Chapter 10

           Andaboveallthings,nextmorningWardenAthertoncameintomycellonmurderintent.WithhimwereCaptainJamie,DoctorJackson,Pie-FaceJones,andAlHutchins.AlHutchinswasservingaforty-years’sentence,andwasinhopesofbeingpardonedout.ForfouryearshehadbeenheadtrustyofSanQuentin.ThatthiswasapositionofgreatpoweryouwillrealizewhenItellyouthatthegraftaloneoftheheadtrustywasestimatedatthreethousanddollarsayear.WhereforeAlHutchins,inpossessionoftenortwelvethousanddollarsandofthepromiseofapardon,couldbedependedupontodotheWarden’sbiddingblind.

           IhavejustsaidthatWardenAthertoncameintomycellintentonmurder.Hisfaceshowedit.Hisactionsprovedit.

           “Examinehim,”heorderedDoctorJackson.

           Thatwretchedapologyofacreaturestrippedfrommemydirt-encrustedshirtthatIhadwornsincemyentrancetosolitary,andexposedmypoorwastedbody,theskinridgedlikebrownparchmentovertheribsandsore-infestedfromthemanyboutswiththejacket.Theexaminationwasshamelesslyperfunctory.

           “Willhestandit?”theWardendemanded.

           “Yes,”DoctorJacksonanswered.

           “How’stheheart?”

           “Splendid.