“And so I tell you," said I, speak
! in# to her direct, "that because those
i bovs up there**—I pointed toward the
prison—“have committed crime once,
they arc not necessarily criminals
neither are they real criminals--real
'bad men’--because of twice commit. -
j ting crime.”
There was a moment of silence,
during which the four rtood looking
at me. Presently one of them spoke
“My friend,” said he. "you’ve given
us something to think about. I wish
we might talk with vou longer. How- !
ever, here's my card"—ho passed It I
to me—I saw he was l’rom the state j
just north—"and I know these others
want to shako hands with you also." i
"Kane is my name," said 1, watch- ]
ing them closely for n sign indicating
that they associated me with the
convict Kane—but there was none.
"And I uppieciate juiir raying that
I've given you something to
think ( f."
I shook hand? with all of them,
raising my hat in adieu: then they
returned to »heir large touring car,
while I went upon my two hours'
stroll—that first one for 13 years—■
thinking of how little idea they had
that they had met or.e of the "bad
men” face to face.
Hack at the prison, to which I re
turned at exactly 4:43. there was a
surprise in store for me.
CHAPTER 41
During my two hours' absence from
the prison the warden had been to
the capitol building and had there
held a conference with the state
board of control, the governor and
the attorney general. Some of the
Intended activities and changes were
made known to mo in the warden's
office upon my return.
