The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-01-18


collar, she found. pencilled on the
| paper she had sent, the following hope
full note:
81 am confined in an upper cell. The
| grated window Is toward the east. Be-
tween the prison and an open space be-
yond is high wall. There's fine
saw down at the shop, among my small
best tools, made from the handspring
of watch. Send me that coiled in the
collar of Bobon. always told you
bought that dog for something, and
now L know what. l think can cut
the bars and lower myself into the
yard. The second night from this, at
2 o'clock precisely, throw one end of
a rope over the wall, and fasten the
other, SO that can draw myself up, il
happen to get out-and with the saints
blessing may. don't know what
I'm charged with, and / don't believe
anybody does; but the place has a
guillotine feel about it, and I'd rather
be off with you and Bobon. I'm not
very closely watched. Don't fail me,
and soon l hope your arms will clasp
your poor Jacques"
1t is needless to follow out the result
in detail. The saw was found and
secreted in the collar of Bobon, who,
true to an instinct amounting to reason,
flew back to the prison, and awaited
his chance of lodging into the gate.
Terribly exciting were the hours passed
by Jeanette, till the time came for her
to act and to be made happy with
success or rendered wretched by
failure.
At l o'clock that eventful night
which was to witness her happiness or
misery, the trembling or half-fainting
wife took her station in the deep shade of
the eastern wall of the prison, with a
rope coiled in one hand and Bobon,
who had joined her few hours before,
now standing quietly and patiently
by her side. Oh! how her poor heart
beat! and how every sound made
the blood leap and her nerves thrill!
AT last the great clock of neigh
boring cathedral struck heavily and
solemnly the hour of 2. No longer
trembling, but nerving herself for the
great purpose she had in view, jeanette
quickly poised the coil in her hand;
and, holding firmly to one end of it with
her left sent it upward, with sincere
prayer, into the air, and heard a
faint, dull sound as it struck on the
other side.
Was he therep Somebody was-for
in less than a minute, she felt slight
pull upon the rope. Quickly fastening
her end around her body, she grasped
it with both hands, and thus held
against the heavier strain that follow
ed. Harder and heavier became the
strain upon the rope; but throwing
herself against the walls she still held
firmly, till she felt the cord suddenly
loosen; and then, looking upward, her
heart fairly leaped to her mouth
as she beheld dark figure upon the
top of the wall. Aminute later, Jacques
stood safe beside her, having run down
along the rope, which he had taken the
precaution to fasten on the other side
before making his ascent.
No word was now spoken-not a
whisper = even the dog remained
silent. Grasping the hand of jeanette,
Jacques stealthily, silently and hur-
riedly led her away, through one
dark and narrow street after another,
till he reached place of safety. The
next day search was made for him,
but he managed to keep himself secret,
ed till after the Reign of Murder had
ceased to be, and then he came forth
from his hiding-place and made boast
of his own cunning, his wife's devotion
and his dogs sagacity.