'llWtt?' '"ftv 'T'-S'SW,JWii H- " TTiuK -TW-JiTMK "" ,-" '- " ' "U !" ' : V ' -V""i -, '" ' T THE PITTSBURG STURIJA-E, .AUGUST 28, 1890. m Straie HH or OAITTBBSTOlB J-JIXa- OliTer Mankell was sentenced to three months' hard labor. The charge was that he had obtained money by means of false pretences. Not large sums, bnt shil lings, hair-crowns, and so on. He had given out that he was a wizard, and that he was able and willing for a consideration to predict the events of the future tell for tunes, in fact. The case created a large amount of local interest, for some curious stories were told abont the man in the town. Mankell was a tall, slight, wiry-lookicg fel low in the prime of lile, with coal-black hair and olive complexion apparently of Bomany extraction. His bearing was self possessed, courteous even, yet with some thing in his air which miht have led one to suppose that he saw what others did not the humor of the thing. At one point his grave, almost saturnine visage distinctly re laxed into a smile. It was when Colonel Gregory, the Chairman of the day, was pass ing sentence. After committing him for three months' hard labor,the Colonel added: "During your sojourn within the walls of a prison you will have an opportunity of re trieving vour reputation. You say you are a magician. During your stay in jail I would strongly advise you to prove.it. xou lay claim to magic powers. Exercise them. I need scarcely point out to you how ex cellent a chance you will have ot creating a sensation." The people laughed. When the great panjandrum is even dimly suspected of an intention to be iunny the people always do. But on this occasion even tbe prisoner smiled rather an exceptional thing, for, as s rule, it is the prisoner who sees the joke the least of all. Later in the day the prisoner was con veyed to the county jail. Tbis necessitated a journey bv rail, with a change upon tne way. At the station where they changed there was a delay of 20 minutes. This the prisoner and the constable in charge of him improved by adjourning to a public house hard by. Here they had a glass indeed they had two and when they reached Canterstone, the town on whose out- skirts stood the jail, they had one or per haps it was two more. It must have been two, for when they reached tlie jail, instead o f the constable conveying the prisoner, it was the prisoner who conveyed the consta ble upon his shoulder. The warder who answered the knock seemed surprised at What be saw. "What do you want?" "Three months' hard labor." The warder stared. The shades of night had fallen, and the lamp above the prison door did not seem to cast sufficient light Upon the subject to satisly the janitor. "Come inside," he said. """ Mankell entered, tbeconstable upon his shoulder. Having entered, he carefully placed the constable in a sitting posture on the stones, with his back against the wall. The policeman's helmet had tipped over his eyes he scarcely presented an imposing picture of the majesty and might of the law. The warder shook him by the shoulder. "Here, come wake up. You're a pretty sort," he said. The constable's reply, al though slightly inarticulate, was sufficient ly distinct. "Not another drop I not another drop I" he murmured. "No, I shouldn't think so," said the warder. "You have had a pailful, it seems to me already." The man seemed a little puzzled. He turned and looked at Mankell. "What do you want here?" "Three months' hard labor." The man looked down and saw that the newcomer had gyves upon his wrist. He went to a door at one side and. summoned another warder. The'two returned ogiher. This second official took in the situation at a glance. "Have you come from ?" naming the town from which tbey bad in fact come. Mankell Inclined his head. This second official turned his attention to the prostrate constable. "Look in his pocket?." The janitor acted on the suggestion. The order tor commital was produced. "Are yon Oliver Mankell?" Again Mankell inclined his head. With the order in his hand the official marched him througn the side door through which he had himtelf appeared. Soon Oliver Mankell was the inmate of a cell. He spent that night Jin the reception cells at the gate. In the morning he had a bath, was indncted into prison clothing, and ex amined by the doctor. He was then taken up to the main building of the prison, and introduced to the governor. The governor was a quiet, gentlemanly man, with a strag gling black beard and spectacles the official to the tips of his fingers. As Man kell happened to be the only fresh arrival, the governor favored him with a little speech. "You've placed ypnrself in an uncomfort able position, Mankell. I hope you'll obey the rules while you're here." "I intend to act npon the advice tendered me by the magistrate who passed sentence." The governor looked up. Not only was the voice a mnsical voice, but the words were not the sort of words generally chosen by the average prisoner. "What advice was that?" "He eaid that I claimed to be a magician. He strongly advised me to prove it during my stay in jaiL I intend to act upon the advice he tendered." The governor looked Mankell steadily, in the face. The speaker's bearing conveyed so suggestion ot insolent intention. The governor looked down again. "I advise you to be careful what you do. You may make your position more uncom fortable than it is already. Take the man away." They took the man away. Tbey intro duced him to the wheel. On the treadmill he passed the remainder of the morning. At noon morning tasks were over, and the prisoners were marched into their day cells to enjoy the meal which, in prison parlance, was called dinner. In accordance with the ordinary routine, the chaplain made his ap pearance in the roundhouse to interview these prisoners who had just came in, and those whose sentences would be completed on the morrow. When Mankell had been asked at-the gate what his religton was, he had made no answer; so the warden,' quite used to ignorance on the part of new arrivals as to all religions, had entered 'him as a member of the Church of England. As a member of the Church of England he was taken out to interview the chaplain now. Tne chaplain was a little fussy gentleman, considerably past middle age. Long ex perience of prisons and prisoners had bred in him a perhaps unconscious habit of re garding criminals as naughty boys urchins who required a judicious com bination of cakes and castigation. " ell, my lad, I'm sorry to see a man of your appearance here." This was a remark the chaplain made to a good many of his new friends. It was intended to give them the impression that at least the chaplain perceived that they were something out of the ordinary run. Then he dropped his voice to a judicious whisper. "What'i it for?" "For telling the truth." This reply seemed a little to surprise the chaplain. He settled his spectacles upon his nose. "For telling the truth!" An idea seemed all at once to strike the chaplain. "Do you mean that you pleaded guilty?" The mat was silent. The chaplain referred to a paper he held in his hand. "Eh, I see that here it is written false pretences. Wasitastu incr?" Wehae seen it mentioned) somewhere that "stumer" is slang for a worthless check. It was a way with the chaplain to Jet his charges see that he was at least ac jgainted with their phraseology. But oa y Occurrences this occasion there was no