Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

‘582 trench where the enemy is planted—and there’ll be plenty of fighting. God bless you, you’ve done your best for me. Now I’ve got to go in on my own hook. That’s knowledge that ought to put the strength into any man,” declared Sergeant Douglass. ‘So, let’s shake on it!” He grabbed the squire’s hand. ‘“ Good-by!”’ “This hand-wag doesn’t mean _ good- by—not yet,” asserted the lawyer. “I propose to go along and walk into the warden’s office with you. I want him to know that you’ve got one friend.” _ And there was another friend who could not be dissuaded from joining the melan- choly expedition; Nina Bingham rode be- side her lover in the train. _ There had been sarcastic comments by the station crowd at the shire town—com- ments that dealt harshly with the nature of a girl “ who would lallygag around the feller who had murdered her uncle.” Ac- cording to the opinions expressed by some persistently malicious commentators, Nina’s devotion to Barron Douglass indicated .a guilty plot between the two in the taking- off of the man who had stood between them. But the comments, hone meant to be overheard, brought not even a trace of color to Nina’s cheeks. She seemed to be animated by the same self-poise and cour- age that the new spirit of Barron Douglass displayed. “IT don’t understand it,’ mused the squire, studying their faces from his seat across the car aisle. ‘ All I can say is, God bless you for brave young critters, the both of you!” During aH the journey the lovers yaltel with a cheerfulness that kept the eyebrows of the State prison officer arched in con- tinual astonishment. His experience had been with prisoners who sulked and maid- ens who lamented. Squire Nile, after the experiences of that disastrous trial, had no heart to boast of prowess or ability or influence. When he entered the warden’s office at the State prison with his convoy he waited with humility for such attention as the official might be inclined to give him. Distrusting himself and, possibly, not sure of the young THE ARGOSY. man’s attitude toward the proffer of any more assistance, the squire had refrained from revealing that he and Warden Cates had once been seatmates and close pals during a session of the legislature. Warden Cates promptly made known that fact, and his friendship, as well. He was a fat, smiling, jolly man, with expansive paunch and double chin, and he patted his new prisoner’s shoulder and told him to cheer up. Then he responded to a suggestive wag of the lawyer’s head and retired with him to an inner office. The guard, impressed, offered chairs to the prisoner and the girl, and stepped aside and turned his back. ‘““T was afraid it was all going to be so cold and solemn and cruel here,’ confided Nina, a catch in her voice. The sunshine flooded through the big windows of the of- fice, and the.window plants were blooming. “But it’s real pleasant, isn’t it, Barron?” “And it’s going to come out all right m a little while, dear,” he assured her. “And I’m going to be comfortable here. You know they keep these State prisons up better than they do county jails.” She touched his hand. “The warden seems kind.” “Oh, you can see that! worry about me.” _ There was pathos in the little dialogue and in the smiles they mustered for the sake of each other, like two children, hiding bitter tears and making light of dangers. ‘How often are you allowed to write a letter, Barron?’’ He referred that question to the guard. ‘“‘Once a week—two sheets. Used to be one sheet, once in two weeks. But War- den Cates believes in being human. He’s a fine man!” “Do you hear that?” cried the girl. “Why, think what it’s going to mean— his being such a good friend of Squire Nile! And a letter once a week to me. Write the first one to-morrow, Barron. I'll go to the general delivery for it.” ‘* Géneral delivery?”’ ‘Yes, here—here in this city.” _“ But you’re going back to—’’ “I’m going to stay here—near you. I haven’t said anything about it before be- You mustn’t > DOOK