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small hammer, a box of pegs, and a pair of clippers. After several brief demonstrations with
different strips, as to how the geometric forms were designed, he allowed Cowperwood to take
the matter in hand, watching over his shoulder. The financier, quick at anything, manual or
mental, went at it in his customary energetic fashion, and in five minutes demonstrated to
Bonhag that, barring skill and speed, which could only come with practice, he could do it as well
as another. "You'll make out all right," said Bonhag. "You're supposed to do ten of those a day.
We won't count the next few days, though, until you get your hand in. After that I'll come around
and see how you're getting along. You understand about the towel on the door, don't you?" he
inquired.
"Yes, Mr. Chapin explained that to me," replied Cowperwood. "I think I know what most of the
rules are now. I'll try not to break any of them."
The days which followed brought a number of modifications of his prison lot, but not sufficient by
any means to make it acceptable to him. Bonhag, during the first few days in which he trained
Cowperwood in the art of caning chairs, managed to make it perfectly clear that there were a
number of things he would be willing to do for him. One of the things that moved him to this,
was that already he had been impressed by the fact that Stener's friends were coming to see
him in larger numbers than Cowperwood's, sending him an occasional basket of fruit, which he
gave to the overseers, and that his wife and children had been already permitted to visit him
outside the regular visiting-day. This was a cause for jealousy on Bonhag's part. His fellow-
overseer was lording it over him--telling him, as it were, of the high jinks in Block 4. Bonhag
really wanted Cowperwood to spruce up and show what he could do, socially or otherwise.
And so now he began with: "I see you have your lawyer and your partner here every day. There
ain't anybody else you'd like to have visit you, is there? Of course, it's against the rules to have
your wife or sister or anybody like that, except on visiting days--" And here he paused and rolled
a large and informing eye on Cowperwood--such an eye as was supposed to convey dark and
mysterious things. "But all the rules ain't kept around here by a long shot."
Cowperwood was not the man to lose a chance of this kind. He smiled a little--enough to relieve
himself, and to convey to Bonhag that he was gratified by the information, but vocally he
observed: "I'll tell you how it is, Mr. Bonhag. I believe you understand my position better than
most men would, and that I can talk to you. There are people who would like to come here, but I
have been afraid to let them come. I did not know that it could be arranged. If it could be, I
would be very grateful. You and I are practical men--I know that if any favors are extended
some of those who help to bring them about must be looked after. If you can do anything to
make it a little more comfortable for me here I will show you that I appreciate it. I haven't any
money on my person, but I can always get it, and I will see that you are properly looked after."
Bonhag's short, thick ears tingled. This was the kind of talk he liked to hear. "I can fix anything
like that, Mr. Cowperwood," he replied, servilely. "You leave it to me. If there's any one you want
to see at any time, just let me know. Of course I have to be very careful, and so do you, but
that's all right, too. If you want to stay out in that yard a little longer in the mornings or get out
there afternoons or evenings, from now on, why, go ahead. It's all right. I'll just leave the door
open. If the warden or anybody else should be around, I'll just scratch on your door with my key,
and you come in and shut it. If there's anything you want from the outside I can get it for
you--jelly or eggs or butter or any little thing like that. You might like to fix up your meals a little
that way."
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