English
Atseveno’clockthenextmorningJurgiswasletouttogetwatertowashhiscell—adutywhichheperformedfaithfully,butwhichmostoftheprisonerswereaccustomedtoshirk,untiltheircellsbecamesofilthythattheguardsinterposed.
Thenhehadmore“duffersanddope,”andafterwardwasallowedthreehoursforexercise,inalong,cement-walkedcourtroofedwithglass.
Herewerealltheinmatesofthejailcrowdedtogether.
Atonesideofthecourtwasaplaceforvisitors,cutoffbytwoheavywirescreens,afootapart,sothatnothingcouldbepassedintotheprisoners;hereJurgiswatchedanxiously,buttherecamenoonetoseehim.
Soonafterhewentbacktohiscell,akeeperopenedthedoortoletinanotherprisoner.
Hewasadapperyoungfellow,withalightbrownmustacheandblueeyes,andagracefulfigure.
HenoddedtoJurgis,andthen,asthekeeperclosedthedooruponhim,begangazingcriticallyabouthim.
“Well,pal,”hesaid,ashisglanceencounteredJurgisagain,“goodmorning.”
“Goodmorning,”saidJurgis.
“ArumgoforChristmas,eh?”addedtheother.
Jurgisnodded.
Thenewcomerwenttothebunksandinspectedtheblankets;heliftedupthemattress,andthendroppeditwithanexclamation.“MyGod!”hesaid,“that’stheworstyet.”
HeglancedatJurgisagain.“Looksasifithadn’tbeensleptinlastnight.Couldn’tstandit,eh?”
“Ididn’twanttosleeplastnight,”saidJurgis.
“Whendidyoucomein?”
“Yesterday.”
Theotherhadanotherlookaround,andthenwrinkleduphisnose.“There’sthedevilofastinkinhere,”hesaid,suddenly.“Whatisit?”
“It’sme,”saidJurgis.
“You?”
“Yes,me.”
“Didn’ttheymakeyouwash?”
“Yes,butthisdon’twash.”
“Whatisit?”
“Fertilizer.”
“Fertilizer!Thedeuce!Whatareyou?”
“Iworkinthestockyards—atleastIdiduntiltheotherday.It’sinmyclothes.”
“That’sanewoneonme,”saidthenewcomer.“IthoughtI’dbeenupagainst‘emall.Whatareyouinfor?”
“Ihitmyboss.”“Oh—that’sit.Whatdidhedo?”
“He—hetreatedmemean.”
“Isee.You’rewhat’scalledanhonestworkingman!”
“Whatareyou?”Jurgisasked.
“I?”Theotherlaughed.“TheysayI’macracksman,”hesaid.
“What’sthat?”askedJurgis.
“Safes,andsuchthings,”answeredtheother.
“Oh,”saidJurgis,wonderingly,andstatedatthespeakerinawe.“Youmeanyoubreakintothem—you—you—”
“Yes,”laughedtheother,“that’swhattheysay.”
Hedidnotlooktobeovertwenty-twoorthree,though,asJurgisfoundafterward,hewasthirty.Hespokelikeamanofeducation,likewhattheworldcallsa“gentleman.”
“Isthatwhatyou’reherefor?”Jurgisinquired.
“No,”wastheanswer.“I’mherefordisorderlyconduct.Theyweremadbecausetheycouldn’tgetanyevidence.
“What’syourname?”theyoungfellowcontinuedafterapause.“Myname’sDuane—JackDuane.
I’vemorethanadozen,butthat’smycompanyone.”
Heseatedhimselfonthefloorwithhisbacktothewallandhislegscrossed,andwentontalkingeasily;hesoonputJurgisonafriendlyfooting—hewasevidentlyamanoftheworld,usedtogettingon,andnottooproudtoholdconversationwithamerelaboringman.
HedrewJurgisout,andheardallabouthislifeallbuttheoneunmentionablething;andthenhetoldstoriesabouthisownlife.
Hewasagreatoneforstories,notalwaysofthechoicest.
