New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-10-19
CHAPTER X.

CHAP TER y.
When supper was over. the conyicts IN their cells
and the door locked. the negro with erowl Ike
that of some savage beast. turned on Netie Hore
terrified than if she were at the mercy OF tiger tHe
girl sprang TO her bunk and Frank. small slender.
with flashing eyes and .clncAed hands, STOOD DelOre
her facing the wretch.
- Git out yer fool" no growlel bat Frank did
no: stir There was moments tusoe and then
garing at the boy the negro dealt hm blow Oh the
head that tore away the skin ana knocked MN
senseless Selling NettIe IN grasp OF IRON, the
monster ORA gged her from the bunk 20 the wooden
side of which she desperately clung, with weak
hands that in this struggle for more than life were
endowed with superhuman force.
She darod not cry aloud for help. dared not sum
mon the guard with that cruel whip ever ready to
fall alike on the innocent ana the guilty Even IN
this moment of supreme horror the girl had pity on
that crowd OF debased aud timid creatures covering
IN the corner and afraid TO help her.
Mercy ~ she gaspcd. But there was no trace Of
mercy in that brutal face with Its bioodohOt eyes.
From the hideous mouth of her assailant came
sounds. half growl. half hiss With her bleeding
fingers she still clung To her bunk, her strength
waning a black mist rising before her eyes
Mercy Help she shrieked IN agony
II was not loud cry. but It pierced Franks
stupor and brought him staggering to his feet. lie
wiprd away the blood which pouring from his
wounded head had half blinded him. Nettie's
agonzed voice had called him. Where was she
AT the mercy of that brute
Rage and love lent him strength. Like a wildcat
he sprang upon the creatures back. clutchcd the
huge throat and dug hi~ fingers into the flesh Pam
forced the wretci t. loose Nette and defend him'e
from this fierce attack. (llnglnG 10 hun tearing AZ
hs nose mouth. eyes. the boy fought hrayey. But
the struggle wa, unenual The blow. from those
t-tg glftiI NAT f4H ID
they fell their force was terrible.
Ai last. catching Frank by the hair; the brute
dragged HIM over his head and dashed him on the
lowest bunk. There Wa a sharp Sound' an
avonzing shrek. moments loss of con,cionsnes-;
tile boys back va. broken lie was dying.
Vet could those darKeuing ewes see Nettr struy
Cling. gaspiuc IN the power Of that wretch.
Aud IN the corner looking on were men and women
ii those exhausted. hall starved wholly teiIinr"
creatures could he called men and women. Why
did they not help her Alrendy the cold sweat ON
his brow warned him that death was very near lie
could not die AMI leave hrl thus
Tramp tramp. tlc guards step drew near 'od
hn' sent nun. 1"' o"'l o,'', , ,,in
came Fainter. fainter grew thc measured trend
Ills evcs were growing misty numhnr@" WIS
creeping OVER him. ilr hrari af.n ,ha' 'sa"tf
Codi help me- Dee moanel
Putting irs fast CHILLING arm' around thr nrsi.
lru nr drew hH4r'i mo- 'rer 1ud in7'en"1 in- hrih
100 thc ilo-H Hs with wrench thr err was pulled
n.m h.r lpld ou tNo hunt. pam slmtn a- ihr
,u. ri luIf.. STAYED a. o. man luukn4 down h' SOW
iI. fI...lIua i, and with iu oath hr throw Nptflo
beside hrr lower unl Hu-rri thr hor' h.ld.
