undressed and their naked bodies scrutinized for contraband or hiddenat eachboisterously: ”Hey, you! Take off theuard accos are returned to me: some money friends had sent, my watch, and the piece of ivory the penitentiary turnkey had stolen fro back before I left Riverside The officer in charge handsabout thirty cents), and I aate

III

The sun shi+nes brightly in the yard, the sky is clear, the air fresh and bracing Now the last gate will be thrown open, and I shall be out of sight of the guard, beyond the bars,--alone! How I have hungered for this hour, how often in the past years have I dreamed of this rapturous moment--to be alone, out in the open, away from the insolent eyes of my keepers! I'll rush away from these walls and kneel on the warm sod, and kiss the soil and eive thanks to Nature for the blessings of sunshi+ne and air

The outer door opens before me, and I am confronted by reporters with cameras Several tall men approach me One of them touches me on the shoulder, turns back the lapel of his coat, revealing a police officer's star, and says:

”Berkht, by order of the Chief”

The detectives and reporters trailing me to the nearby railway station attract a curious crowd I hasten into a car to escape their insistent gaze, feeling glad that I have prevailed upon my friends not to meet me at the prison

My mind is busy with plans to outwit the detectives, who have entered the saed to join the Girl in Detroit I have no particular reason to et rid of the spies, so with the Girl

I feel dazed The short ride to Pittsburgh is over before I can collectcars, the clanging bells, bewildermonsters pursue me on every side The crowds jostleinto the passers-by The turmoil, the ceaseless e whizzes close by me; I turn to look at the first auto current sweepsA woman passes ely di face I saze of the detectives A wild thought to escape, to get away from them, possesses me, and I turn quickly into a side street, and walk blindly, faster and faster A sudden i car, and I dash after it

”Fare, please!” the conductor sings out, and I al sense of the eness of my action, I produce a dollar bill, and a sense of exhilarating independence comes over me, as the n of recognition Does he realize that I am just out of prison? He turns away, and I feel thankful to the dear Chuhtfully provided me with a new suit of clothes It is peculiar, however, that the conductor has failed to notice my closely cropped hair But thenized me by my picture in the newspapers; or may be it is lance about ear yet; it e it: the detectives could not follow me so easily then Why, there they are on the back platforn arrests my eye, and I walk into the store, and then slip quietly through a side entrance, a dark derby ontiain, till I findme now; the detectives must have lost track of me I feel worn and tired Where could I rest up, I wonder, when I suddenly recollect that I was to go directly frostore of Co to wire to the Girl about store M---- see; he shakes my hand violently, and plies me with questions, as he leads me into his aparte to be in a regular room: there is paper on the walls, and it feels so peculiar to the touch, so different froly, with a keen sense of pleasure The chairs, too, look strange, and those quaint things on the table The bric-a-brac absorbs my attention--the people in the room look hazy, their voices sound distant and confused

”Why don't you sit down, Aleck?” the tones are musical and tender; a wo around the table, and picking up a bright toy