mission to "_the order_" as the prisoners call it. He found the
"order" to be narrowed down to drinkables and smokables for all the
prisoners initiated. Maroney had joined before, and said to White, "I
don't think much of it. These people care for nothing but drinking and
eating, while I have something else to think about."

By degrees Maroney conversed more and more with White; sometimes he
would forget and talk loudly. White would look up and say, "Hush! walls
have ears sometimes, don't talk so loud." At other times he would say,
"Maroney, I am not a talking man; I keep my own counsel, and have
discovered that the worst thing a man can do is to be noisy." Maroney
would try and mollify him by saying, "Oh, pshaw! I didn't say any thing
in particular."

"You can't tell who the spies are here," White would reply, "do you see
those prisoners? well, how do you know but that some of them are spies?
I would not trust one of them. I have a big fight under way myself; I
know the men who are opposing me will take every advantage, and I
propose to keep quiet and wait."

Maroney would remark, "But no one heard?"

"Hush," White would whisper, "how many times must I tell you that walls
may have ears?"

In time he had Maroney afraid almost of his own shadow.

When White wanted to tell Shanks any thing, he would take him by the arm
and draw him to one side; his lips would be seen to move, but not a word
could be heard.

One morning Maroney said, "White, I would like to have a boy like yours
to attend to my business; he is a good boy, never talks loud, and I
could make him useful in many ways."

"Yes," replied White, dryly, "Shanks is a good boy, and minds what I
say. Suppose they should bring him on the stand to prove I said a
certain thing, Shanks would be a bad witness, because he never hears any
thing I don't want him to."

"I see he is shrewd, and I like him for that," said Maroney.

The days passed slowly away, White always attending to his own business,
which seemed very important. One day Maroney said to White, "I'm tired,
let's take a turn in the hall?" They made several trips, conversing on
general topics, when Maroney lowered his voice and said:

"White, couldn't you and I get out of this jail?"

"I have not thought of it, have you?"

"Yes," answered Maroney, eagerly; "all we need is two keys. If we were
to get an impression of the lock Shanks could have them made, couldn't
he?"

"Yes," replied White, "you