Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-28

he failed il would surely add another year to his
already seemingly unending term he ccncen-
trated all his will power that strength might be
given him to drop down from the rock and
commit his life and liberty to the mercy OF the
sea- The veins OF his neck and arms sweued
and knotted. and heavy beads Of sweat
dropped down upon his beard. Yet to see her
again was worth il ALTO see her. judy, his own
dear wife that had suffered and endured 30
much for him. How pale and tired and hungry
she looked that last day she came TO meet him
at the Preside, so changed, 90 unlike the pic
ture hanging in the locket at his breast That
taken at Fort Douglas two years ago, before
they were married. when she was young and
plump and pretty. Now she waited for him in
the narrow attic Of the tenement on Mission
street. barely making enough with her needle "a
keep herself and the baby alive. Two years it
would be until his time was out. two years be-
fore he could hope 10 see her agsin, and heaven
only knew what might happen TO her in that
time. To be With her was worth it all With
out her he cared little what happened; death or
the prison. il was all the same 70 him. He drew
the little locket from his bosom, kissed IL, and
fastened IL upon his wrist.
The sentinel above shouldered his rife and
walked on around the end OF the prison, and
when the sound of his footsteps died away only
the wash of the waves and the dub moan Of the
fog horn broke the silence. He rose TO bis
knees and drew the raft Of logs close 20 the fat
rock. There were only four Of them tied to-
gether with ropes. but surely they would keep
him afioat until some Of the tugs going cut IN
the morning could pick him up. He pushed
his foot forward and lowered it into the water.
How cold il wasl SILVER passed over his body
and the fog seemed more penetrating. He drew
back and sat down once more upon the rock.
But why he delaving2 Even now they
might be discovering his Absence and Judy had
suffered more than this for him. There was the
babv-he would see them both tomorrow. The
thought gave him strength What il the chill
and exposure Of the night did bring on sickness?
Would not judy nurse him through il alp He
buttOned his gray blouse close around HIM
and dropped down upon the logs. They sank
under his weight aud the chill water rising
around him took his breath away. He twisted
himself astride the inner logs and pushed out
into the current. The outer ones supported
his arms, and he found that be could easily
keep his head above the caps of the waves. The
tide caught the raft and whrled il into the
eddies among the jagged points Of the rocks,
swiftly. precipitately. into the thick darkness.
IL grated hsrshly upon them, but he could not
tell which ones il struck. Once il dashed
angrily against a mass OF boulders at the foot OF
the casemate wall and disturbed a dormitory Of
sea birds. They rose chattering and screaming
and futtered past him. tapping their wings in
his face. Then the raft shot out into the main
current and he heard the reports of the sentry's
rife giving the alarm. Too late nowi Fare
well the prison, the damp cells, the bard work
the scanty fare! II was all past and over. He
had no master now but the sea; he was at the
mercy Of the dark waters.
Once more the raft dashed into a mass OF
rocks with such violence thai he almost lost his
hold Of the logs Another flock OF sea birds
arose IN the darkness and screamed querulously
about him for disturbing their repose. The
logs grated heavily for a moment and lodged
As he struggled to push of be felt the green
spar buoy and knew it was Little Alcatraz On
the slopes above be heard voices and commands:
they were searching for him on the island
Another moment aud he foated free again
upon the surface Of the tide. The darkness was
oppressive and the mist choked and stifed him
The fog siren on the shore ahead still called TO
him and he could hear the surf breaking on the
reefs. How long must he rise and fall thus
with the motion of the waves9 Ii was nine
hours before daylight, and already he was numb
I and chilled to the heart.
His thoughts turned again TO JUDY. how he
had loved her when she lived in a cabin on her
fathers ranch near the post and he was a
smart. tidy sergeant, serving we'll with the
prospect of commission ahead Who cared
for her more than he when she. poor little girl
was left an orphan by her fathers death? Yet
what right had he to help her unless he made
her his wife? That was the rea 81, n he went on
pass for three DAYS and gave the priest half OF
his month pay 20 make them one. She took a
situation in a milliner g store aud he served on
trying to save money to buy his discharge and
Huu n cletksuIp lnat would paw enough TO ena-
bic them TO live toSe her. But when she was
taken i'll. with the prospect of the baby being
born. he could wait no longer. He sent her the
money be had Sayed. took two DAYS pass aud
deserted. IL made him prond o: himself to
feel that he had ALWAYS cared for her ~ well as
he was able. His feeble efforts were like the
widow mite-good and acceptable because they
were the best he could offer. When they came
to San Francisco he found a steady place with
a market gardener and earned enough to keep
them well ana happy How fat and healthy the
baby was there. and how well il liked to have
Its father roll it around on the floor and play
with it,
Two rolling swells, heavier than the others.
piled themselves together and threw the salt
water above his head. 1t fell, filling his throat
and eyes. and rolled down his back. leaving him
more stif and benumbed than before The de-
preston drove his mind back to the evil hour
when his old battery returned from Fort
Douglas, bringing with il his former enemy. the
farrier, who had never forgiven him for inform
ing the battery commander when he dosed the
best running horse the day before the races.
The farrier was not an enemy Of the assiduously
vindictive sort; he was too law and indiffer-
emit; but when the two met in the garden near
the Preside few days after the battery re-
turned. although no words we're spoken and
that the embers Of the old injury still emoul-
dered and might be famed BY chance breath
into fame. Two weeks later detective took
him from the garden in arrest and turned him
over to the post authorities as q desertsr. In
less than two weeks more be had been tried,