Beingsenttojailhadapparentlynotdisturbedhischeerfulness;hehad“donetime”twicebefore,itseemed,andhetookitallwithafrolicwelcome.
Whatwithwomenandwineandtheexcitementofhisvocation,amancouldaffordtorestnowandthen.
Naturally,theaspectofprisonlifewaschangedforJurgisbythearrivalofacellmate.
Hecouldnotturnhisfacetothewallandsulk,hehadtospeakwhenhewasspokento;norcouldhehelpbeinginterestedintheconversationofDuane—thefirsteducatedmanwithwhomhehadevertalked.
Howcouldhehelplisteningwithwonderwhiletheothertoldofmidnightventuresandperilousescapes,offeastingsandorgies,offortunessquanderedinanight?
TheyoungfellowhadanamusedcontemptforJurgis,asasortofworkingmule;he,too,hadfelttheworld’sinjustice,butinsteadofbearingitpatiently,hehadstruckback,andstruckhard.
Hewasstrikingallthetime—therewaswarbetweenhimandsociety.
Hewasagenialfreebooter,livingofftheenemy,withoutfearorshame.
Hewasnotalwaysvictorious,butthendefeatdidnotmeanannihilation,andneednotbreakhisspirit.
Withalhewasagoodheartedfellow—toomuchso,itappeared.
Hisstorycameout,notinthefirstday,northesecond,butinthelonghoursthatdraggedby,inwhichtheyhadnothingtodobuttalkandnothingtotalkofbutthemselves.
JackDuanewasfromtheEast;hewasacollege-bredman—hadbeenstudyingelectricalengineering.
Thenhisfatherhadmetwithmisfortuneinbusinessandkilledhimself;andtherehadbeenhismotherandayoungerbrotherandsister.
Also,therewasaninventionofDuane’s;Jurgiscouldnotunderstanditclearly,butithadtodowithtelegraphing,anditwasaveryimportantthing—therewerefortunesinit,millionsuponmillionsofdollars.
AndDuanehadbeenrobbedofitbyagreatcompany,andgottangledupinlawsuitsandlostallhismoney.
Thensomebodyhadgivenhimatiponahorserace,andhehadtriedtoretrievehisfortunewithanotherperson’smoney,andhadtorunaway,andalltheresthadcomefromthat.
Theotheraskedhimwhathadledhimtosafebreaking—toJurgisawildandappallingoccupationtothinkabout.
Amanhehadmet,hiscellmatehadreplied—onethingleadstoanother.
Didn’theeverwonderabouthisfamily,Jurgisasked.
Sometimes,theotheranswered,butnotoften—hedidn’tallowit.
Thinkingaboutitwouldmakeitnobetter.
Thiswasn’taworldinwhichamanhadanybusinesswithafamily;soonerorlaterJurgiswouldfindthatoutalso,andgiveupthefightandshiftforhimself.
Jurgiswassotransparentlywhathepretendedtobethathiscellmatewasasopenwithhimasachild;itwaspleasanttotellhimadventures,hewassofullofwonderandadmiration,hewassonewtothewaysofthecountry.
Duanedidnotevenbothertokeepbacknamesandplaces—hetoldallhistriumphsandhisfailures,hislovesandhisgriefs.
AlsoheintroducedJurgistomanyoftheotherprisoners,nearlyhalfofwhomheknewbyname.
ThecrowdhadalreadygivenJurgisaname—theycalledhim“hestinker.”
Thiswascruel,buttheymeantnoharmbyit,andhetookitwithagoodnaturedgrin.
Ourfriendhadcaughtnowandthenawhifffromthesewersoverwhichhelived,butthiswasthefirsttimethathehadeverbeensplashedbytheirfilth.
ThisjailwasaNoah’sarkofthecity’scrime—thereweremurderers,“hold-upmen”andburglars,embezzlers,counterfeitersandforgers,bigamists,“shoplifters,”“confidencemen,”pettythievesandpickpockets,gamblersandprocurers,brawlers,beggars,trampsanddrunkards;theywereblackandwhite,oldandyoung,Americansandnativesofeverynationunderthesun.
