The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-12-11


pray ana-hepe. ---z--.-...--.,
The, hours sped on, and it lacked but one
day more of the execution Fletcher had
gwen up all hopes OF a reprieve, and listen
ed to the building of the scaffold with a
lsulen feeling, horn of despair.,z ,7s1 1913 "a
IA We brought another gal TO see you,
this tine, Fletcher. It's very probable
she wont be quite 81 agreeable like as
'tother one, but II do you as much good, |
'reck on.p sgeiff7 {sI4Fa so e5liim q 4
A woman in black stood before the bed
on which Fletcher reclined. i
He recognized Mrs. Lancaster, wife of
the murdered man. tft3 b" n-5a q
.sAh, this does me eool,'' said she, ao-
vancing. step nearer,, and shaking h. r
clench, fist 10 his face. 1t don't pay to-
take a fellow crca ure's life, does il?
D MT you speak to me, you villain !; don't
dire to open your mouth L came here 10
goat over your misery, to see how the pros
pect Of leaving your wife and babies effect.
Q you. Oh, you tremble /! / have found
the tender chord. Ny husbands wife and
children were nothing, Oh, no! Wretch!
vii ain may the law be fully justified :
. Aud the woman, to all appearances, ex-
a ,perated beyond the power of further ut
terance, stepped little closer;n with
sly movement t. hid one of her cves unier
the pillow of the bewildei ed man.
Have you flushed, n am ?" inquired
the turkey, with his hand on the door.
Snow really Fletcher don't you rather
prefer an, interview of this kind to one of
those lalygaggine sort you've had so many
O. la civ !? Twill do you more good, t n to
one. What are you doing now
t'1"Givipg him one more last look, that is
Fai. Murdererl Robber! wretch | want
to epgraye lis pic ure on NY brain SO in
deliby that never can forget single iea>
ture. p
by the crown, your old man must have
had Tartar. Oh, oh, hol and the turn.
key shook his fat SIDES with lang Il
don t believe he's got it much hotter where
he's staying now than he had 1t with you.
. 1t takes women to use UP the kings Eng
hsh, / always said SO, how | know it,.
- Mrs. Lancaster drew her veil over her
face, and quietly left the prison. "a b i
AS soon as he dared to, with trembling
fingers Floyd drew Orth~the glove. In 1t
was vial containing a mixture of chloro>
iorm, or either, small, sharp instrument
10 file the. shackles, and note. 1t read
thus:
9 ~ Oh are not the man, and I cannot al
er, take his clothes, and leave. ,Goto the
old rookory, No, first floor, where dis
guise awaits you; and then, God help
you, for you must conceal yourself '"3i
Floyd, with "a wildly beating heart, co,.>
cealed the articles anG tried to think. The
keeper did not enter his cell al e. he
brought his tea, and how could he accom-
p,ish it then? There would be too many
,astir in the prison then, and he might be
detected. s4fs{ hrga.ra - a.se. is
Defeated now, with tn, weapons of de-
liverance in my hands? No, id led,
Floyd Fletcher 5at
ag Fletcher, | suppose you know that, &C
cording to prison rules, you are not allow
ed to stay alone to night. 1t would lie
barbarous to leave teller without good
company his last nigh, on earth, said the
tur, key, an hour or two after Mrs. Lancas-
ter's visit You'll have to take your pick
between Father Waish, and myself but
suppose you Il take me, bad as you hate
me, afore that old hypocrite. e
Why cant | Eave my wife " aske ed
Floyd with a voice full! of bitterness.
''Wiyes aim allowable on such occasions
She he round in the morning, an hour or
two, but talk, quick, which will you la &c p
w hat difference do you think IT makes
to me, you hardened wretch, no watches
my last moments on earth, when my only
friend is denied meg =
So it was arranged that the turnkey was
to occupy his cell, and Floyd went to work
with his little instrument TO file the hand
cuffs and chain which bound him. 1t was
SOW and tedious, but In an hour s time he
had the satisfaction of having one hand at
liberty and the power to remove his limbs
from the Calling, rafting torments which
had SO firm y held him.
I T. Il must he able 10 throw the letters off,
or anr lost" 5s e' e.s #I
+ So he worked away industriously unit |
the obstinate link was displaced, and lie
could wear or !e i've them at his pleasure.
Ten o'clock arrived, and the turnkey had
his cot brought into the CELL aa q
F w hen are you going to turn in, fetch
err ?, I'm as tired as an East Indian niger
Paguy afraid [ shan't be much company
tonight; better had the priest You
wrote all your letters yesterday, didn' t
your aud the keeper yawned deeply,
turned over once or twice, and in a few
minutes was snoring profoundly.
"Nos is my time, thought File cher.
ut won DO to wait. Heaven help me. y
Noiselessly he stepped from his chains
and drew off the torturing handouts. 1t
was but the work of a moment 10 satura te
his handkerchief with the mixture, and, in
less time than it takes 10 tell it, Floyd had
stripped the hardened wretch. There was
but a trfing difference in their height, but
Floyd lacked the aldermanic proportions of
the jailor. However, he managed that
quickly and easily, unlocked the door Of
the cell, stepped into the corridor, locked
it again carefully, withdrew the key and
initiated as nearly as possible the heavy
tread of the keeper T.
!. The Jail physician was just leaving the
building, and Floyd walk ed along after him
as if to see him safely out Only one sub
ordinate guarded the entrance, and so
Floyd and the doctor walked out together,
Without slightest Suspicion .d.
He reae-ed the old rookery, donned his
attire, which proved to be !. soldiers uni
form, removed the black wig Of the keeps
er, aud substituted light curly one, and
before II clock, had reached the house
OF friend TIVE, or three miles from the city,
tod his story, and was warmly received
and promised protection.
Floyd felt sure that he had lett no clue
by which he could be traced to this spot,
aud almostsoyereouie BY his glcat happiness