rostrated with nervous exhaustion, she returned to their
deserted little flat in Harlem.

It was going to be a hard fight, she saw that. But she would keep right
on, no matter at what cost. Howard could not be left alone to perish
without a hand to save him. Judge Brewster must come to his rescue. He
could not refuse. She would return again to his office this afternoon
and sit there all day long, if necessary, until he promised to take the
case. He alone could save him. She would go to the lawyer and beg him
on her knees if necessary, but first she must see Howard and bid him
take courage.

A low doorway from Centre Street gave access to the gray fortress. At
the heavy steel gate stood a portly policeman armed with a big key. Each
time before letting people in or out he inserted this key in the
ponderous lock. The gate would not open merely by turning the handle.
This was to prevent the escape of prisoners, who might possibly succeed
in reaching so far as the door, but could not open the steel gate
without the big key. When once any one entered the prison he was not
permitted to go out again except on a signal from a keeper.

When Annie entered, she found the reception room filled with visitors,
men and women of all ages and nationalities who, like herself, had come
to see some relative or friend in trouble. It was a motley and
interesting crowd. There were fruit peddlers, sweat-shop workers,
sporty-looking men, negroes and flashy-looking women. All seemed callous
and indifferent as if quite at home amid the sinister surroundings of a
prison. One or two others appeared to belong to a more respectable
class, their sober manner and care-worn faces reflecting silently the
humiliation and shame they felt at their kinsman's disgrace.

The small barred windows did not permit of much ventilation and, as the
day was warm, the odor was sickening. Annie looked around fearfully, and
humbly took her place at the end of the long line which slowly worked
its way to the narrow inner grating where credentials were closely
scrutinized. The horror of the place seized upon her. She wondered who
all these poor people were and what the prisoners whom they came to see
had done to offend the majesty of the law. The prison was filled with
policemen and keepers, and running in and out with messages and packages
were a number of men in neat linen suits. She asked a woman who they
were.

"Them's trusties--prisoners that has special privilege