"Unfortunately, the hack saw department is understocked and our new
order has not arrived."
"Get in."
Pop unlocked a cell and Jeff and Pal entered. The bars were in front
only; the cells were separated by brick walls. Adjusting his eyes to the
gloomy interior, Jeff saw two bunks with dirty mattresses suspended by
chains that were attached to the wall. There was an iron stand upon
which stood a chipped basin and a faded towel. Beneath the stand was a
bucket. Pop slammed the door.
"I sleep in front," he advised. "I've got a sawed-off shotgun and I know
how to use it. Besides, just trying to break out can mean six months in
prison. Think it over."
"Sure." Jeff smiled.
Pop strode back to the desk while the two chicken thieves shouted
raucous insults. Jeff lost himself in thought.
The situation had been quite obvious from the moment he entered the
jail. Few towns had a full-time jailer for two or three
prisoners--unless there were other factors involved--and almost without
exception such factors existed only when there were certain affairs that
would not bear close examination. The majority of Cressman's citizens
probably were honest, hard-working people, but some of its officials
were not. The fact that they could be dishonest only because the rest
were indifferent to the way their town's affairs were conducted did not
change the situation. If he were one of the inside clique, Pop would
have a better job, but he evidently knew enough so that he had to be
given something in order to prevent his talking. Pop's reaction when
Jeff expressed such utter willingness to take the matter up with an
attorney--offered additional proof of this.
Jeff let his hand fondle Pal's head as he considered his chances. There
was little possibility of breaking out by force and it would not be a
good idea to do so anyway. As things stood, he faced a minor charge.
Breaking jail was a major one. It was illegal to keep him confined for
seven days without benefit of counsel, but that could be brushed over.
They could always claim that they had held him on suspicion of some more
serious charge.
Jeff sighed. He held a club over Cressman, but Cressman held him in
jail. He scratched Pal's ears and murmured,
"Let it never be said that Tarrant Enterprises, Ltd., gave way to
despair."
"What'd you say, Jeff?" Ike called.
"Comfortable home," Jeff answered gaily.
"Counted the cockroaches in your private suite?"
"Not yet."
"We got forty-seven," Ike said proudly. "One nigh as big as that dog of
yours. What you got in your pack?"
"Candles?" Jeff suggested.
"Law! If Bucky and me had any money, we'd buy some."
Jeff took three candles, which he bought for a penny and sold for three
cents each, from his pocket. He handed two of them and a half dozen
matches around the end of his cell.
"A gift from Tarrant Enterprises, Ltd."
"Thanks, Tarrant what-you-call-it. We'll pay you soon's we've found us a
fortune."
"I'll count on it," Jeff said.
He lighted the third candle, dripped wax from it onto the iron stand,
and set it upright in its own drippings. By its flickering light, he
examined the cell more closely. It was what he had expected. The floor
was dirty, the mattresses only a little less so, and cockroaches
scurried for cracks.
Jeff let his hand brush Pal's head again. Completely trusting, the dog
wagged his tail and shoved his nose against his master's thigh. Dragging
the mattress from the top bunk, Jeff laid it on the floor. Conceivably,
even a dog would protest against sleeping up there.
Hunger reminded Jeff that neither he nor Pal had eaten anything since
last night, and again he took refuge in the happy thought that first
things must be first. He edged up to the bars and said softly,
"Ike."
"Yeah?"
"Where's the food come from around here?"
"The garbage can," Ike answered sadly. "Anyhow, that's what I think."
"Can we get any other?"
"If you got money, you can ask Pop."
"Nothing like trying." Jeff raised his voice, "Hey, Pop!"
"What do you want?"
"How about something to eat?"
"It's not lunch time."
"How about some anyhow?"
"Got any money?"
Jeff replied mournfully, "A few pennies that I've been saving for my old
age. I can pay for it."