response. The officer in charge ot Mankell, who possibly wanted his dinner, pnt in his oar: ."Telling fortunes, sir." "Telling fortunes! Oh! Dear me! How sad! You see what telling fortunes brings you to? There will be no difficulty in telling your fortune if you don't take care. I will see you to-morrow morning after chapel." The chaplain turned away. Bnt his pre diction proved to be as falsa as Mankell's were stated to have been. He did not see him the next morning after chapel, and that for the sufficient reason that on the follow ing morning there was no chapel. And the reasons why there was no chapel were very curious indeed unprecedented, in fact. Canterstone jail was an old-fashioned prison. In it each prisoner had two cells, one for the day and one for the night The day cells were on the ground floor, those for the night were overhead. At 6 A. M. a bell was rung, and the warders unlocked the night cells for the occupants to go down to those beneath. .That was the rule. That particular morning was an exception to the rule. The bell was rung as usual, and the warders started to unlock, but 'there the adherence to custom ceased, for the doors of the cells relused to be unlocked. Tne night cells were hermetically sealed by oaken doors ot massive thickness, bolted and barred in accordance with the former idea that the security of prisoners should depend rather upon bolts and bars than upon the vigilance of the officers in charge. Each door was let into a 24 inch brick wall and secured by two ponderous bolts and an enormous" lock of the most complicated workmanship. These locks were kept constantly oiled. When the gigantic key was inserted, it tnrned as easily as the key of a watch that was the rule. When, therefore, on inserting his key into the lock of the first cell, Warder Slater found that it wouldn't turn at all, he was rather taken aback. "Who's been having a game with this lock?" he asked. Warder Puffin, who was stationed at the head of the stairs to see that the prisoners passed down in order, at the proper distance lrom each other, replied to him. "Anything the matter with the lock? Try the next" Warder Slater did try the next, but he found that as refractory as the other had been. "Perhaps you've got the wrong key?" suggested Warder Puffin. "Got the wrong key!" cried Warder Slater. "Do yon think I don't known my own keys when I see them?" The oddes' part of it was that all the locks were the same. Not only in Ward A, but in Wards B, C, D, E and F in all the wards, in fact When this became known; a certain sensation was created, and that on both sides of the unlocked doors. The prisoners were soon conscious that their gnardians were unable to release them, and they maae a noise.. .Nothing is. so precions to the average prisoner as a grievance; here was a grievance with a vengeance. The chief warder was a man named Mur ray. He was short and stout, with a red face and short, stubbly white hair his very appearance suggested apoplexy. That suggestion was emphasized when he lost his temper capable officer though he was, that was more than once in a while. He was in the wheel-shed, awaiting the arrival of the prisoners preparatory to being toled off to their various tasks when, instead of the prisoners, Warder Slater appeared. If Murray was stout, Slater was stouter. He was about 6" feet 8, and weighed at least 250 pounds. He waB wont to amaze those who saw him for the first time and wondered by assnring them that he had a brother who was still stouter compared to whom he was e1a1fMn in rant .Bnt Tia vab etAni 'enough. Heirdnte-ler-warCerTaanerTn striking pair. "There's something the matter with the locks of the night cells, sir. We can't undo the doors." "Can't undo the doorsl" Mr. Murray turned the color of a boiled beetroot. "What do you mean?" "It's very queer, sir, but all over the place it's the same. We can't get none of the doors unlocked." Mr. Murray started off at a good round pace, Slater following hard at his heels. The chief warder tried his hand himself. He tried every lock in the prison; not one of them vouchsafed to budge. Not one, that is, with a single exception. The ex ception was in Ward B, No. 27. Mr. Murray had tried all the other doors in the ward, beginning with No. 1 tried them all in vain. But when he came to No. 27, the lock turned with the customary ease, and the "door was open. Within it was Oliver Mankell, standing decorously at attention, waiting to be let out Mr. Murray stared at him. "Hum! there's nothing the matter with this lock, at any rate. You'd better go down." OliTer Mankell went downstairs he was the only man in Canterstone jail who did. "Well, this is a pretty go!" exclaimed Mr. Murray, when he had completed his round. Two or three other warders had ac companied him. He turned on these. "Some one will smart for this vou see if ther don't Keep those men still." The din was deafening. The prisoners, secure of a grievance, were practicing step dances in their heavy shoes on the atone floors; they made the narrow, vaulted cor ridors ring. "Silence those men!" shouted Mr. Jarvis, the second warder, -who was tall and thin as the chief was short and stout He might as well have shouted to the wind. Those in the cells just close at hand observed the better part of valor, but those a little dis tance off paid not tbe slightest heed. If they were locked iu the officers were locked out , "I must go and see the governor." Mr. Murray pursed up bis lips. "Keep those men still, or I'll know the reason why." He strode' off, leaving his subordinates to obey his orcjers if they could or if they couldn't Mr. Palevs house was in tbe center of the jail. Paley, by the way, was the gover nor's name. The governor, when Mr. Murray arrived, was still in bed. He came down to tbe chief warder iu rather primi tive disarray. "Anything the matter, Murray?" "Yes, sir; there's something very much the matter, indeed." "What is it?" "We can't get any of the doors of the night cells open." . "You can't get what?" "There seems to be something the matter with the locks." "The locks? All of them? Absurd!" "Well, there they are, and there's the men inside of them, and we can't get 'em out at least I've tried my hand, -and I know I can't." "I'll come with you at once, and see what you mean." Mr. Paley was as good as his word. He started off just as he was. As they were going, the chief warder made another re mark. "By the way, there's one cell we managed to get open I opened it myself." "I thought you said there was none?" "There's that one it's that man-Man-kell." "Mankell? Who is he?" , "He came lu yesterday. It's that magi cian." When they reached the cells it was easy to perceive that something was wrong. The warders hung about in twos and threes; the noise was deafening; the prisoners were keeping holiday. "Get me the keys and let me see what I can do. It is impossible that all the locks can nave been tampered with." They presented Mr. Paley with the keyij In his turn he tried ever lock in the jail. Tbis was not the work oT a minute or two. The prison contained some 300 night cells. To visit them all necessitated not only a good deal of running up and down stairs, but a good deal of actual walking; for tbey were not only in 'different floors and in different blocks, bnt the prison itself was divided into two entirely separate divisions north and south and'to pass from one division