ail. Besides my letter there was also one from Mrs.
Maroney. Maroney looked at the letters and opened the one from his wife
first. He read it, a pleased smile passing over his face, and then laid
it down and picked up my letter. He scanned the envelope carefully and
then broke the seal. White was watching him and wondered why he examined
the letter so closely. As he read, White was astonished to see a look of
deep anguish settle on his face. He seemed to be sinking from some
terrible blow. He recovered himself, read the letter over and over
again, then crushed it in his hand and threw it on the floor.

He sprang to his feet and walked rapidly up and down the hall; but
returned and picked up the letter before the wily White could manage to
secure it. White wondered what it was that troubled Maroney. He
whispered to Shanks:

"What the d----l is the matter with Maroney? He has received bad news. I
should like, in some way, to find out what it is. The old man will be
wondering what is in that note, and when I report, will blame me for
not finding out."

Maroney appeared almost crazed. He forced the letter into his pocket and
went into his cell without a word; but his face was a terrible index of
what was passing in his mind.

After a little, White and Shanks walked by his cell and saw him lying on
the bed, with his face hidden in the clothes. He did not come out for
over an hour; but when he did, he _seemed_ perfectly calm. He was very
pale, and it was astonishing to see the change wrought in him in so
short a time.

White met him as he came out, but did not appear to notice any
difference in him.

"Here, Maroney, have a cigar; they are a new brand. Shanks is a superior
judge of cigars. I think these are the best I have yet had, and I
believe I will get a box; I can get them for eleven dollars, and they
are as good as those they retail at twenty cents a piece."

Maroney held out his hand mechanically and took one. He put it into his
mouth, and without lighting it, commenced to chew it.

White, in one of his reports to me, says: "A man often shows his
desperation by his desire to get more nicotine than usual." Maroney did
not converse with White, and only said he wanted to write. He sat down
and wrote a note, but immediately tore it up. He wrote and tore up
several in this way, but finally wrote one to suit him. White quietly
told Shanks that when Maroney gave him the letter he was writing, he
must be sure and see