Criminals -- Fiction; Social problems -- Fiction; United States -- Social conditions -- 1865-1918 -- Fiction
The contemptuous description, the tone, the attitude, all expressed the
hatred the police had for Archie, a hatred that Marriott realized would
extend itself to him for taking sides with Archie. The turnkey, a thin
German with cheek-bones that seemed about to perforate his sallow skin,
a black mustache, and two black, glossy curls plastered on his low
forehead, likewise scowled and showed reluctance.
"How many damned lawyers," he said, taking a corn-cob pipe from his
mouth, "is that feller going to have, anyway?"
"Why," asked Marriott in a sudden hope that ignored the man’s insolence,
"have there been others?"
"Humph!" said the turnkey, jangling his heavy keys. "Only about a
dozen."
"Well, I’ll see him anyway."
Marriott had waited thus for Archie and for other men who had done
crimes; but never for one who had killed a man. He felt a new,
unpleasant sensation, a nervous apprehension, just a faint sickness, and
then--Archie came.
The boy stepped into the turnkey’s room with a certain air of relief; he
straightened himself, stretched, and within the flannel undershirt that
showed his white, muscular neck to its base, his chest expanded as he
filled his lungs with the welcome air. He threw away his cigarette,
came forward and pressed Marriott’s hand, strongly, with hearty
gratitude.
The turnkey led them to a dingy room, and locked them in a closet used
as a consulting cabinet by those few prisoners who could secure lawyers.
The gloom was almost as thick as the dust in the closet. Marriott
thought of all the tragedies the black hole had known; and wondered if
Archie had any such thoughts. He could not see Archie’s face clearly,
but it seemed to be clouded by too many realities to be conscious of the
romantic or the tragic side of things. It was essential to talk in low
tones, for they knew that the turnkey was listening through the thin,
wooden partition. Marriott waited for Archie to begin.
"Well?" he said presently.
"Got a match, Mr. Marriott?" Archie asked.
Marriott drew out his silver match-box, and then looked at Archie’s face
glowing red in the tiny flame of the light he made for his cigarette.
The action calmed and reassured Marriott Archie’s face wore no unwonted
or tragic expression; if his experience had changed him, it had not as
yet set its mark on him. Marriott lighted a cigarette himself.
"I was afraid you wouldn’t come," said Archie, dropping to the floor the
match he economically shared with Marriott, and then solicitously
pressing out its little embers with his foot.
"I got your message only this morning."
"Humph!" sneered Archie. "That’s the way of them coppers. I asked ’em
to ’phone you the morning they made the pinch."
"Well, they didn’t."
"No, they’ve got it in for me, Mr. Marriott; they’ll job me if they can.
I was worried and ’fraid I’d have to take some other lawyer."
"They told me you had seen others."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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