Therewerehardenedcriminalsandinnocentmentoopoortogivebail;oldmen,andboysliterallynotyetintheirteens.
Theywerethedrainageofthegreatfesteringulcerofsociety;theywerehideoustolookupon,sickeningtotalkto.
Alllifehadturnedtorottennessandstenchinthem—lovewasabeastliness,joywasasnare,andGodwasanimprecation.
Theystrolledhereandthereaboutthecourtyard,andJurgislistenedtothem.
Hewasignorantandtheywerewise;theyhadbeeneverywhereandtriedeverything.
Theycouldtellthewholehatefulstoryofit,setforththeinnersoulofacityinwhichjusticeandhonor,women’sbodiesandmen’ssouls,wereforsaleinthemarketplace,andhumanbeingswrithedandfoughtandfelluponeachotherlikewolvesinapit;inwhichlustswereragingfires,andmenwerefuel,andhumanitywasfesteringandstewingandwallowinginitsowncorruption.
Intothiswild-beasttanglethesemenhadbeenbornwithouttheirconsent,theyhadtakenpartinitbecausetheycouldnothelpit;thattheywereinjailwasnodisgracetothem,forthegamehadneverbeenfair,thedicewereloaded.
Theywereswindlersandthievesofpenniesanddimes,andtheyhadbeentrappedandputoutofthewaybytheswindlersandthievesofmillionsofdollars.
TomostofthisJurgistriednottolisten.
Theyfrightenedhimwiththeirsavagemockery;andallthewhilehisheartwasfaraway,wherehislovedoneswerecalling.
Nowandtheninthemidstofithisthoughtswouldtakeflight;andthenthetearswouldcomeintohiseyes—andhewouldbecalledbackbythejeeringlaughterofhiscompanions.
Hespentaweekinthiscompany,andduringallthattimehehadnowordfromhishome.
Hepaidoneofhisfifteencentsforapostalcard,andhiscompanionwroteanotetothefamily,tellingthemwherehewasandwhenhewouldbetried.
Therecamenoanswertoit,however,andatlast,thedaybeforeNewYear’s,Jurgisbadegood-bytoJackDuane.
Thelattergavehimhisaddress,orrathertheaddressofhismistress,andmadeJurgispromisetolookhimup.
“MaybeIcouldhelpyououtofaholesomeday,”hesaid,andaddedthathewassorrytohavehimgo.
JurgisrodeinthepatrolwagonbacktoJusticeCallahan’scourtfortrial.
OneofthefirstthingshemadeoutasheenteredtheroomwasTetaElzbietaandlittleKotrina,lookingpaleandfrightened,seatedfarintherear.
Hisheartbegantopound,buthedidnotdaretotrytosignaltothem,andneitherdidElzbieta.
Hetookhisseatintheprisoners’penandsatgazingattheminhelplessagony.
HesawthatOnawasnotwiththem,andwasfullofforebodingastowhatthatmightmean.
Hespenthalfanhourbroodingoverthis—andthensuddenlyhestraightenedupandthebloodrushedintohisface.
Amanhadcomein—Jurgiscouldnotseehisfeaturesforthebandagesthatswathedhim,butheknewtheburlyfigure.ItwasConnor!
Atremblingseizedhim,andhislimbsbentasifforaspring.
Thensuddenlyhefeltahandonhiscollar,andheardavoicebehindhim:“Sitdown,yousonofa—!”
Hesubsided,buthenevertookhiseyesoffhisenemy.
Thefellowwasstillalive,whichwasadisappointment,inoneway;andyetitwaspleasanttoseehim,allinpenitentialplasters.
Heandthecompanylawyer,whowaswithhim,cameandtookseatswithinthejudge’srailing;andaminutelatertheclerkcalledJurgis’name,andthepolicemanjerkedhimtohisfeetandledhimbeforethebar,grippinghimtightlybythearm,lestheshouldspringupontheboss.
Jurgislistenedwhilethemanenteredthewitnesschair,tooktheoath,andtoldhisstory.
