, that I would pay him as
soon as possible. He let me have the use of the house. I advertised in
the daily papers of the city that I would lecture in the Opera House the
following evening on my prison life,--admission fifty cents. I thought
if the good people wanted to come at all they would come even if they
had to pay well for it. I was very restless from the morning that I
engaged the Opera House until the next evening, at which time I was to
speak. I did not know whether I would have any audience. If not, I was
fifty dollars deeper in debt. The evening for the lecture came, I went
to the Opera House prepared to interest anyone that might put in an
appearance; I entered the building in the rear, and took my position on
the platform. The signal was given and up went the curtain. I was highly
pleased when I saw my audience. The building was packed. The lecture was
a financial success. In this manner I secured a nice "stake" for future
use. I delivered that lecture for several weeks in Kansas, and made a
thousand dollars above expenses. To return to my first afternoon in
the cell. I thought of another scheme. I conceived the idea that a book
about, a penitentiary, giving its history, and also the history of many
of the leading criminals, modes of punishment, escapes, etc., would be
very interesting, and would sell. I decided to write such a book while
in prison. In order to write a book it became necessary to have
writing material. How was I to secure this? It was against the prison
regulations for a prisoner to have a lead-pencil or scrap of paper. The
officials were very strict on this point. It was essential they should
be. If the prisoners could pass notes, it would not be long before a
prison insurrection would be the result. The plan that I adopted to
secure writing material was rather unique, and perhaps the reader will
like to know how I managed this difficult matter. It is wonderful what a
man can accomplish, with adverse surroundings, if he wills it. As I have
stated before, I had much to do in securing the election of Hon. W. D.
Gilbert to the district judgeship. This made him feel very kind toward
me. He came often to visit me at the prison. One day while visiting me,
I asked him to use his influence with the warden to secure for me the
privilege of having writing material in my cell. "What do you want with
writing material," said he. The answer I gave was, that I might pass
away my leisure hours in learning t