"A member of the Board of Inspectors rescinded it by telegraph."
"What Inspector?"
"You can"t question me. Your visitor has been refused admittance."
"Will you tell me the reason, Warden?"
"No reason, no reason whatever."
He turns on his heel, when I detain him: "Warden, it"s two years since I"ve been in the dungeon. I am in the first grade now," I point to the recently earned dark suit. "I am ent.i.tled to all the privileges. Why am I deprived of visits?"
"Not another word."
He disappears through the yard door. From the galleries I hear the jeering of a trusty. A guard near by brings his thumb to his nose, and wriggles his fingers in my direction. Humiliated and angry, I return to the cell, to find the monthly letter-sheet on my table. I pour out all the bitterness of my heart to the Girl, dwell on the Warden"s discrimination against me, and repeat our conversation and his refusal to admit my visitor. In conclusion, I direct her to have a Pittsburgh lawyer apply to the courts, to force the prison authorities to restore to me the privileges allowed by the law to the ordinary prisoner. I drop the letter in the mail-box, hoping that my outburst and the threat of the law will induce the Warden to retreat from his position. The Girl will, of course, understand the significance of the epistle, aware that my reference to a court process is a diplomatic subterfuge for effect, and not meant to be acted upon.
But the next day the Chaplain returns the letter to me. "Not so rash, my boy," he warns me, not unkindly. "Be patient; I"ll see what I can do for you."
"But the letter, Chaplain?"
"You"ve wasted your paper, Aleck. I can"t pa.s.s this letter. But just keep quiet, and I"ll look into the matter."
Weeks pa.s.s in evasive replies. Finally the Chaplain advises a personal interview with the Warden. The latter refers me to the Inspectors. To each member of the Board I address a request for a few minutes"
conversation, but a month goes by without word from the high officials.
The friendly runner, "Southside" Johnny, offers to give me an opportunity to speak to an Inspector, on the payment of ten plugs of tobacco. Unfortunately, I cannot spare my small allowance, but I tender him a dollar bill of the money the Girl had sent me artfully concealed in the buckle of a pair of suspenders. The runner is highly elated, and a.s.sures me of success, directing me to keep careful watch on the yard door.
Several days later, pa.s.sing along the range engaged in my duties, I notice "Southside" entering from the yard, in friendly conversation with a strange gentleman in citizen clothes. For a moment I do not realize the situation, but the next instant I am aware of Johnny"s violent efforts to attract my attention. He pretends to show the man some fancy work made by the inmates, all the while drawing him closer to my door, with surrept.i.tious nods at me. I approach my cell.
"This is Berkman, Mr. Nevin, the man who shot Frick," Johnny remarks.
The gentleman turns to me with a look of interest.
"Good morning, Berkman," he says pleasantly. "How long are you doing?"
"Twenty-two years."
"I"m sorry to hear that. It"s rather a long sentence. You know who I am?"
"Inspector Nevin, I believe."
"Yes. You have never seen me before?"
"No. I sent a request to see you recently."
"When was that?"
"A month ago."
"Strange. I was in the office three weeks ago. There was no note from you on my file. Are you sure you sent one?"
"Quite sure. I sent a request to each Inspector."
"What"s the trouble?"
I inform him briefly that I have been deprived of visiting privileges.
Somewhat surprised, he glances at my dark clothes, and remarks:
"You are in the first grade, and therefore ent.i.tled to visits. When did you have your last visitor?"
"Two years ago."
"Two years?" he asks, almost incredulously. "Did the lady from New York have a permit?"
The Warden hurriedly enters from the yard.
"Mr. Nevin," he calls out anxiously, "I"ve been looking for you."
"Berkman was just telling me about his visitor being sent away, Captain," the Inspector remarks.
"Yes, yes," the Warden smiles, forcedly, ""for cause.""
"Oh!" the face of Mr. Nevin a.s.sumes a grave look. "Berkman," he turns to me, "you"ll have to apply to the Secretary of the Board, Mr. Reed. I am not familiar with the internal affairs."
The Warden links his arm with the Inspector, and they walk toward the yard door. At the entrance they are met by "Dutch" Adams, the shop messenger.
"Good morning, Mr. Nevin," the trusty greets him. "Won"t you issue me a special visit? My mother is sick; she wants to see me."
The Warden grins at the ready fiction.
"When did you have your last visit?" the Inspector inquires.
"Two weeks ago."
"You are ent.i.tled to one only every three months."
"That is why I asked you for an extra, Mr. Inspector," "Dutch" retorts boldly. "I know you are a kind man."
Mr. Nevin smiles good-naturedly and glances at the Warden.
"Dutch is all right," the Captain nods.
The Inspector draws his visiting card, pencils on it, and hands it to the prisoner.
CHAPTER XXIV
THOUGHTS THAT STOLE OUT OF PRISON