Thewifeoftheprisonerhadbeenemployedinadepartmentnearhim,andhadbeendischargedforimpudencetohim.
Halfanhourlaterhehadbeenviolentlyattacked,knockeddown,andalmostchokedtodeath.Hehadbroughtwitnesses—
“Theywillprobablynotbenecessary,”observedthejudgeandheturnedtoJurgis.“Youadmitattackingtheplaintiff?”heasked.
“Him?”inquiredJurgis,pointingattheboss.
“Yes,”saidthejudge.“Ihithim,sir,”saidJurgis.
“Say‘yourHonor,’”saidtheofficer,pinchinghisarmhard.
“YourHonor,”saidJurgis,obediently.
“Youtriedtochokehim?”
“Yes,sir,yourHonor.”
“Everbeenarrestedbefore?”
“No,sir,yourHonor.”
“Whathaveyoutosayforyourself?”
Jurgishesitated.Whathadhetosay?
IntwoyearsandahalfhehadlearnedtospeakEnglishforpracticalpurposes,butthesehadneverincludedthestatementthatsomeonehadintimidatedandseducedhiswife.
Hetriedonceortwice,stammeringandbalking,totheannoyanceofthejudge,whowasgaspingfromtheodoroffertilizer.
Finally,theprisonermadeitunderstoodthathisvocabularywasinadequate,andtheresteppedupadapperyoungmanwithwaxedmustaches,biddinghimspeakinanylanguageheknew.
Jurgisbegan;supposingthathewouldbegiventime,heexplainedhowthebosshadtakenadvantageofhiswife’spositiontomakeadvancestoherandhadthreatenedherwiththelossofherplace.
Whentheinterpreterhadtranslatedthis,thejudge,whosecalendarwascrowded,andwhoseautomobilewasorderedforacertainhour,interruptedwiththeremark:“Oh,Isee.
Well,ifhemadelovetoyourwife,whydidn’tshecomplaintothesuperintendentorleavetheplace?”
Jurgishesitated,somewhattakenaback;hebegantoexplainthattheywereverypoor—thatworkwashardtoget—
“Isee,”saidJusticeCallahan;“soinsteadyouthoughtyouwouldknockhimdown.”Heturnedtotheplaintiff,inquiring,“Isthereanytruthinthisstory,Mr.Connor?”
“Notaparticle,yourHonor,”saidtheboss.“Itisveryunpleasant—theytellsomesuchtaleeverytimeyouhavetodischargeawoman—”
“Yes,Iknow,”saidthejudge.“Ihearitoftenenough.Thefellowseemstohavehandledyouprettyroughly.Thirtydaysandcosts.Nextcase.”
Jurgishadbeenlisteninginperplexity.
Itwasonlywhenthepolicemanwhohadhimbythearmturnedandstartedtoleadhimawaythatherealizedthatsentencehadbeenpassed.Hegazedroundhimwildly.“Thirtydays!”
hepantedandthenhewhirleduponthejudge.“Whatwillmyfamilydo?”hecriedfrantically.
“Ihaveawifeandbaby,sir,andtheyhavenomoney—myGod,theywillstarvetodeath!”
“Youwouldhavedonewelltothinkaboutthembeforeyoucommittedtheassault,”saidthejudgedryly,asheturnedtolookatthenextprisoner.
Jurgiswouldhavespokenagain,butthepolicemanhadseizedhimbythecollarandwastwistingit,andasecondpolicemanwasmakingforhimwithevidentlyhostileintentions.Soheletthemleadhimaway.
FardowntheroomhesawElzbietaandKotrina,risenfromtheirseats,staringinfright;hemadeoneefforttogotothem,andthen,broughtbackbyanothertwistathisthroat,hebowedhisheadandgaveupthestruggle.
Theythrusthimintoacellroom,whereotherprisonerswerewaiting;andassoonascourthadadjournedtheyledhimdownwiththemintothe“BlackMaria,”anddrovehimaway.
ThistimeJurgiswasboundforthe“Bridewell,”apettyjailwhereCookCountyprisonersservetheirtime.