to the other entailed a walk of at least 100 yards. Bv the time he had completed the round of the locks, Mr. Paley had had about enough of it It was not surprising that he felt a little bewildered not one of the locks had shown any more readiness to yield to him than to th'e others. In passing from one ward to the other, he had passed the row of day cells in which was situated B 27. Here they found Oliver Mankell sitting in silent state awaiting the call to work. The governor pulled up at sight of him. "Well, Mankell, so there was nothing the matter with the lock of your door?" Mankell simply inclined his head. "I suppose you know nothing about the locks of the other doors?" Again tbe inclination of the head. The man seemed to be habitually chary of speech. "What's the matter with you? Are. you dumb? Can't you speak when you're spoken to?" , This time Mankell extended the palms of his hands with a gesture which might mean anything or nothing. The governor passed on. The round finished, he held a consulta tion with the chief warder. "Have you any suspicions?" "It's queer."" Mr. Murray stroked his bristly chin. "It's very queer that that man Mankell's should be the only cell in the prison left untampered with." "Very queer, indeed." "What are we to do? We can't leave the men locked np all day. It's breakfast time already. I suppose the cooks haven't gone down to the cook house?" "They're locked up with the rest Barnes has been up to kiiow what he's to do." Barnes was the prison cook. . The cooks referred to were six good-bebayior men who were toled off to assist him in his duties. "If the food were cooked, I'don't see how we should give it to 'the men." "That's the auestion." Mr. Murray pon dered. "We might pass it through the gas-holes." "We should have to break the glass to do it. You wouldn't find it easy. It's plate glass, an inch in thickness, and built into the solid wall." There was a pause for consideration. "Well, this is a pretty start I've never come across anything like it in all mv days before." Mr. Paley passed his hand through his hair. He had never come across anything like it either. "I shall have to telegraph to the commis sioners. I can't do anything without their sanction." The following telegram was sent: "Cannotget prisoners out of night cells. Something the matter with locks. Cannot give them any food. The matter is very urgent What shall I do?" The following answer was received: "Inspector coming down." The inspector came' down Major Will iam Hardinge, a tall, portly gentleman, with a very decided'mauner. When he saw the Governor he came to the point at once. "What's all this stuff?" "We can't get the prisoners ont of the night cells." "Why?" "There's something the matter with the locks." "Have you given them any food?" "We have not been able to." "When were they locked up?" "Yesterday evening at 6 o'clock." "This is a very extraordinary state of things." s "It is, or I shouldn't have asked for In structions." "It's now 3 o'clock in the afternoon. They've been without food for 21 hours. You've no right to keep them without lood all that time." "We are helpless. The construction of the night cells does not permit of our in troducing food into the interior when the doors are closed." "Have they been auiet?" nmfitnneiii wan in hn eTneptpt As they were crossing toward ihe north division the governor spoke again: "We've been able to get one man out" "One! out of the lot! How did you get him?" "Oddly enough, the lock of his cell was the only one in the prison that had not been tampered with." "Huji! I should like to see that man." "His name's Mankell. He only came in yesterday. He's been pretending to magio powers telling fortunes, and that kind of thing." "Only came in yesterday? He's begun early. Perhaps we shall have to tell him what his fortune's likely to be.'' When they reached the wards the keys were handed to the inspector, who in his turn tried his hand. A conple of lock smiths had been fetched up from tbe town. When the major had tried two or three of the locks it was enough for him. He turned to tbe makers of locks. "What's the matter with these locks?" "Well, that's exactly what we can't make out The keys go in all right, but tbey won't tnrn. Seems as though somebody had been having a lark with them." "Can't you pick them?" "They're not easy locks to pick, but we'll have a trv." "Have "a try!" Tbey had a try, but they tried iu vain. As it happened, the cell, on which they commenced operations was ocenpied by a gentleman who had bad a considerable ex- Eerience in picking locks experience which ad e'nded in placing him on the other side that door. He derided the locksmiths through the door. "Wei), you are a couple of keen ones! What, can't pick the lock! Why, there ain't a lock in England I couldn't pick with a bent 'airpin. I only wish you was this side, starving like I am, and I was where you are, it wouldn't be a lock that would keep me from giving you food." This was not the sort of language Major Hardinge was accustomed to hear lrom the average prisoner, but the Major probably felt that on this occasion the candid pro ficient in the art of picking locks had a certain excuse. He addressed tbe baffled workmen: "If you can't pick the lock, what can yon do? The question is, what is the short est way of getting inside that cell?" "Get a watch saw," cried the gentleman on the other side of the door. "And when you've got your watch saw?" inquired the Major. "Saw the whole lock right clean away. Lor' bless me! I only wish I was where you are, I'd show you a thing or "two. It's as easy as winking. Here's all us- ohaps a starving, all for want of a little hexperi encel" "A saw'll be no good," declared one of the locksmiths. "Neither a watch saw nor any other kind of saw. How are you going to saw through those iron stanchions? You'll have to burst the door in, that's what it'll have to be." "You won't find it an easy thing to do." This was from the governor. "Why don't you take and blow the whole place up?" shouted a gentleman, also on the other side of the door, two or three cells off. Long before this all the occupants of the corridor had been lending a very attentive ear to what was going on. Tbe suggestion was received with roars of laughter. The Major, however, preferred to act upon the the workmen's advice. A sledge hammer was sent for. While they were awaiting its arrival something rather curious happened-curlous, that is, viewed in the light of what had gone before. Warder Slater farmed one of the party. More for the sake of something to do than anything else, he put bis key into the lock or the call which was just in front ofbim. Giving it a gentle twist, to his amazement it turned with the greatest ease, and the door was open. "Here's a go!" he exclaimed. "Blest if this door ain't corns outn." There was a yell of jubilation all Along the corridor, The prisoners seemed to be amused. The official party kept silence. Possibly their feelings were too deep -for words. "Since we've got this one open," said Warder Slater, "suppose we try another. He tried another, the next; the same result followed the door was opened with the greatest of ease. "What's the meaning of this?" spluttered the Major. "Who's been playing this tom foolery? I don't believe there's anything the matter with a lock in the place." There did not seem to be, just then. For when the officers