“Here is our new prisoner, the self-confessed murderer, and Clarence Pearson will be released.

“Open the door, Pat.”

“Good morning, sir. I have a prisoner for you.”

“Very well. Please register, here.”

“You will have to, for me. My wrists hurt so I am not able to hold a pen in my hand, to say nothing of writing.”

“Your name is—”

“William Devenart.”

“A very odd name you have, Mr. Devenart.

“Pat, you may take care of him. Give him his bath and shave and new suit, then return to the office with Clarence Pearson.”

“You poor, unfortunate fellow, you come along with me. Tell me all about yourself. I’m a guard here, and will trate you nice if you trate yourself so; but I want to give you a tip: Do not disobey rules. It will be better for you. How long are you sentenced here for?”

“Life.”

[216]

“My man! A life sentence, indade! You will eat manny a meal with us, and I am not sure but what I will ate some off the same table.”

“Do the guards and prisoners all eat together?”

“No, not always; but sometimes the guards turns into prisoners.”

“I do not understand you.”

“I do not know what I did mane, to do what I did. Here is the place. Clane yourself up and don the new suit, and very seldom do the styles change—I belave once in ten years, from stripes to checks. You will feel cool after you have been shaved and have a hair-cut. One advantage, you’ll not be needing a comb very soon.”

“Don’t they allow you to comb your hair?”

“Oh, yes; but you don’t have anny to comb.”

“Going to cut my hair off?”

“Sure, Mike—do all of ’em. And won’t I be a peach if I have to get me own hair cut?

“The poor boy don’t look like a criminal. I will be kind to him. I could see tears in his eyes when he was talking. If all of the young[217] men could see some of these heart-rending cases, I do feel we would have less crime.”

“What! A lady coming here? I do believe it is.”

“Mrs. Pearson, come in,” said the superintendent. “How do you do, Mrs. Pearson?”

“Good morning. I should like to see Mr. Pearson.”

“Your husband?”

“No, sir; I have disowned him, but I want to talk with him. I have some papers I want him to sign. I also have an order from Mr. McHenry allowing me to see him, as your rules could not be broken to accommodate anyone.”

“No, madam, I could not break the rules, but with this order I can let you see him. I’ll ring for a guard to bring him.”

“I am to have a private conversation with him.”

“I can not allow that, madam. You must say what you have to say in my presence, in this office.”

“You are one of the most accommodating men, I must say, that I ever saw.”

“I am sorry, very. I have heard you express your opinion of me, but I am here to do my duty, and will at all events. Here comes[218] the guard. I will have your husband brought in at once.

“Bring the prisoner from cell 77.”

“Oh dear! You have him locked up, and call for him by his number, do you? And he has not had a trial, nor has he been convicted of any crime.”

“We have a warrant for his arrest. His trial will be this week. I hope that he will be able to prove his innocence. I am very sorry for him. I have grieved over the matter considerably.”

“Well, I have not grieved at all. I am going to disown him after I get his signature. Then I shall have all the property in my own name, and I shall try to forget that I ever had a husband—a criminal. My daughter Amelia will be married one week from to-day, and we can not be disgraced by coming here after the marriage takes place, and that is why I am here to-day. Is that he coming?”

“No; I have a prisoner who is to receive his freedom, and that is Pat, bringing him in. By the way, that is your brother-in-l............