Chapter XVII

At seven o'clock the next morning Jurgis was let out
to get water to wash his cell -- a duty which he performed
faithfully, but which most of the prisoners were accus~
tomed to shirk, until their cells became so filthy that the
guards interposed. Then he had more "duffers and dope,"
and afterward was allowed three hours for exercise, in a
long, cement-walled court roofed with glass. Here were
all the inmates of the jail crowded together. At one side
of the court was a place for visitors, cut off by two heavy
wire screens, a foot apart, so that nothing could be passed
in to the prisoners; here Jurgis watched anxiously, but
there came no one to see him.

Soon after he went back to his cell, a keeper opened the
door to let in another prisoner. He was a dapper young
fellow, with a light brown mustache and blue eyes, and a
graceful figure. He nodded to Jurgis, and then, as the
keeper closed the door upon him, began gazing critically
about him.

"Well, pal," he said, as his glance encountered Jurgis
again, "good morning."

"Good morning," said Jurgis.

"A rum go for Christmas, eh?" added the other.

Jurgis nodded.

The new-comer went to the bunks and inspected the
blankets; he lifted up the mattress, and then dropped it
with an exclamation. "My God!" he said, "that's the
worst yet."

He glanced at Jurgis again. "Looks as if it hadn't
been slept in last night. Couldn't stand it, eh?"

"I didn't want to sleep last night," said Jurgis.

[[193]]

p192 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p193w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p194

v?