tried again they found no difficulty in unlooking the doors and setting the prisoners free. II. Major Hardinge remained iu the jail that night He stayed in the governor's house as Mr. Paiey's guest He expressed him self very strongly about the events of the day. "I'll see the thing through if it takes me a week. The whole affair is incredible to me. It strikes me, Paley, that they've been making a fool of you." The governor combed his hair with his fingers. His official manner had temporar ily gone. He seemed depressed. "I assure you the doors were locked." "Of course the doors were locked, and they used the wrong keys to open them! It was a got-up thing." "Not by the officers." "By whom then? I don't see how the prisoners could have lent a hand." "I know tbe officers and I will answer for them every man. As tor the wrong keys being used, I know tbe keys as well aB any one.. I tried them, and not a lock would yield to me." "But they did yield. What explanation have you to" give of 'that?" "I wish I conld explain." And again the governor combed his hair. "I'll have an explanation tomorrow you see if I don't!" But the Major never did. On the morrow, punctually at 6 A. m., an imposing procession started to unlock. There were the inspector; governor, chief warder, second warder, and the warder who carries the keys. "I don't think we shall have much diffi culty in getting tbe men out of their cells this time," remarked tbe Major. They did not "Good good Godl"Tie spluttered, when they reached the corridor; "what what on earth's the meaning of this?" He had predicted rightly. They would have no difficulty iu getting the men out of their cells; tbey were ont already men, and bed ding and planks, and all. There was a man fast asleep in bed in front of each cell door, "I though I had given instructions that a special watch was to be kept all night," the Major roared. "So there has been," answered the chief warder, whose head and face and neck were pnrple. "Warder Slater here has only just gone off duty. Now, then, Slater, what's the meaning of this?" "I don't know," protested Slater, whose mountain of flesh seemed qnivering like jelly. "It's not a minute ago since I went to get my keys, and tbey was all inside their cells when I went down." "Who let them out, then?" The Major glared at him, incredulity in every line ot his countenance. "I don't know. I'll swear it wasn't me." "I suppose they let themselves out, then. You men!" Although this short dialogue had been conducted by no means sotto voce, the noise did not seem to have had tbe slightest effect in, rousing the prisoners out of slumber. Even when the' Major called to them they gave no sign. "You men!" he shouted again; "it's no good shamming Abraham with me!" He stooped to shake tbe man who was lying on the plans: at bis feet "Good good God! The the man's not dead?" "Dead!" cried the governor, kneeling by the Major's side upon the stones. The sleeper was very still. He was a man of some 40 years of age, with nut brown tangled hair and beard. If not a short-sentence man, he was still in the early stages of bis term for he lay on tbe bare boards of the plank with the rug. blanket and sheet wrapped closely round him, so that they might take, as far as possible, the ulace of the coir mattress, which was not lynrsieSpwas sound strangely sonnd. If he breathed at all, it was so lightly as to be inaudible, un his lace was tbat dazed, strained expression which we sometimes see on the faces of those who, without1 a mo ment's warning, have been suddenly visited by death. "I don't think he's dead," the governor said. "He seems to be in some sort of trance. What's the man's name?" " 'Itcheock. He's one .of the 'op-pickers. He's got a month." It was Warder Slater who gave the infor mation. The governor took the man by the shoulder and tried to rouse him out of sleep. "Hitcfieock! Hitchcock! Come, wake up, my man! It's all right; he's coming to he's waking up." He did wake up, and that so suddenly as to take the party by surprise. He sprang upright on the plank, nothing on bnt an attenuated prison shirt, and glared at the officials with looks of unmistakable sur prise. "Holloa! What's up! "What's the mean ing of this?" Major Hardinge replied, suspicion peep ing from his eyes "That is what we want to know, and what we intend to know what does it mean? Why aren't you in your cell?" ' ' The man seemed for the first time to per ceive where he was. "Strike me lucky, if I ain't outside! Somebody must have took me out when I was asleep." Then, realizing in whose presence he was: "I beg your pardon, sir, but someone's took me out" "The one who took you ont took all tbe others too." The Major gave a side glance at Warden Slater. Tbat intelligent officer seemed to be suffering agonies. The prisoner glanced along the corridor. "If all the blessed lot of 'em ain't out too!" They were not only all out, but they were all in the same ouriouslyitrance.like sleep. Each man had to be separately roused, and each woke with the same startling, sudden bound. No one seemed more surprised to find themselves where they were than the men themselves. And this was not the case in one ward only, but in all the wards in tbe prison. No wonder tbe of ficials felt bewildered by the time they had gone the round. "There's one thing certain," remarked Warder Slater to Warder Puffin, wiping the nerspiration from his Warder Slater's brow, "if I let them ont in one ward, I couldn't 'ardly let them out in all. Not to mention that I don't see how a man of my build's going to carry eight-and-torty men, bed, bedding, and all, out bodily, and that without disturbing one of them from sleep." As the official party was returning through B ward inspecting the men, who were stand ing at attention in their day cells, the officer in charge advanced to the governor. "One man missing, sir! No. 27, sir! Mankell, sir!" The chief warder started. If possible, he tnrned a shade more pnrple than be fore. "Fetch me the key of the night cells," he said. It was brought They went upstairs the Major, the governor, the chief and sec ond warders. Sure enough they found the missing man, standing at attention in his night cell, waiting to be let out the only man in the prison whom they had found in his place. The chief warder unlocked him. In silence they followed him as he went downstairs. When the Major and Mr. Paley found themselves alone, both of them seemed a little bewildered. "Well, Major, what do you think of it now?" "It's a got-up thingl I'll stake my life, it's a got-up thing!" "What do you mean a got-up thing?" "Some of the officers know more about It than they have chosen to say that man Slater, for instance. Bnt I'll have tbe thing sifted to the bottom before I go. I never heard of anything more audacious iuthe whole of mycareeri" " The governor smiled, but ha made no comment on the Major's observation. It was arranged that an inquiry should be held after chapel. During chapel a fresh snbject was added to the list of those which already called for prompt inquiry. Probably there is no more delicate and difficult position than that of a prison chaplain. If any man doubt tbis, let him step into a prison chaplain's shoes and see. B must have two faces, and each face must look In an exactly opposite way. The one toward authority he is an official, an upholder of the law; the other toward the defiers of authority he