Itwasevenfilthierandmorecrowdedthanthecountyjail;allthesmallerfryoutofthelatterhadbeensiftedintoit—thepettythievesandswindlers,thebrawlersandvagrants.
ForhiscellmateJurgishadanItalianfruitsellerwhohadrefusedtopayhisgrafttothepoliceman,andbeenarrestedforcarryingalargepocketknife;ashedidnotunderstandawordofEnglishourfriendwasgladwhenheleft.
HegaveplacetoaNorwegiansailor,whohadlosthalfanearinadrunkenbrawl,andwhoprovedtobequarrelsome,cursingJurgisbecausehemovedinhisbunkandcausedtheroachestodropuponthelowerone.
Itwouldhavebeenquiteintolerable,stayinginacellwiththiswildbeast,butforthefactthatalldaylongtheprisonerswereputatworkbreakingstone.
TendaysofhisthirtyJurgisspentthus,withouthearingawordfromhisfamily;thenonedayakeepercameandinformedhimthattherewasavisitortoseehim.
Jurgisturnedwhite,andsoweakatthekneesthathecouldhardlyleavehiscell.
Themanledhimdownthecorridorandaflightofstepstothevisitors’room,whichwasbarredlikeacell.
ThroughthegratingJurgiscouldseesomeonesittinginachair;andashecameintotheroomthepersonstartedup,andhesawthatitwaslittleStanislovas.
Atthesightofsomeonefromhomethebigfellownearlywenttopieces—hehadtosteadyhimselfbyachair,andheputhisotherhandtohisforehead,asiftoclearawayamist.“Well?”hesaid,weakly.
LittleStanislovaswasalsotrembling,andallbuttoofrightenedtospeak.“They—theysentmetotellyou—”hesaid,withagulp.
“Well?”Jurgisrepeated.Hefollowedtheboy’sglancetowherethekeeperwasstandingwatchingthem.“Nevermindthat,”Jurgiscried,wildly.“Howarethey?”
“Onaisverysick,”Stanislovassaid;“andwearealmoststarving.Wecan’tgetalong;wethoughtyoumightbeabletohelpus.”
Jurgisgrippedthechairtighter;therewerebeadsofperspirationonhisforehead,andhishandshook.“I—can’thelpyou,”hesaid.
“Onaliesinherroomallday,”theboywenton,breathlessly.
“Shewon’teatanything,andshecriesallthetime.
Shewon’ttellwhatisthematterandshewon’tgotoworkatall.
Thenalongtimeagothemancamefortherent.Hewasverycross.Hecameagainlastweek.
Hesaidhewouldturnusoutofthehouse.AndthenMarija—”
AsobchokedStanislovas,andhestopped.“What’sthematterwithMarija?”criedJurgis.
“She’scutherhand!”saidtheboy.
“She’scutitbad,thistime,worsethanbefore.
Shecan’tworkandit’sallturninggreen,andthecompanydoctorsaysshemay—shemayhavetohaveitcutoff.
AndMarijacriesallthetime—hermoneyisnearlyallgone,too,andwecan’tpaytherentandtheinterestonthehouse;andwehavenocoalandnothingmoretoeat,andthemanatthestore,hesays—”
Thelittlefellowstoppedagain,beginningtowhimper.“Goon!”theotherpantedinfrenzy—”Goon!”
“I—Iwill,”sobbedStanislovas.“It’sso—socoldallthetime.AndlastSundayitsnowedagain—adeep,deepsnow—andIcouldn’t—couldn’tgettowork.”
“God!”Jurgishalfshouted,andhetookasteptowardthechild.
Therewasanoldhatredbetweenthembecauseofthesnow—eversincethatdreadfulmorningwhentheboyhadhadhisfingersfrozenandJurgishadhadtobeathimtosendhimtowork.
Nowheclenchedhishands,lookingasifhewouldtrytobreakthroughthegrating.
“Youlittlevillain,”hecried,“youdidn’ttry!”
