Show B Davil a o.- o. 1 7 ry f r r The Tile Convict and the Bird Legend in inn ina n a New Now Dress I COVER the back roads roa s the unbeaten paths where men weary of the main highways ram ram- ramble ramble ble alone And An because there is little else to do but converse when we meet I hear some strange tales that in the hurry and bustle along the traveled much m uch-tra uch thoroughfares fn res would be he left untold Comes to my mind a n astory astory story that with no effort on my part turned up down South where It has been heen my Illy pleasure plc asure to roll at nt low speed over o country countr roads If you ou have room said a n hitch hitchhiker hiker h who halted me toe along alon the way I would like JIe to ride with you to the next village I could COllid even exen pay paya a n fare If you ou prefer prE fer it that way Not at fit nil all Why pay rent for com com- companionship companionship Step In Whatever el else I may lack nobody can say I 1 am a n had listener Fortu Fortu- Fortunately Fortunately the new found acquaintance was In a talking mood and en en- entertaining as ns well A native of or Idaho he had ranched prospected operated In the hide bide market t and moved on to to- toward ward the Gulf ulf there to look 1001 Into the muskrat skin business s. s and for three years ears G 1923 G G had walked the parapet of a western penitentiary as n a guard Not so good he admitted hut but If you youcan youcan can cnn such stick It out a fine place to get the lowdown on what a man who has guts can nn stand The Robin and the Roughneck lust Just what do you nu mean I n a ked W Well facing the music for In In- Instance stance It must he be h l h 1 to look 1001 ahead through h Iron bars Ill I'll tell you about one case case he he had no future they burnt him As men go JO he was one of the toughest of his his- time But nut he had a way with him when it came to 10 birds He lIe had killed 1 a man In cold coli blood was nabbed convicted and sen sen- sentenced sentenced tence to the chair Through some legal leal technicality the flash Hash was de de- delayed dela de- de delayed la ed five months The warden a hn hu humane mane man allowed his prisoner to take tale dally daily exercise In a small enclosure enclosure ure unroofed that gave Jave on the death house Into this space which contained con con- a n tree and ani some grass the murderer with bread crumbs saved from his dally daily allowance coaxed a afew afew few sparrows some pigeons and one robin The Tile red breast Is a n furtive e bird and anel hard Ilard to tame Right you are said the guard ex-guard but before he got ot through h the con con- conIct convict vict having nothing but time on his his' hands had that robin sitting on his shoulder Yes and eating enUng crumbs from his lips Also he trained the birds to pull pul a n cigarette from the outside pock pock- pocket et of his shirt Think it over I wit wit- witnessed ne sed the performance nce many times looking ln down from the stone wall that framed one side of the enclosures enclosure When a n killer goes soft there Is no nn telling what trend his affections will viii take While the prisoner continued to scatter tier crumbs for or the lie pigeons and sparrows the rolin got all a the best breaks at the banquet hanquet Bars Dont Don't Stop the Bird Then the weather broke brule and the prisoner was obliged to stay Indoors viewing the enclosure through h a barred window to which after a few ew days s 's of or loneliness the robin found the new route roule to crumbs and companionship llan the courts turning a deaf ear to the appeal for a new trial re re- reset reset re- re reset set the machinery of law In Im motion for execution of the sentence I 1 sup sup- suppose suppose pose puse youve you've u e heard the old poem about the convict lct and the bird Well It It wasn't a n patch on an what happened VI 12 l yea years cars is ago In that western penitentiary With the approach of the date the doomed prisoner seemed to grow row more calloused d In his speech arid and de meanor Only the robin received at at- tent Ion nt-I nt It was part of my Job during the closing week of or his existence to keep an nn eye exe upon ullIn the condemned man whose sole concern was the dally visit from front his bird which entered the death chamber cha In the morning morn I ng through h a alow low window and made his afternoon exit through an nn upper ventilating tran transom soul som close to the ceiling As n II rule executions In that particular state took place at nt 8 S a. a m. m On the day clay before I suggested sUlsted to the prisoner that t 1 II close both windows and nd keep the robin captive to be released after lifter the lust last Hash flush At first he thought thon ht well of the Idea but turned It down almost Immediately It Is enough for we me to tobe tobe tobe be a n prisoner Let the little feller stay Sll free he ire said If U he shows up all right If not I 1 can cnn take dike It alone He lIe wont won't know else cares The rhe hitch hiker long lung enough h to till 1111 and light lI ht his his pipe an un Inter Inter- Interminable Interminable proceeding It seemed to me The Tho Last Long Mlle Milo Ever seen s en a man In lu the chair he asked peering at al me through a II cloud of blue bite vapor Yes 1 I hold hard I 1 replied Why Well you know how painfully long are ure the les I I warden witnesses doctor priest tier tier- mad guards tiling Iii rig In llant necessary to go jU Into those details WUI you Anyhow An V IIII I standing Just In tu side the death dearth chamber when n the till con condemned cond entered With his lips only though Inaudible he hu framed trim ned three j i i words The robin emir That Thill sen ln levee tence couldn't have been plainer through a megaphone I t n |