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Show 1 LEHI FREE PRESS. LEHI. UTAH WITH SYNOPSIS vlslti the office ol Jrt lawyer, to discuss the terms of she has inherited from Mrs. Mary jaands Dane. Unwittingly she overhears jed talking to Mark Trent, a nephew of disinherited. Mrs. jjrt. Dane who has been pane had lived at Lookout House, a huge uructure on the sea. built by her father jjul divided Into two, for her and Mark's been a fashion expert, fitter. Brooke had "shut-in.hearing ber on jad Mrs. Dane, a radio, had invited her to call and developed a deep affection for her. Brooke Reyburn gjart, estate a FRANCE'S "DRY GUILLOTINE By Emilie Loring Emilie Lorlnf . WNU Service. j Devil's Island, a Prison Dreaded by Criminals Disease and Death Haunt the Prison Colony Marriage, at One Time Permitted, Now Forbidden. "You've been seeing too many movies How you dramatize life. You have been miscast. Instead of being born a rich man's son and spending your days dabbling in paint and the stock market, you should be on the stage. With your flair for good theater, you'd be packing them in. Perhaps Sam can get you a chance in his company. Have you seen the play in which he is acting?" she asked with a quick change from lightness to gravity. "Yes Your brother's good." "But you don't like the play?" "I can't hand it much." "Neither can I. It's a dummy with rot a breath of life, not a drop of red blood, just clever epigrams and stuffed-shir- t characters. I wish Sam hadn't been cast in it." "Don't worry. It won't last long. What's the next play on the stock ing me. So you two have met before? That's a coincidence." "No coincidence about it, Jed. Apparently we were both on the way to this office to keep an appointment with you, when we 'met' in the street almost in front of this building." Brooke's anger flared again at CHAPTER I Continued Mark Trent's cool explanation. She 2 of Jed "It's a fairy story brought up to met the terrier brightness She had Stewart's eyes. date. Only, for the spell of a liked him when she had come to witch, substitute the broadcast of a his office in response to the court's The voice. little schemer got girl's amazing notification that she was cot only the money but Mary Amanunder the will of da's jewels, many of which were residuary legatee Mary Amanda Dane. The black and my grandmother's." Brooke dropped her hands from white check of his suit accentuated list?" the rotundity of his body. He 'The Tempest." The apartment her ears after what seemed hours. puffed out his lips as he regarded Still talking? Perhaps Jed Stewart with, 'Bestir! Bestir! Heigh rings She with her boyish entreaty. was talking to the office boy. She hearts! Cheerily, cheerily my my laughed. " fceard him say: "The present uncomfortable situ- hearts!' not bad yourself, Brooke. "Your aunt said in her will, re"You're ation only goes to prove, doesn't it, didn't Why member, that if she left the jewels Mr. you take to acting?" Stewart, that listeners never to you, you might well, that Miss hear I ought to be good. We chil- of themselves? any good and Reyburn would appreciate them. Though really I wasn't listening. I dren were raised on dramatics She relented toward you to the exthe hanging to look quotations. It was Father's habit to behind stepped tent of naming you legatee should at the marvelous view, and then " orate when he was shaving, and we the girl die without children; she "You heard Jed say that your hair could spout Shakespeare before we was canny enough to prevent her was like copper with the sun on it, could spell. Besides being a pub-fortune from falling into the hands andlisher, he was a playwright for ama- -" of her family. You wouldn't think but Sam is ambitious to write teurs, "I stuffed my fingers in my ears Brooke Reyburn a schemer if you for a I heard a lot more, for the professional stage; he has but while, saw her; you'd know that she had a comedy finished, that whole lot more," Brooke cut in one three-ac- t a background of cultivated living. is, as finished as a play can be until on Mark Trent's sarcastic reminder, She has a vivid face with a deep before I heard you refuse to marry it is put into rehearsal. That is why dimple at one corner of her lovely me. he is acting, that he may know all mouth; her voice is sweet, spiced "But that was before I had seen there is to know of stage technic, with daring. She came out of col've had theater enough in my late you." The suavity of his voice lege to carry her whole darn family hot tears of fury to her job. Late! I can't believe that I m brought when her father died he was one of through. Come on, Jerry, before I eyes. Before she could rally a causthe tragic twenty-niner- s whose insob