It was a small two-story building. The upper part was set apart as living quarters for the warden and his family. On the lower floor, there were a number of cells, and a large room in which the occupants of the jail were allowed to gather at stated periods for meals and recreation. In addition, there was a room set aside as a hospital room or infirmary for prisoners who might be ill or disabled, and it was in this that Joe expected to find the victim of his shot the day before.
He was admitted by Hank Bailey, the warden, who shook his hand warmly and repeated the congratulations that Joe was getting tired of hearing.
Hank was a stout, rubicund person and quite advanced in years. He had gained his position not because of any special fitness, but as a henchman of the political party that at that time ruled the county. He was slow and easy going and would have been utterly out of place in a larger jail, where strict supervision and discipline were demanded. But in this sleepy little jail he fitted in well enough, and, as he was good-natured and a general favorite in town, there were no special complaints against his administration.
“Well, Hank,” said Joe, after greetings had been exchanged. “I suppose you know pretty well whom I’ve come to see.”
“Sure thing,” replied Hank. “You want to see the lunatic that you brought off his perch yesterday in the lumber yard. He’s in the hospital room now by the doctor’s orders. Come along and I’ll let you take a squint at him.”
“How does he seem to be today?” asked Joe, as he followed his conductor through the corridor on the lower floor of the jail.
“Oh, he’s doing well enough,” responded Hank. “Doc Allison was here this morning and said he’d be as good as ever in a day or two. Said though that if that snowball had hit him a fraction of an inch nearer the left ear his skull would have been fractured sure.”
“Does he seem to be in his right mind?” asked Joe, as the warden fitted the key into the lock.
“Sometimes he does,” replied his guide, “and then again he doesn’t. The doc kind o’ sounded him as to his doin’s yesterday, but he either didn’t recollect or he was shammin’, one or the other. But you can see him now and judge for yourself.”
The jailer passed in and Joe followed.