is tbe criminal's best friend. It requires the wisest of men to do his dnty so as to please both sides, and ne must please both sides or fail. As has already been hinted, Mr. Hewett. tbe chap lain of .Canterstone jail, was not the wisest of men. He was in tbe uncomfortable but not uncommon position of being disliked by both the rival houses. He meant well, but he was not an apt interpreter of his own meaning. He blundered, sometimes on the prisoners' toes, and sometimes on the toes o the officials. Before tbe service began the governor thought of giving him a bint, not in the course of it to touch on the events of the last two days. Bnt previons hints of tbe same kind had not by any means been well reoeived, and be refrained. Exactly what he feared would happen, happened. Both the in spector and the governor were present at the service. Possibly tbe chaplain sup posed, this to be an excellent opportunity of showing the sort of man he was one full of zeal. At any rdte, before the services was oyer, before pronouncing the benediction, he came down to the altar rail, in the way they knew so well. The governor, out wardly unruffled, inwardly groaned. "I have something to say to you." When he said this, those who knew him knew exactly what was coming; or they thonght they did, for, for once in a way, they were grieviously wrong. When the chap" lain had got so tar, be paused. It was his habit to indnlge in these eloqnent pauses, but it was not his habit to behave as be immediately did. While they were waiting for him to go on, almost forecasting the words he would use, a spasm seemed to go all over him, and he clutched the rail and spoke. And what he said was this "Bust the screws and blast 'em!" The words were shouted rather than snoken. In the very act of utterance he clung on to the rail as though he needed its support to enable him to stand. The chapel was intensely still. The men stared at him as though nnable to believe their eyes and ears. The chaplain was noted for his little eccentricities, but it was the first time they had taken such a shape as this. "That's not what I meant to say." The words came out with a grasp. Mr. Hewett put his hand up to his brow. "That's not what I meant to say." He gave a frightened glance around. Suddenly his gaze became fixed, and he looked intently at some object right in front of him. His eyes assumed a dull and fish like stare. He hung on to the rail, his sur pliced figure trembling as with palsy. Words fell from his lips with feverish volu bility. "What's the good of a screw. I'd like to know? Did you ever know one what was worth his salt? I never did. Look at that beast, Slater, great fat brute, what'd get a man three days bread and water as soon as look at him. A little bread and water'd do him good. Look at old Murray call a man like that chief warder. I wonder what a chief fat-head's like? As for the governor as for the governor as for the gov ernor " The chapel was in confusion. The officers rose in their seats. Mr. Paley stood up in his pew, looking whiter than he was wont to do. It seemed as though the chaplain was struggling with an unseen antagonist. He writhed and twisted, contending, as it were, with something or some one which appeared to be in front of him. His sen tence remained unfinished. All at once he collapsed, and, sinking into a heap, lay upon tbe steps of the altar still. "Take. the men out," said the governor's quiet voice. The men were taken out. The school master was already at the chaplain's side. With him were two or three of the prison ers who sang in the choir. The governor and the inspector came and looked'down at the senseless man. I IJ" .1.W master said. "Let some one go and see if the doctor has araived. Ask him to come up here at once." With that tbe governor left the chapel, the inspector going with him. "It's no good our staying. He'll be all right. I I don't feel quite well." 4 Major Hardinge looked at him shrewdly out ot the corner of his eyes. "Does he drink?" "Not that I am aware of. I never heard of it before?- I shonldsay certainly not." "Is he mad?" "No-o he has his peculiarities but he certainly is not mad." "Is he snbject to fits?" "I have not known of his having one be fore." When they reached the office the Major began to pace about. - "That chaplain of yours must be stark mad?" "If so, it is a very sudden attack." "Did you hear wnat he said?" "Very well, indeed." "Never heard such a thing in my life! Is he in the habit of using such language?" "Hardly. Perhaps we had better leave it till we hear what the doctor says. Pos sibly there is some simple explanation, I am afraid the chaplain is unwell." "If he isn't unwell, I don't know what he is. Upon my word, Paley, I can't con gratulate you upon the figure Canterstone jail has cut during the last few days. I don't know what sort of report I shall have to make." , y The governor winced. When.a few min utes afterward, the doctor entered, he began upon the subject at once. "How is the chaplain, doctor?" Dr. Livermore gave a curious glance abont him. Then be shook hands with tbe inspector. Then he sat down. Taking off his bat; he wiped his brow. "Well? Anything wrong?" v "The chaplain says he is bewitched." The governor looked at the inspector, and the inspector looked at him. "Bewitched?" said Mr. Paley. "I told you the man was mad," the in spector mnttered. "Hush!" the doctor whispered. "Here he comes." Even as he spoke the chaplain entered, leaning on the chieflwarder's arm. He advanced to the table at which tbe gov ernor sat, looking Mr. Paley steadily in the face. "Mr. Paley, I have to report to you that I have been bewitched." "I am sorry to hear that, Mr. Hewett" He could not resist a smile. "Though I am afraid I do not understand exactly what you mean." "It is no laughing matter. The chaplain's tone was cool and collected more impres sive than it was used to be. "The man whose name I believe is Oliver Mankell has bewitched me. He was the second man in the third row on my right-band .side iu chapel. I could make out tbat his number was B 27. He cast on me a spell." There was silence. Even the inspector felt that it was a delicate matter to accuse the chaplain outright of lunacy. An inter ruption came from an unexpected quarter from the chief warder. . "It's my belief that man Mankell's been up to his games about those cells." The interruption was tbe more remark able, because there was generally war not always passive between the chief warder and the chaplain. Every onolooked at Mr. Murray. "" "What is this I hear about the cells?" asked Dr. Livermore. The governor answered: , "Yesterday the men were all locked in their night cells. This morning tbey were all locked out that is, we found them all seemingly fast asleep, each man in front of his cell door." "They were all locked in except one man, and that man was Mankell and he was the only man who was not locked out" Thus the chief warder. "And do you suggest," said the doctor, "that he had a finger in the pie?" "It's my belief he did it all. Directly I set eyes upon the man I knew there was something about him I couldn't quite make out He did it all. Have you heard air, how he came to the gate?" Mr. Murray was, in general, a reticent man. It was not his way to express decided opinions in the presence of authorities, or indeed of any one else. . Mr. Paley, who knew his man, eyed him with curiosity. "What