The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1885-08-07

J UNION G. 81, SOUTH / z {
the interior of the prison. Escapes some
times did occur, but then that was wher
the prisoners were in the fields, or porhap.
under cover of suddenly settling mist
one man might eludo the vigilance of hi,
guard. Such incidents, even under cir.
cumstauces like that, were rare How
would escape from the double girdlc OF
stone walls-the warders in the interior
quadrangle, and the strong guard at the
outer gate--be anyway possible for Ste
phens
He knew he had one thing in his favor
this was his resemblance to the doctor.
If he.could only use that deftly, he might
escape his guardians He determined to
try. He knew that within an hour, when
EsgErpcs rsuEryu INC
6 81 3 ous a. 8
Feturn to Their cells, there occurred mos
mcnts when a man might make move
without being seen by the wardcr. Surely
he would have time to step toto the portal
near the doctors room, rap aud enter.
Then-woc TO the doctor. An exchange
of garb, most likely of Il compulsory char
acter, must take place.
AS if fortune favored him, on the day
for the attempt, the mist | have described
cnvelopcd the mountain prison in its almost
impcnctrabc fold.
The convicts were delegated to different
kinds Of work within the prison. Some
had to put up with the solitude of their
cells. In pursuance of The Governors or
dcrs, Stephens was not one of these. As
he could not be drafted out on to the fields,
he was set among the gang in the stone
yard.
lie had become used to degradation. Yet,
now that he was forced to drag Il heavy
cartload of stone along, yokcd with villains
whose couutcnanccs betrayed them, the
shame of his position increased his longing
10 escape. And he was weak, too, terribly
weak the work demanded of him strained
every limb, every nerve.
At last, the halfpast twelve bell tinklcd
which told tho men to cease labor. Very
soou they were marshallcd in files, and
were ready tc march back into the interior
quadrangle. When they arrived there: it
was the business of two wardcrs to stand
near and supcrintcnd the entry of the con
v1crs' lnru ~
like agigantic factory built Of stone, where
the cells were placed.
Stephens contrivcd, in stai ting, to be one
of the last men in the file. He knew then
that whca he got into the quadrangle he
would be very close to the doctors apart
mcnts
Dr. Brands little surgery was ;rrcproach.
able on the score of ncatncSs. The doctor
was there now, having done his work at the
infirmary, and was preparing TO leave the
prison, as he usually did at midday. lie
was whistling to himself, when the door
opened. lie was standing with his back
to it, and was surprised that the person
whoever it was, had not raped Wheel
ing around, he bchcld himself facing hi:
second self, but in convict Sarb-thc fcl
low Stephens, Number l577'-thc MAJ
against whom he bore stupid and un
reasoning grudgc.
There must have been something o
menace in the mans look
What business have you hcrc?' th
Doctor calculated, iicrccly.
And at the same moment he involun
tarily CLAN need aside to sec what weapon h
had within reach.
Stephens saw the movement. If he ha
sprung forward and grapplcd with hi
enemy, he might have ovcrpowcrcd him
but DR.. Brand would be sure to shout, an
bring all the wardcrs in swarm into tn
room. To persuade him by entrcntics t
consent to exchange dresses, would be, h
felt, utterly hopeless
All this whirlcd through his mind in
moment. The next, he caught hcav
glass bottle from the nearest shelf, an
flung it straight at the Doctors head.
The aim was perfect. The victim fc
with thud and did not rise. Stcphcr
/ stood WONDERING and pctriGri for the IN,