“Idid—Idid!”wailedStanislovas,shrinkingfromhiminterror.“Itriedallday—twodays.
Elzbietawaswithme,andshecouldn’teither.
Wecouldn’twalkatall,itwassodeep.
Andwehadnothingtoeat,andoh,itwassocold!
Itried,andthenthethirddayOnawentwithme—”
“Ona!”
“Yes.Shetriedtogettowork,too.Shehadto.Wewereallstarving.Butshehadlostherplace—”
Jurgisreeled,andgaveagasp.“Shewentbacktothatplace?”hescreamed.“Shetriedto,”saidStanislovas,gazingathiminperplexity.“Whynot,Jurgis?”
Themanbreathedhard,threeorfourtimes.“Go—on,”hepanted,finally.
“Iwentwithher,”saidStanislovas,“butMissHendersonwouldn’ttakeherback.AndConnorsawherandcursedher.
Hewasstillbandagedup—whydidyouhithim,Jurgis?”
(Therewassomefascinatingmysteryaboutthis,thelittlefellowknew;buthecouldgetnosatisfaction.)
Jurgiscouldnotspeak;hecouldonlystare,hiseyesstartingout.
“Shehasbeentryingtogetotherwork,”theboywenton;“butshe’ssoweakshecan’tkeepup.
Andmybosswouldnottakemeback,either—OnasaysheknowsConnor,andthat’sthereason;they’veallgotagrudgeagainstusnow.
SoI’vegottogodowntownandsellpaperswiththerestoftheboysandKotrina—”
“Kotrina!”
“Yes,she’sbeensellingpapers,too.Shedoesbest,becauseshe’sagirl.
Onlythecoldissobad—it’sterriblecominghomeatnight,Jurgis.
Sometimestheycan’tcomehomeatall—I’mgoingtotrytofindthemtonightandsleepwheretheydo,it’ssolateandit’ssuchalongwayshome.
I’vehadtowalk,andIdidn’tknowwhereitwas—Idon’tknowhowtogetback,either.
OnlymothersaidImustcome,becauseyouwouldwanttoknow,andmaybesomebodywouldhelpyourfamilywhentheyhadputyouinjailsoyoucouldn’twork.
AndIwalkedalldaytogethere—andIonlyhadapieceofbreadforbreakfast,Jurgis.
Motherhasn’tanyworkeither,becausethesausagedepartmentisshutdown;andshegoesandbegsathouseswithabasket,andpeoplegiveherfood.
Onlyshedidn’tgetmuchyesterday;itwastoocoldforherfingers,andtodayshewascrying—”
SolittleStanislovaswenton,sobbingashetalked;andJurgisstood,grippingthetabletightly,sayingnotaword,butfeelingthathisheadwouldburst;itwaslikehavingweightspileduponhim,oneafteranother,crushingthelifeoutofhim.
Hestruggledandfoughtwithinhimself—asifinsometerriblenightmare,inwhichamansuffersanagony,andcannotlifthishand,norcryout,butfeelsthatheisgoingmad,thathisbrainisonfire—
Justwhenitseemedtohimthatanotherturnofthescrewwouldkillhim,littleStanislovasstopped.“Youcannothelpus?”hesaidweakly.
Jurgisshookhishead.
“Theywon’tgiveyouanythinghere?”
Heshookitagain.
“Whenareyoucomingout?”
“Threeweeksyet,”Jurgisanswered.
Andtheboygazedaroundhimuncertainly.“ThenImightaswellgo,”hesaid.
Jurgisnodded.Then,suddenlyrecollecting,heputhishandintohispocketanddrewitout,shaking.“Here,”hesaid,holdingoutthefourteencents.“Takethistothem.”
AndStanislovastookit,andafteralittlemorehesitation,startedforthedoor.“Good-by,Jurgis,”hesaid,andtheothernoticedthathewalkedunsteadilyashepassedoutofsight.
ForaminuteorsoJurgisstoodclingingtohischair,reelingandswaying;thenthekeepertouchedhimonthearm,andheturnedandwentbacktobreakingstone.
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