was there odd about that?" "Why, instead of the constable bringing him, it was him who brought the constable.. When tbey opened tbe gate there was him with the policeman over bis shoulder." In spite of Mr. Murray's evident earnest ness, there were some of his hearers who were unable tq repress a smile. "Do you mean tbat the constable was drunk?'' "That's the queer part of it It was John Mitchell. I've known him for two-and-twenty years. I never knew him have a glass too much before. Isarbim soon afterward he was all right then. He said he had only had three half-pints. He was quite himself till he got near the gate, when all of a sudden hawent queer all oyer." "Possibly the ale was drugged," suggest ed the doctor. "I don't know nothing abont that, hut I do know that the same hand that played that trick was the same hand that played the tricks with the cells." "Consider a moment what you are saying, Mnrray. How are 300 locks to be tampered with iu the middle of the night by a man who is himself a prisoner? One moment. Bnt even that is noth ing compared to tbe feat of carry ing 300 men fast asleep in bed bed and all through 300 closed doors, under the very noses of the officers on guard think of do ing all tbat single-handed!" "It was witchcraft" When the chief warder said this Major Hardinge exploded. "Witchcraft! The idea of the ohief warder of an English prison talking abont witchcraft at this time of day! It's quite time vou were superanuated, sir." "The man, Mankell, certainly bewitched me." "Bewitched you!" As the Major faced the chaplain he seemed to find it difficult to restrain his feelings. "May I ask what sort of idea you mean to convey by saying he bewitched you?" , "I will explain so far as I am able." The chaplain paused to collect his thoughts. All eyes were, fixed upon him. "I intended to say something to the men touching the events of yesterday and tbis morning. As I came down to the altar-rail I was conscious ot a curious sensation as though I was being fascinated by a terrible gaze which was burninginto my brain. I managed to pronounce the first few words. Involuntarily looking ronnd, I met the eyes of the man Mankell. The instant I did so I was conscious that something had passed from him to me, something that made my tongne his slave. Against my will my tongue uttered the words you heard. Struggling witn all my might I momentarily regained the exercise of my own will. - It was only for a moment, for in an instant he had mastered me again. Although I continued to struggle, my tongue uttered tbe words he bade it utter, until I suppose my efforts to repel his dominion brought on a kind of fit Tbat he laid on a spell I am assured." There was a pauso when the chaplaib ceased. That he had made what he sup posed to be a plain and simple statement of facts was evident But then the facts were remarkable ones. It was the doctor who broke the silence. "Suppose we have the man in here, so that we can put him through his facings?" The governor stroked his beard. "What are you going to say to him? You can hardly charge him with witchcraft He is here because he has been pretending to magic powers." The doctor started. "No! Is that so? Then I fancy we have the case in a nutshell. The man is what old-fashioned people used to call a mesmerist hypnotism 'they call it nowa days and all sorts of things." "But mesmerism won't explain the cells!" "I'm not so sure of tbat at any rate, it would explain the policeman who was sud denly taken queer. Let's have the man in here." , "The whole thing is balderdash." said 8rVita!hieto hear such stuff talked in an English prison of to-day." "At least there will, be no harm in our interviewing Mr. Mankell. Murray, see tbat they send him here." The chief warder departed to do the governor's bid ding. Mr. Paley turned to tbe chaplain. "According to you, Mr. Hewett, we are subjecting ourselves to some personal risk by bringing him here. Is that so?" "You may smile, Mr. Paley, but you may find it no laughing matter after all. There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in man's philosophy." "Yon don't mean to say," burst out the Major, "that you, a man of education, a Ciertjriuau, uuapiaju ui au XiUgliSH prison, believe in witchcraft?" "It is not a question of belief It is a question of fact That the man cast on me a spell, I am well assured. Take care that he does not do the same to you." Tbe governor smiled. The dootor laughed. The enormity of the suggestion kept the Major tongue-tied till Mankell ap peared. IIL Although Mankell was ushered in by the chief warder, he was in actual charge of Warder Slater. The apartment into which he was shown was not that in which pris oners ordinarily interviewed the governor. There a cord, stretched from wall to wall, divided the room nearly in half. On one side stood the prisoner, with the officer in charge of him; on the other sat the gover nor. Here there was no cord. The room which was a small one contained a single table. At one end sat Mr. Paley, on his right sat Major Hardinge, the chaplain stood at his left, and just behind the Major sat Dr. Livermore. Mankell was told to stand at the edd which faced the governor. A momentary pause followed his entrance all four pairs of eyes were examining his countenance. He, for his part, bore himself quite easily, his eyes being fixed on the governor, and about the corners of his lips hovered what was certainly more than tne suspicion of a smile. "I have sent for you," Mr. Paley began, "because I wish to ask you a question. You understand that I make no charge against you, but do you know who bos' been tam pering with the locks of the cells?" The smile was unmistakable now. It lighted up hjs saturnine visage, suggesting that here was a man who had an eye possi bly almost too keen .an eye for the redicu lous. But he gave no answer. "Do you hear my question, Mankell? Do you know who has been tampering with the locks of the cells?" Mankell extended his hands with a little graceful gesture which smacked of more Southern climes. "How shall I tell you?" "Tell the truth, sir, and don't treat us to any of you high fainting." This remark came from the Major not in too amiable a tone of voice. ' "But in this land it would seem that truth is a thing tbat wise men shun. It is tor telling the truth that I am here." '"We don't want any ot your insolence, my man! Answer the governor's question if you don't want to be severely punished. Do you know who has been playing hanky panky with the cells?" "Spirits ofthe air." As be said this Mankell inclined hishejd and looked at the Major with laughterln his eyes. "Spirits ofthe air! What the devil do you mean by spirits of tbe air?" "Ah! what do I mean? To tell you that," laying a stress upon the pronoun, "would take a year." "Tbe fellow's an insolent scoundrel," spluttered the Major. "Come, Mankell, that won't do," struck in Mr. Paley. "Do I understand you to say that you do know something about the matter?" "Know!" The man drew himself up, lay lag the indix flnaer of hlrxlght hand upon the table with a curiously impressive air. "What is there that I do not know?" "I see. You still pretend, then, to the possession of magic powers?" "Pretend!" Mankell laughed. He stretched out his hands in front of him with what seemed to be his favorite gesture, and laughed in the face of tbe authorities. "Suppose you give us an example of your powers! The suggestion came from the doctor. The Major exploded. . "Don't talk stuff and nonsense! Give the man three days' bread and water. That is what he wants." "You do not believe in magic, then?" Mankell turned to the Major with his laugh ing eyes. "What's It matter to you what I believe? You may take my word for it that I don't believe in impudent mountebanks like you." The only reply Mankell gave was to raise his hand if tbat might be called a reply in the. way we sometimes do when we call for silence, and there was silence in tbe room. All eyes were fixed upon the pris oner. He looked each man in turn steadily in the face. Then, still serenely smiling, he gently murmured, "If you please." There still was silence, bnt only for a moment It was broken by Warder Slater. That usually decorous officer tilted his cap to the back of his head, and thrust his hands into his breeches pockets hardly tbe regulation attitude in the presence of superiors. "I should blooming well like to know what this means! 