New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
! 7

Major IIardingc remained IN the jail that night.
He stayed IN tn governors house rs Mr.. Palcy 5
guest lie expressed himself very strongly about
the events OF tie day.
ri see The thing through. If il takes me a
week The whole affair Is incredible - nc II
strikes me. Pacy, that they've been making n
The governor combcd his hair with lis fingers.
His official manner had temporarily gone. He
seemed depressed.
"Of course the doors were locked. and they
used the wrong KEYS TO open them. II was got
up thing.
By whom then? ! don't see how The prs-
oners could have lent hand.
Il know The officers, and ! viii answer for
item, every man. ~ for the wrong keys being
used, | know the keys as well as any one. !
But they did Weld. What explanation nave
You 10 give of that
Il wish could explain" And again the
governor combcd his hair.
"Tll have an explanation to-morrow!-you see
if don't" Bat the major never did.
On the morrow, punctualy ~ 8 a. m. an I'm
posing procession started 10 unlock. There were
the inspector governor, chief wordcr, second
wardcr and the wardcr who carried the Keys
IL don't think we shall have much difficulty
in getting the men out OF their cells this time,
remarked the major They did not Good-e0od
Cod he spluttcrcd, when they reached the
corridor: "what-what on carlhs the meaning
Of this ?" lie had predicted rightly. They would
have no difficulty in getting the men out
Of their cells they were out alrcady-men, and
bedding, and planks, and all. There was man
fast asleep in bed in front Of each cell door
=" ] thought had given Instructions that spc-
cal watch was 10 b. kept all night, the major
roared
= So there has been" answered the chief warder
whose head and face and neck were purple
"Wardcr Slater here las only just gone of duty.
Now then, Slater, what's the meaning Of this p
Il don't know protested slater; whose noun
tain OF flesh seemed quvcrng like Jelly. Its not a
minute ago since went 10 get my Keys, and they
was all inside their cells when ! went down"
Who let them ont. then? ~
The major garcd at him. incredulity in every
lire Of his countenancc.
81 don't know. I'll swear il wasn't metz
81" suppose they let themselves out, then. You
Although this short dialogue had been conducted
by no means sotto vocc. the noise ana not seem
10 have the slightest effect in rOusing the pris-
oners ont Of slun'bcr Even when tle ma Or
called to them they gave no sign.
"You mem he shouted again: it's no good
shamming Abraham with me- He stopped Ia
Shake the man who was lying on the plank at hi,
feet "Gcod-good God The-the-man's not
dead >"
Deadn cried the governor, knecling by the
ma or's side upon the stones.
The sleeper was very still He was a man OF
some forty years of age, with nItArown tangled
hair and beard If not short-sentencc man. hc
still in the early STAGES of his tcrm-ior hc
lay on thc bare boards Of the plank, with the rug
blanket and sheet wrapped closely round him. 81
that they might take, as far as possible. the place
of the cOir mattress. which WAS not there. The
he'd was not bed of comfort, yet his sleep was
sound-strangcly sound. If he hreathcd AT all, il
was so lightly 10 he inaudibc. ON his face
was that dazcd. strained expression which we
sometimes the faces of those who without
moments warning have been Suddenly visited
by death.
u don't think he's dead" the governor said
He seems 10 bc In some sort of trance. What's
the mans Nance
" Hitchcock. He's one Of the 'oppickcrs. Hes
got n month.
II was Wardcr Slater who gave the information
The governor took the man by the shoulder and
tried to rouse him out of sleep.
" Hitchcock Hitchcock, Come, wake ND. my
man! It's all right; he's coming to-hes waking
up
He did wake up. and that so suddenly as "a
take the party by surprise lie spranr UPRIGHT ON
the plank, nothing on but an attcnuatcd prison
shirt, and tlared at the officials with looks OF
unmistakable surprise.
llolloa! What's upp What's the meaning OF
this?n