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When the jail was reached he was led to the central portion, as it was here that the sheriff, Adlai
Jaspers, had his private office. Jaspers had recently been elected to office, and was inclined to
conform to all outward appearances, in so far as the proper conduct of his office was
concerned, without in reality inwardly conforming. Thus it was generally known among the
politicians that one way he had of fattening his rather lean salary was to rent private rooms and
grant special privileges to prisoners who had the money to pay for the same. Other sheriffs had
done it before him. In fact, when Jaspers was inducted into office, several prisoners were
already enjoying these privileges, and it was not a part of his scheme of things to disturb them.
The rooms that he let to the "right parties," as he invariably put it, were in the central portion of
the jail, where were his own private living quarters. They were unbarred, and not at all cell-like.
There was no particular danger of escape, for a guard stood always at his private door
instructed "to keep an eye" on the general movements of all the inmates. A prisoner so
accommodated was in many respects quite a free person. His meals were served to him in his
room, if he wished. He could read or play cards, or receive guests; and if he had any favorite
musical instrument, that was not denied him. There was just one rule that had to be complied
with. If he were a public character, and any newspaper men called, he had to be brought down-
stairs into the private interviewing room in order that they might not know that he was not
confined in a cell like any other prisoner.
Nearly all of these facts had been brought to Cowperwood's attention beforehand by Steger; but
for all that, when he crossed the threshold of the jail a peculiar sensation of strangeness and
defeat came over him. He and his party were conducted to a little office to the left of the
entrance, where were only a desk and a chair, dimly lighted by a low-burning gas-jet. Sheriff
Jaspers, rotund and ruddy, met them, greeting them in quite a friendly way. Zanders was
dismissed, and went briskly about his affairs.
"A bad night, isn't it?" observed Jaspers, turning up the gas and preparing to go through the
routine of registering his prisoner. Steger came over and held a short, private conversation with
him in his corner, over his desk which resulted presently in the sheriff's face lighting up.
"Oh, certainly, certainly! That's all right, Mr. Steger, to be sure! Why, certainly!"
Cowperwood, eyeing the fat sheriff from his position, understood what it was all about. He had
regained completely his critical attitude, his cool, intellectual poise. So this was the jail, and this
was the fat mediocrity of a sheriff who was to take care of him. Very good. He would make the
best of it. He wondered whether he was to be searched--prisoners usually were--but he soon
discovered that he was not to be.
"That's all right, Mr. Cowperwood," said Jaspers, getting up. "I guess I can make you
comfortable, after a fashion. We're not running a hotel here, as you know"--he chuckled to
himself--"but I guess I can make you comfortable. John," he called to a sleepy factotum, who
appeared from another room, rubbing his eyes, "is the key to Number Six down here?"
"Yes, sir."
"Let me have it."
John disappeared and returned, while Steger explained to Cowperwood that anything he
wanted in the way of clothing, etc., could be brought in. Steger himself would stop round next
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