'Ere hve I been in tbis 'ere jail 11 years, and I've never been ac cused before of letting men out of their night cells, let alone their beds and bed ding, and I don't like it, so I tell you straight"" The chief warder turned with automatic suddenness toward tbe nnexpectedly and unusually plain-spoken officer. "Slater, you're a fool!" "I'm not tbe only one in the place! There's more fools here besides me, and some of them bigger ones as well. While these compliments were being ex changed the higher officials sat mutely looking on. When the chief warder seemed at a loss for an answer, the chaplain "volunteered a remark. He addressed him self to Warder Slater. "It's my opinion tbat the governor's a bigger fool tban you are, and that tbe in spector's a still bigger fool than he is." "And it's my belief, Mr. Hewett," ob served the doctor, "that you're the biggest fool of ail." "It would serve him right," remarked the governor quietly, "if somebody were to knock him down." "Knock him down! I should think it would and kick bim tool" Ashe said this the Major glared at the cbanlain with threatening eyes. There was silence again, broken by Warder Slater taking off his cap and then his tunic, which he folded up carefully and placed upon the floor, and then turning his shirt-sleeves up above his elbows, revealing as be did so a pair of really gigantic arms. "If any man says I let them out of their cells, I'm ready to fight that man, either for a gallon of beer or nothing. I don't care if It s the inspector, or who it is. "I suspect," declared the chaplain, "that the inspector's too great a coward to take you on, bnt if he does I'm willing to back Slater lor half-a-crown. I am even prepared to second him." Pntting his hands under his coat-tails tbe chaplain looked up at the ceiling with a resolute air. "If you do fight Slater, Hardinge, I should certainly commence by giving the chaplain a punch in the eye." So saying, the Governor leaned back in his chair, and began drumming on the table with the tips of his fingers. The doctor rose from his seat He gave the in spector a hearty slap npon the back. "Give him beans!" he cried. "You ought to be able to knock an overfed animal like Slater into the middle of next week before he's counted five." "I've no quarrel with Slater," the in spector growled, "and I've no intention of fighting him; but as the chaplain seems to be so anxious for a row, 111 fight him with the greatest pleasure" "If there's coin' to be any fihtint " interposed the chief warder, "don't you "I don't know about the sponges," said the Governor: '"I don't fancy von will find any just at hand. But you might get a pall of water, I think." The chief warder left the room. "I'm not a fighting man," the chaplain announced; "and in any case, I should de cline to soil my hands by touching snch an ill-mannered ruffian as Major Hardinge." "I say," exclaimed the doctor, "Har dinge, you're not going to stand that?" The Major sprang from his seat, tore off his coat, and flung it on the ground with considerably less care than Warder Slater had done. He strode up to the chaplain. "Beg my pardon, or take a licking!" The Major clenched his fists. He mnm an attitude which, if not exactly reminiscent of the pets of the fancy, was at least in tended to be-pugilistic. The chaplain did not flinch. "You dare to lay a finger on me, you bullying blackguard." The Major did dare. He struck out, if not with considerable science, at any rata with considerable execution. The chaplain went down like a log. At that moment the chief warder entered the room. He had a pail ot water in his hand. For some reason, which was not altogether plain, he threw its contents upon the chaplain as be lav upon the floor. While these considering the Dersons en gagedsomewhat irregular proceedings had been taking place, Mankell remained mo tionless, his hand upraised still with that smile upon his face. Now he lowered his hand. "Thank you very much," he said. There was silence again a tolerably prolonged silence. While it lasted a change seemed to be passing over the chief actors in the scene. They seemed to be awaking, with more or Jess rapidity, to the fact that a certain incongrnity char acterized their actions and their language. There stood Warder Slater, apparently sur prised and overwhelmed at the discovery that his hat and coat were off, and his shirt sleeves tucked up above bis elbows. The chief warder, with the empty pail in his hand, presented a really ludicrous, picture of amazement He seemed quite unable to realize tbe fact that he had thrown tbe con tents over tbe. chaplain. The inspector's surprise appeared to be no less on finding tbat, in his pngilislio ardoahe had torn off his coat, and knocked" therchaDlain down. The doctor, supporting him in the rear, seemed to be taken a little aback. The Governor, smoothing his hair with his hand, seemed to be in a hopeless mist It was the chaplain who rose from the floor with his handkerchief to his nose, who brought it home to them that tbe scene which had just transpired had not been tbe grotesque imaginings of some waking dream. "I call you to witness that Major Har dinge has struck me to the ground, and the chief warder has thrown on me a pail of water. What condnct may be expected from ignorant criminals when snch is the behavior of those who are in charge ofthem, must be left tor others to judge." They looked at one another. Their feel ings were momentarily too deep for words. "I think," suggested the governor, with quavering intonation, "I think tbat this man had better be taken away." Warder Slater picked up his hat and coat, and left the room, Mankell walking quietly beside him. Mr. Murray followed after, seeming particularly ouxious to con ceal the presence of the Dail. Mr. Hewett, still stanching the blood which flowed from his nose, fixed his eyes on the inspector. "Major Hardinge, if, 24 hours after this, you are still an inspector of orisons, all En- land shall ring with your shame. Behind ureaucraey above it is the English press." The chaplain moved toward the door. On the threshold he paused. "As for the chief warder. I shall commence by in dioting him for assault" He took another' step, and pansed again. "Nor shall I for get that the Governor aided and abetted the inspector, aad that the doctor egged him on. Then the chaplain, disappeared. His dis appearance was followed