Her other visit was in April to the penitentiary. McCoy was away as a trusty in charge of a road-building gang near Casper. But it was not her husband that Ruth had come to see. She wanted to make a plea to the one man who could help her. She carried an order from Governor McDowell permitting her to see him. The hour she had chosen was inauspicious. Falkner, sullen and dogged, was brought in irons to the office of the warden. His face was badly swollen and cut. He pretended not to recognize Ruth, but stood, heavy and lowering, his sunken eyes set defiantly straight before him. “He’s been in solitary for a week,” explained the warden. “Makes us more trouble than any two men here. This time he hit a guard over the head with a shovel.” The prisoner had the baited look of a hunted wild animal. “I’m so sorry,” breathed Ruth. It was plain to her at a glance that he was much more of a wild beast than he had been when she last saw him. “You needn’t be sorry for him. He brings it all on himself.” The warden turned curtly to Falkner. “This lady wants to talk to you. See you behave yourself.” But when she was alone with this battered hulk her carefully prepared arguments all fell away from her. She felt instinctively that they would have no weight with him. She hesitated, uncertain how to proceed. The best she could do was to repeat herself. “I’m sorry they don’t treat you well, Mr. Falkner. Is there anything I can do for you—tobacco or anything like that?” He gave her a sulky sidewise look, but did not answer. “We’re all hoping you’ll get out soon,” she went on bravely. “They are talking of getting up a petition for all of you.” She stuck again. His whole attitude was unfriendly and hostile. “I—I’ve come to ask another favour of you. Perhaps you don’t know that I have a little baby now. I’m trying to get Rowan out on parole, but the governor won’t do anything unless we bring evidence to show that he did not kill Mr. Gilroy.” He clung still to his obstinate silence. His eyes were watching her now steadily. It came to her that her suffering pleased him. “So I’ve come to you, Mr. Falkner. You are the only man that can help me. If you’ll make a statement that you shot Mr. Gilroy the governor will give me back my husband. I’m asking it for the sake of my little baby.” A pulse beat fast in her throat. A tremor passed through her body. The eyes begged him to be merciful. He laughed, and the sound of his laughter was harsh and cruel. “I’d see the whole outfit of you rot first.” “I’m sure you don’t mean that,” she said gently. “You haven’t been treated well here, and naturally you feel hard about it. Anybody would. But I’m sure you want to be fair to your friends.” “My friends!” he jeered bitterly. “Tha’s a good one. My friends!”