Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-12-26

But 20 ~ the turnkey. Tat was
drea Ia itiiag to think of even! And
yet there was no other way TO get out.
and he would be free--ycs, he vouid.
So he agreed TO the plan, and the last
night came. At the coll three doors
below the ono occupied by Williams tho
keeper was TO he stabbed, and then
within an hour dwelve men would DO
free again.
1t had been very, very warm day;
the air was close and heavy and sultry.
Williams lay on his bed, thinking at
is the last night" when he heard the
turnkey coming down the corridor on
his evening round of locking doors.
Every step took him nearer TO death.
Williams knew it, eleven other men
knew 1t. and he knew that these men
would If they could kill the man who
should even offer to betray them. But
the keeper came ON, whistling tune as
he walked. The tune was common
place enough, and worn threadbare by
endless repetition in singing, whistling,
and -grinding-only the old tune
of My Mary ANN" but it saved his
| life. s
For, as the keeper came whistling on,
| sprang off his bed, while great drops Of
perspiration gathered on his forehead,
although he no longer felt the heat, but
seemed to have grown suddenly Ice
cold.
He saw once more little face look
ing in between the bars of his cell-door,
and heard a sweet young voice that
said: "Well, you're going to be good
nowP'
Why did he think of that little inno-
cent face just at that momentP Because
on that day when Tommy had been to
see him, and just after he had passed
out of sight, with his yellow curls and
big hat and faded dandelions, an organ
| grinder in the street had stopped and
played that tune, and he had heard it
very faintly-but clearly enough to for
ever associate it with Tommy and his
visit
"Going to be goodP" Yes. he had
said he was ''going TO be good" And
yet that very night he was going to be
bad-aye, worse than he had ever been!
Tommy's little face grew more and
more plain before his eyes. "Going to
be good-going to be good now"
seemed to be shouted in the air as Will
iam's stood leaning against the wall of
his cell. The keeper came on; he was
the next cell but one above-at the next
AS Williams own; in a second he
would be gone--it would be too late.
He had already shot the bolt and turned
the key, when Williams, standing in
the shadow, with his finger on his lips,
whispered: "Stop!' The keeper heard.
and halted with his hand on the lock,
bending his head slightly to listen, while
Williams, tremblingly and half under
his breath, told him all the truth. Then,
rs the low whisper ceased, the keeper
stared wildly for moment, but recov-
ering himself, said aloud, in careless
tones: "Tll get it for you, and with a
quiet, steady step walked back the way
he had come.
There was nothing strange in that,
for he had often went back for book
or To attend to some question of pris-
oner. as it was his last round for the
night and SO the men farther down the
hall, who were in the plot, thought moth
ING of il, and waited. But when he
came back there was u tread OF many
feet, and he had brought a strong
guard with him. The eleven men were
put in solitary confinement, and Will
lams received from the Governor of
the prison his most hearty thanks.
Within month he was pardoned out
and once more free, and he really did
become good man. He went away TO
a foreign country, where no one knew
his story, and from that day TO this he
has led perfectly upright life. And
this is what came of Tommy's visit 10
the jail; and the story is true one.-
Kate b. Foot, in 81. Nicholas.