by what might be described as abject silence. Tbe governor eyed his colleagues furtively. At last he . stammered out a qnestion. "WeiJ, Major, what do you think: of this?" Tbe Major sank into a chair, expressing his thougnts by a gasp. Mr. Paley turned his attention to the doctor. "What do you say, doctor?" "I say? I say nothing." "I suppose," murmured the Major, in what seemed to be the ghost of his natural voice, "that I did knock him down?" The doctor seemed to have something to say on thnt point, at any rate. "Knock him down! I should think you did! Like a log of wood!" The Major glanced at the governor. Mr. Paley shook his head. The Major groaned. The governor began to be a little agitated. "Something must be done. It is out of the question tbat sneb a scandal should be allowed to go ont into tbe world. I do not hesitate to say that If tbe chaplain sends iu to the commissioners the report which he threatens to send, the situation will be to the last degree unpleasant for all of us." "The point is, "'observed tbe doctor "are we, collectively and individually, snbject to periodical attacks of temnorary insan ity." "Speaking for myself, I should say cer tainly not" Dr. Livermore tnrned to tbe governor. "Then perhaps you will suggest a hy pothesis which will reasonably account for what has jnst occurred." The governor was silent "Unless you are prepared to seek for a cause in the regions of phenomena." "Supposing," mnrmured the Major, "there is such a thing as witchcraft alter an?" . "We should have the'Psyehical Besearch Society down on us, if we bad nobody else, if we appended our names to a confession of faith." The doctor thrust his thumbs into his waistcoat armholes. "And I should lose every patient I have." There was a tapping at the door. Iu re sponse to the governor's invitation the chief warder entered. In general there was lu Mr. Murray's bearing a not distant sug gestion of an inflated bantam cock: or pouter pigeon. It was curious to observe how anything in the shape of inflation was absent now. He touched his hat as he ad dressed the governor his honest, rubicund, somewhat pngnacions face, eloquent ot the weight that was on his mind. "Excuse me, sir. I said he was a witch." "Your saying that he was a witch or wizard," remarked the governor dryly, "will not, I fear, be sufficient exense, in the eyes of the commissioners, for your throwing a pail of water over tbe chaplain." "But a man's not answerable for what he does when he's bewitched," persisted the chief warder, with characteristic sturdi ness." "It is exactly that reflection which has constrained me to return." Tbey looked np. There was tbe chaplain standing in the door still with his hand kerchief to his nose. "Mr. Mnrray, you threw a pail of water over me. If you assert that you did it under the influence of witchcralt, I, who have myself been under a spell, am willing to excuse you." "Mr. Hewett, sir, you yourself know I was bewitched." "I do; as I believe it of myself. Mnrray, give me your hand." The chaplain and the chief warder solemnly shook hands. 'There is an end of the matter as it concerns us two. Major Hardinge do I understand yon to as sert that you too were under the influence of witchcraft?" Tbis was rather a delicate inquiry to ad dress to tbe Major. Apparently the Major seemed to find it so. "I don't know about witchcraft" he growled; "but I am prepared to take my oath in any court in England that I bad no more intention ot striking you than I had of striking the moon." "Tbat is sufficient, Major Hardinge. I forgive vou from my heart Perhaps you too will take my hand." Tbe Major took it rather awkwardly much more awkwardly than the chief warder had done. When tbe chaplain re linquished it, he turned aside, and picking up his coat, began to put it on scarcely with that air of dignity which is proper to a frme'-cbfnieTr." Hewett "that we aji allow that what has occurred has been owing to the malign influence of the man Oliver Mankell?" There was silence. Apparently ther did not all allow it yet; it was a pill to swallow. "Hypnotism," muttered the doctor, half aside. , "Hypnotism! I believe tbat the word simply expresses some sort of mesmeric power hardly a sufficient explanation iu the present case." "I would suggest, Major Hardinge," in terposed the governor, "all theorising aside, tbat the man be transferred to an other prison at the earliest possible mo ment." "He shall be transferred to-morrow," affirmed the Major. "If there is anything lu Mr. Hewett s suggestion, tne fellow shall have a chance to prove it in some other jail. Oh, good Lord! Don't! He's kill ing me! Help p!" "Hardinge!" exclaimed the doctor; "what's the matter now?" There seemed to be something the matter. The Major had been delivering himself iu bis most pompously official manner. Sud denly he put his hands to the pit of hii stomach, and began to cry out as if in an ecstasy ot pain, his official manner alto gether gone. "He'll murder me! I know he willl" "Murder you? Who?" "Mankell." "Oddly enough, I too was conscious of a very curious sensation." As he said this, tbe governor wiped the cold dew of perspiration from his brow. He. seemed unnaturally white. As he ad justed his spectacles, there was an odd tremulous appearance about his eyes. "It was because you spoke of transferring him to some other jail." The chaplain's tone was solemn. "He dislikes the idea of being trifled wi(h. The Major resentedtbe suggestion. "Trifled with"? He seems uncommonly fond of trifling with other people. Confound' the man! Oh hi" The Major sprang from the floor with au exclamation which amounted to a positive Tell. Tbey looked each other in the face. Each man seemed a little paler than his wont "Somtfhing must be done," the governor gasped. The chaplain, made a proposition. "I propose that we. summon him into our presence, and inquire of him what he wishes ns to do." The proposition was not received with ac clamation. They probably felt that a cer tain amonnt of complication might be ex pected to ensue if such Inquiries began to be addressed to prisoners. "I think I'll go my rounds," observed the doctor. "This matter scarcely concerns me. I wish you gentlemen well out oi it" He reached out his hand to take his) hat, which he had placed upon a chair. As he did so. the hat disappeared, and a small brown terrier dog appeared iu its place. The dog barked viciously at the outstretched hand. The doctor started back just in time to escape its teeth. The dog disappeared there was the hat again. The appearance was but momentary, but it was none the less suggestive oa that ac count The doctor seemed particularly af fected. "We must have all been drinking, if we are taking to seeing things," he cried. "I think," suggested the chaplain, almost in a whisper, "tbat we had better inquire what it is he wishes us to do." There was silence. "We we have all clear con sciences. There there is no reason why we should be afraid." "We're we're not afraid," gasped thegoy ernor. "I I don't think you are entitled to infer such a thing." The Major atammeringly supported him. "Of of course we we're not afraid. The the idea is preposterously absurd." "Still," said the doctor, "a man doesn't care to have hanky-Dinky tricks played with a man's top hat" There vat pause of eealdM i 1 1 KiMMsMsHsMsMsHsMsW .lL&t tiwsa&Lsk'w ifc . ny EKK1
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