on the shoulder of that display tic retort, he picked up his hat. vestments were wiped out now, I a bully exit line. I'll be figure. I asked the girls not to come "That's as if I were going suppose, her brother, who is acting to say good-bseeing you, Jed. Hope you enjoy in a stock company, and her sister away forever. They gave me a house and the fortune, Miss Reythe will chuck their jobs and settle burn. Happy landings!" He laughed. grand farewell party last night, and down on her. Her hair is like copI'd better say, 'Safe landings!' I have perfume, hosiery, and bags per with the sun on it; her eyes You're such a reckless enough to last the rest of my nat- person." change from brown to amber, and ural life. Go ahead. I want to "Hi! Fella!" when she smiles at me I feel as With an impatient jerk, Mark snap out the light myself." As she stopped on the threshold, cocky as a drum major at the head Trent shook off the hand on his of a regiment." Field caught her arm. Jerry sleeve, rammed his soft hat over "Help! You're raving, Jed. Per- one eye, and closed the door "Hey, no looking back. Remem- what happened to Lot's wife. haps you're thinking of marrying smartly behind him. Stewart re- ber her?" a hit, wouldn't I, tugging make I'd lieved his feelings in an explosive a pillar of salt round the dance "Marry her yourself, Mark, and sigh and pulled a chair. forward keep the fortune in the family." "That seems to be that. Sit down, floor." He shut the door smartly "I! Marry that girl who hypnoMiss Reyburn, while I tell you behind them. tized an old woman into leaving her about the allowance which will be Brooke blinked and swallowed. a fortune! You're crazy. Besides, made you while Mrs. Dane's estate Okay, Jerry, from now on I go I am married." is being settled. straight ahead like an army with "You haven't caught your aunt's banners, but straight ahead doesn't ideas on divorce, have you? You mean teaing and dancing with you CHAPTER II don't feel tied to that woman who tonight." ran away with that French count, When they reached the already From the lighted stage Brooke do you? You divorced her, didn't into street, Jerry Field de looked the auditorium darkening Reyburn you? You" of the department store in which manded: "Hold everything! We were talk- she had worked for four years. She "Won't you go stepping with me ing of the Reyburn girl. You have had begun by modeling sports now?" nerve to make the suggestion that clothes, and because she had loved "No, thanks. I am going home to I marry her. Men have been put on her work and had with the family about moving, all the it plan given the spot for less. I wouldn't marry enthusiasm and drive was in and to plot the curve of our domes there that schemer if " her she had been promoted steadily. tic future." Brooke flung back the hanging in The first of this last year she had "Look here, Brooke, don't persist a passion of rage. been made head fashion adviser in that silly idea of living in the "Nobody asked you to!" She and had been set to Paris. She house Mrs. Dane left you. It's all cleared her voice of hoarseness, had made frequent trips to New right for spring and summer, but and flamed: York, but never before had she what will you do marooned on a "Has it never occurred to you, been abroad. Now she was talk rocky point of land almost entirely Mark Trent" She stopped, her ing for the last time to a hall full surrounded by water when the days eyes wide with amazement. Was of women, many of whom she had get short, in a place where the resi this really the man who had pulled come to know by sight. She had dents dig in and nothing ever hap her from in front of that speeding given her last radio talk. It was the pens? If you were here in the city," car? After the first flash there was end of her business career. he urged, "I could pick you up in a As she stepped from the stage, minute and we could go places. To no recognition in his eyes, nor Mme. Celeste, the autocratic head date you've handed out the excuse any concern, rather a quiet mockery, which, she felt, at the first word of the store's department of clothes that you were too busy. People are for women, stopped her. A hint of planning to winter there, are they? of hers would turn into active disemotion warmed the hard blue of That's an idea. You won't lose the like. "You! You" Her breath caught her eyes as she caught Brooke's fortune if you don't live in the old in a laugh that was half sob. "What hands. place, will you? It wasn t a condi- a mean break for you that you didn't "Cherie," her French was slightly tion?" twang, know who I was, that you didn't denatured by a down-eaThey were walking toward the let that car hit me! Then you would "I shall