Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-06-22


nul 10 Nm lhi turnkey That was a
dnalful thing 10 think Of event Aud
| SCI theee was na other vas 10 get cut,
! and he would he irce yes, ho eQNii.
Sc M agreed 10 tho plan, and the last
might came AZ the cell three doors
hclow the one occupied by Williams the
keeper was 10 he stabbed, and ihon
within an hour twelve mon would bo
free again,
u had been q very very warm day.
the alr was close and heavy and fuliry,
Williams las on bis bed, thinking "lt
!, the last night" when he heard tho
turnkey coming down tho corridor on
( BIS cYonlug round oi looking doors,
Every step took him nearer Ia death.
Williams knew H. eleven other men
knew ID, and he know that these men
would II they could Mn the man who
should even offer 20 heirAy than, But
the keeper came on, whistling a tune ~
he walket. The tune was common.
place enough, and worn lhreadbare by
endles, repetition In singing, whlslllng
and organ.grlnding only The old tune
Of MY Mary ANN but Il saved hi.
| HE.
For, as the keeper came whlstling on,
Williams listened, and then nolselessly
sprang OIL his bed, while great drops OF
. perSpratlon gathered on his forehead,
although he no longer felt the heat, but
seemed TO have grown suddenly ico'
cold,
lie saw once more n little face look.
Ing IN between the bars Of his coll-door,
and heard a sweet young voice that
said, "Well, you're going to bo good
nowW
Why did he think Of that little limo.
cent face Just at that moment? Because
ON that day when Tommy had been 10
see him, and lust after h. had passed
out Of sight, with his yellow curls and
big hat and faded dandellons, ah orgah-
grinder In the street had stopped and
played that tuhe. and he had heard II
Very faintly-but clearly enough to for
ever associate it with Tommy and his
visit
"Gong 70 be goodPn Yes, he had
said he was going to be goodiN Aud
yet that very hight he was going 10 be
bad aye, worse ,Aah hc had ever beonl
rommy's llulc face grew more and
more plain before his eyes. "Going to
be good-going to be good now
seemed to be shouted in the mir rs Will
Jams stood leaLing against the wall Of
his cell. The keeper came onl hn waa
the next cell but one above at the next
AS Williams own; in a second he
would be gone i would BY too late.
He had already shot the Bolt and turned
the kcf, 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, trcmblingly and half under
his breath, told him MI the truth. Then,
as the low whisper ceased, the keeper
stared wildly for mcmeht but tceoY-
erihg himself said aloid, in careless
tones: "l'll get it for you, and with
qulet STEADY slep walked Dack 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 noth-
ing Of it, and waited, But when hd |
came back there was a tread Of many |
feet and he had brought a strong
guard with him. The eleven men were
put in solitary confinement, and viii
liams received from the Governor of /
the prison his most hearty thahhs.
Within y month he Was pardoncd out
and once more free, and he really did
become a 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 to
the Jail; and the story is true one; -
hIuie D. Foot IN 81 Nisloias