Miscellany: Mules

Mules Near the black mouth of the prison mine at Lansing, Kansas, a kindly warden stood conversing with his deputy, suddenly turned with tautened lips to watch the sullen file of oil-skinned prisoners shuffle down into the shaft. Defiant of 13 unarmed guards, a seared murderer, a slack-jawed pervert, another and another, turned to gaze with loathing at the man who held four of their number captives to be chastised like beasts for complaining at lack of sheets.

Yet as the last felon shambled from view, the warden sat down heavily,...

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