Hrt in.a. Iav4 v.it inst InrRnd n death. Ns tho
lrnh spirit hed i0m thf world CHAT lhi h''n 800
IGNORANT and -uuoraftioua 1922 arc oil degraded
uo1turs tho negro a,ir1wwl n ifl-hi llr 'n'Il
ii fln aluId hui tl. auuud ni thu.o regular iUut.
stera r!H' iUnlF i"m ts d"ian'" w. pu-n..,
,,u hia aItruufl .,,'i mot uoao tlr huld Wiihiu 200
.dniIh Shaking 1nd almost rih.ud with t'nui NIa
r}r. starting uom hia hrtd ha ''0ih 'Mlt'nnH Nn
N.ih .ua ptounI h.r bravo defender vilh n,o
pftasrl t.nar go hiH. Nrifirr 1nu lnd inlIu"rI
linuh- Prom Doe uafiri upr n"vrI lh' iuIr Ul
lrf lie slowly % rhhrt. bnt thr louni tod stream
did mot maT tAc pricr oi hct van lace lrihIna
tho,o two Immortal Hpii7 m-hi nave I""h'u
ptymgly then on that poor wretch Wh" hN nhiuI.
cast ia lowest mould, Wa bY mans Laws forced
deeper into vice and denadauon.
l tho black tunnel facing danger and death,
ONea wa. praying tor them even q, tAcf died
PRAYING that IL the effort Tor freedom must result no
failure for hln, Il might prove tAeu salvation.
What was that' lie stopped his work and
listened He Thought he heard a sound as of hoir
spring leaves stirred 'y sentle't WIND strange
sound n that place. Sc ack, ST. noi,ome Again .i0
listened. Nothing now 20 be heard but tine steady
fall OBJ the pick and an occasional word OF direction
Ii must have been Ls fancy
VAST fancy. inleelY or was it the ru-tiug OF
snowy wing. waiting those upward ior whom -e
was prayIngY
and ord cred out the convict, there wa .onh OF
horror ON each face: and reluctant as was usually
ll- exit from the night cell, now every convict "1-
DID such haste % get uu' tHat hc iIiIt pushed io-r
I'D advance. Counting, tie guarl loun. tAc number
short hy three. Could they have as dped Come
out there " ue called roughly.
one of tie ncgroe, turned with q tremgous
Nassa 80 ON L.s lp,. But aj Threatening gesture
from the keeper. Ae stopped and said no more
once more the guard called. Damn You. come
ont" " h.auOtAer curse lie strobe To- the door and
Bmtalled as be was. lie nvolunariy started
ON the lowest bunk tie gIrs arms cia-pel al'Oh.
the boys neck ani both covered WIN hooi, Jay
tie bodies of Frank and Ncttic; while, cIouchne nl
tie floor. hs knees drawn up o. las chm, u4s eyes
standing out from their sockets was the ne-I0
Iwined around his neck. an end held ln tac. tA-
tended hand. was hlihy Idg That had once DeeA
part Of Il blanket. ..
seemed To- hold the terrible p'clur" before iiin.
The cnuVIct- We're questioned. They All united I'D
tie story that The boy had called ini hrlp h- me
guard passed. AMI that when darkness fell The negro
was alive Only U4o morning A"4 lcFttiIu Als
Tie report was made 10 Hilton who came. wA.p
IN hand terrifying anew the WIetchrs drawn zap I'D
IA. ont side that cell Of horror " hcu tur captain
.t.- flr chastity group hc made LU Ia tArr clIlu tuf
than IooE damn buns ho was one Jt Tire best
workers Here" Lee called o. several convcts, tdAr
these things away. Mofe room ior iiesn n'g-eis.
lucu Dee rrowIcd al ihc drah but ih'l 30 longer
..,IeI at bis wrath uor feared Jas q IAN B..
Waiting Don tie eating room tor the convict+ from
his ccI. O'Ncai watched for Aette and frank.
m ga, ,,,.ro missing. And the negro W hat had
i.oon.radf ~.cteued 40 the possI Dilitles which
ussd through his brain, Dee cnull DaIeY taste iie
food before him. lie impnii"nty Whied i"i TIE
u.rueut when again al work De- could, ia tne gua'd
ais.,,n Question "A convict near him. AZ last ia
tbe tunnel ne heard how those children diei' he
leased he SAID and turning away lis iAce' he Wept
CHAPTER XL
Evening had come the days work vas over ana
drawn nm ia line the c0nvicts were waiting 20 be