lose my right hand when crimson and aae sunset against have had the money." you go. Why did that meddlesome which a huge electric clock seemed old party want to butt in and leave colorless. She had never seen a face so colon the way "No. Mrs. Dane merely left a orless as Mark Trent's as his eyes you money? You were to making it here. note with her lawyer, in which she met hers steadily. "I shall miss you, Mme. Celeste." wrote that she wished I would live "Lucky I didn't know who you Brooke's voice was none too steady there for two years, or at least unwere, wasn't it? I might have been have to long won't you til I had cleared the house of her "Perhaps lead somehow tempted. Schemers this In belongings, that she knew that I charmed lives." one would not laugh at her treasures, t For a split second Brooke thought row ase. money doesn stay in when that I would understand, and that I that fury had paralyzed her tongue. pocket. Remember, cherie, to me. would care for her parrot, Mr. come a want ever job, you She made two attempts to speak That parrot leaves me You'll be needing one. Au revoir!" before she protested angrily: lose I that may cold, thought Jerry. So you see, I must live "Cheering "I'm not a schemer! I suppose it as in the house for a while now that never has occurred to you that the the fortune," Brooke reflected, her office across the the lordly Mark Trent has given she 'Reyburn girl' may have loved hall.approached the blacK letters: Suddenly permission. I " Mary Amanda Dane? May have MISS REYBURN "What has Mark Trent to say been glad to spend one evening a week in a homey old house away on the ground-glas- s panel of the about it?" Brooke looked up in surprise as from her whole 'darn family' in a door iieeled fantastically. She blinked moisture from her they waited for the traffic light at crowded city apartment?" she the corner to change to red and yelFailure of breath alone stopped lashes she hadn't supposed She low. about chokv would leaving. feel Brooke's tirade. There was plenty it "Don't bite. Do you know him, closed quickly the door, to opened was she more she could say, apt it backed and against Jerry?" behind her, be good when she started. A laugh from the "Sure, I know him," he replied twitched at her lips. The two men as a man slid to his feetblack hair His desk. shortly. of her corner looked facing her couldn't have well (TO BE CONTINUED) more stunned when she made her shone like the coat of a sleek were dark his eyes hold-u- p brushed Dony: a had theatrical entrance Bedouins Hospitable man with leveled gun suddenly quizzically amused as they met Besides being one of the picturteeth were beautifully his hers; the behind from hanging. stepped out esque nomads of the desert, the So this was Mark Trent. She had white; he was correctly turned Bedouin is "most hospitable," says cioines business and in span spic been careful never to go to Lookout A Bedouin host thinks House when he was there, for fear Hp was likable, but there was some a writer. to ask his guest his it that curious humiliating rather that he might think she had planned thing missing or the time his n. destination, sne name, ten to meet him. She had not realized never before had of his departure. It is a recognized he gal inquired tricks?" "How's so nor that he would be so bronzed law of the desert that if a stranger tall, that his dark eyes were so un- lv in here, Jerry appears at your tent and your sheep "How did you get compromising, nor that the set of are grazing far away, you are enField?" in his mouth and chin could be so in order to follow the ancient a off titled, log. as rolling "Easv domitable. There was a fiery on law of hospitality, to steal a neighstrides few a an elevator, which him taxi, in strong quality of life sheep and to slay it in honor sent prickles of excitement line rea shanks mare, and here 1 am. not bor's of and your guest. This is a sort of again "I've told you time hot slivers shootine through her borrowing and not literally stealing veins. She knew now that she should to come to my office. as the law is observed by all neighon the were job, you "While you have anoeared from behind that bors. Hospitality is not limited to I've thin?. sweet stayed said, word first hanging at Jed Stewart's food and drink, but includes affordwolf old the time the all and Stewart's always ruddy face was away his I've heart. ing the guest protection should the color of a fully grown beet. He jealousy gnawed at my bea If threatened. guest's be imagined you here entertaining the life coughed apologetically. are stolen, the host will "Sorrv. Miss Revburn. Didn't male heads of departments ana lei longings make make every effort to have them know you'd come. I'll slit the throat ting them, or stopping them, to you. of that secretary of mine for not tell love " gray-gree- n .... A V T 1 5 - ' it - - ' " y i i . '0, jiff" T$V 5 Lt r sun rr a It J 2 . j 11 st I y I v I ' $ "'mil ': ' ;.j kLi By RICHARD HALLIBURTON Author of "The Royal Road to Romance," etc. i i HpEN prisoners escape from A Devil's Island land at Trinidad." "Fugitives from Devil's Island arrested in British Guiana; returned to French authorities." "Devil's Island escape revealed when bodies of six French convicts drift ashore in Brazil." The island guillotine, shown at left, takes the heads of several of the unfortunate or fortunate prisoners every year. The biggest and strongest convicts are used as galley slaves, as shown above. These photos were taken by Richard Halliburton, who lived as a prisoner to obtain this story. many a convict has lost his life garroted by his fellows and carved open for a profit of five francs. Meeting the Prisoners. Looking at the men in the barrack, I could believe them capable of murdering for less. They were a tough and stupid lot, for generally speaking, those with refinement or intellect are the first to die off or be killed. It is a sad fact that under such conditions, the live longer and thrive better. Some of them, having become immune to the prevailing diseases, actually grow strong on the meager rations and hard work. A few in the barrack were physically magnificent, with hard muscles and skin burned black by the sun. These were the "strong-arms,- " the dictators, tyrannizing over the weak and dispirited who make up the mass. More than half my fellow prisoners were under twenty-fivseveral hardly more than adolescent. But nearly all, of whatever age or color, came from of the earth. A the decent and appealing face was a rarity indeed. I found an empty bed (which was really just one of 80 canvas strips stretched taut from the wall to an iron bar), and made the acquaintance of my neighbors. On my right y was a tattooed about thirty, who said he had murdered his sweetheart. The tattooed gentleman had been in "the box" seven years. He had come from France with 700 others on the convict ship. Of that shipment, less than a hundred were left alive. From him I learned that there were about 5,000 prisoners in Guiana (4,400 on the mainland, 600 on the islands), and about 3,000 libereres, freed prisoners not permitted to leave the colony. No More Marriage. I asked him if there were any women convicts with whom the prisoners could marry. He laughed cyn ically. Once, yes, but no longer. In former times, if a convict wanted a wife, he went to the women's barracks and announced the fact to the matron, who lined up all the women and asked, "Who wants this man?" The hands would go up. He'd look over the willing ones "No, not you; you're too old. And you're too And you have no teeth." The matron would hurry him. Rushed for time, he'd pick out the most acceptable one, and she would be marched to the office. Their names would be put in the book. That constituted a marriage, and they could set about rearing a new, unfortunate generation for whom environment was sure to accomplish whatever heredity had left undone. These offspring, as lawless as the very prison rats, became such a problem that France was forced to ban prison marriages and, in time, discontinued completely the practice of sending female offenders to Guiana. However, if they have money, the prisoners can still find women usually the daughters of convicts and sub-norm- al Scarcely a month passes without its press story of an escape from Devil's island. Having spent a summer in the famous prison, I am particularly interested in these reports even though I know that none of them are true. There has never in history been an escape from Devil's island! Lives as Convict. To find out why deportes never come back, I went to Devil's island of my own accord. I put on the convict stripes, and lived where the prisoners lived and as they lived, except that with the connivance of the guards I was able to move about wherever I chose. Nor could I, being a free man, ever feel even a small part of the degradation and despair that I observed. Landing on the mainland at Cayenne, the capital of the colony and the headquarters of some eleven hundred deportes, I lost no time in finding a convict uniform, a very simple little costume consisting of faded cotton trousers and a straw hat. Wearing it, I walked into a barrack unchallenged, and was locked up for the night with 77 convicts. The barrack, a hundred and twenty feet long by twenty wide, was more like an army dormitory than a prison. Down the center ran an aisle, on each side of which 6tretched a row of canvas beds. On the beds the convicts ate, sprawled, and slept. They had no lockers, no possessions, no privacy. Eight small barred windows near the ceiling let in a faint breeze, and many, many mosquitoes. Of the 77 men in this barrack, 49 were serving life sentences for mur-- I der. Only 44 were French. The others were Germans, Poles, ne-Among the groes and Arabs. French, more than half were from the Marseilles district the Chicago of France. Lyons had the next best representation. Only two came from Paris. This division was fairly typical of the 40 other barracks in the colony. The French prisoners, with all their misery and hopelessness, talked animatedly, as Frenchmen will (the subject is usually escape); or they played cards for the francs that they had earned as servants or laborers. How do they guard their winnings In this community of thieves? There Moral standards are no banks. The uniforms have no pockets. Money hidden would scarcely exist at Cayenne. The heat, be found and stolon. Nevertheless, the monotony, the debased class money is accumulated acainst the from which guards and prisoners day of escape, and guarded in the alike are recruited, all combine to safest place a convict has his own encourage depravity. The populabody. Each prisoner crimes within tion is a melange of convicts, negroes, Chinese and prostihis body an aluminum capsule, 'hree inches long and an inch thick, tutes, scrambled recklessly togethailed a plan, in which he secretes er. Not one child in four knows is hoardings. Because of his plan, who or what color his father is. e, plug-ugl- evil-lookin- g. 1 bush-negresse- lib-eie- s, Even for a convict who cannot af ford women, they are still his chief preoccupation. Each prisoner In my barrack had a few pictures of actresses, society beauties, bathing girls, cut from magazines and pasted on the wall behind his bed; and each cherished a few photograph of his wife or sweetheart the only personal property he is allowed. It was nine o'clock when the central oil lamp was extinguished. games ended. Seventy-seve- n d bodies, and mine, relaxed on the creaking canvas beds. But I didn't sleep much. The stench was nauseating, the vermin and mosquitoes swarmed forth for their nightly feast; and the rain, beginning to rattle on the rusted tin roof, streamed through in a scora The-car- half-nake- places. The largest stream was right over my bed. I paced th aisle all night between the rows of snoring murderers and scratching1 bandits, and by sunup looked as bedraggled as the rest. Up Early and to Work. At six the barrack door was unlocked. We all filed out to the of kitchen, where we seized tin cups, plates and spoons, and received our breakfast of coffee and bread, which we ate seated on our canvas beds. Then the whistle blew and the prisoners, still hungry, scattered to their various daytime jobs. The jobs are not exactly select houseboy, scavengers, beasts of burden in the lumber yards. The prison tries to occupy convict in some every way. But there would not be enough work to go around (for Cayenne has less than 10,000 people and is commercially dead) were it not for the fact that a good quarter of the prisoners are always incapacitated from sickness, and another quarter locked up in special cells as punishment for trying to escape. Funeral in French Guiana. As I walked on through the shabby town, it was rousing itself sluggishly, indifferently, for another day a day which would bring nothing new to break the monotonous routine which Cayenne has long since! accepted as inevitable. No one but myself looked up to notice a cart, drawn by four convicts, which was bearing a crude new coffin along the street. But I decided to follow this informal funeral to see where it would lead. It led straight to one of the most terrible features of Guiana "the bamboos" a few square rods of ground surrounded by thickets of tall cane, the convicts' burial place, I call it "most terrible," not because it is as sickening as the barbarous conditions from which death releases the convicts, but because in one shocking scene it sums up and symbolizes the whole inhuman water-carrier- s, well-behave- d two-wheel- ed system. In this small plot, probably 10,000 men have been buried since 1860, though the area is not sufficient to contain 200 graves. Space is unlimited in Guiana, but even so, the same ground is used over and over again. Methodically and grimly, the furrows of fresh earth, turned up beside the old graves, move back and forth across the cemetery, the bones of previous burials being dug up and burned to make room for the newcomers. One hundred and forty times in 70 years this ghoulish eviction has been repeated. Bell Syndicate. WNU Service. j |