Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-09-02
THE CONYICTS MESSAGE

The judge who presided at the
trial referred 10 IL as zone Of the
most singular and dramatic episodes
Ina the annals OF chine" For my
part. TO recall the affair Is to feel again
the flush Of intense excitement. the
strain OF acute suspense.
When the directors Of our railway
appointed me as bullion manager,
went down TO Felixbourne and saw
Mr.. Laidlaw. Mr.. Laidlaw was chap
lain at the convict prison at Felix
bsurne.
..Mr Laidlaw,r / said. II like
Angela very much indeed. ami we
want 70 get married"
'Aiy dear boy said the good old
fellow, putting his hand on my shout
der. ''if you are earning enough TO
make my girl comfortable you have
my consent"
The chaplain's house al Felix
bourne Was quite close 10 the prison
walls From ono 81 the top windows
you could see over the high confines
81 the prison into the yard where the
poor wretehes, in their gray Scotch
caps ana hideOus dnst-coiored gar
ments. marched In squads wording
out In dead silence their melancholy
time Of punishment
-Four parcels Of bonds for Paris
sir, said ono Of my men entering the
Office one evening.
! was reading again a disquieting
Telegram had just received Handed
IN al my office In North London and
unsigned, II begged me IN urgent
terms 10 go down 20 EeliSbourne by
the D. ~. train. iumbled the form
into my pocket, and told johnson 70
bring the pa.cels In.
They were from Thistlewhaitc &
Co. the brokers OF Gornhill. and
we're consigned 10 Caroa. Lippmann
81 Gle. % the Rue de Ia hanque.
Paris. The declared value was 81, 200.
but as il Is usual 10 state five per
cent only Or the gross value 70 the
railways and 80 insure the remaining
ninety-hge per cent with tho under
I writer's, knew that the real and
actual sum WAS over E2l.OD0,
locked them IN one Of the chests
Ia the presence ~ johnson, enclosed
the icuil,e 90 route 70 our cnntincn-
ial agent. and sent the usual telc-
gram advising dispatch.
II shall leave you. johnson. 70
take the guards signature for the
chest tonight. said II shall not
bc able 10 stay 10 see tho $50 On
I hurried Oh for the train and Just
caught IL IN another hour and a
hail ] WAS nj the prison gates
mo. sir. said the houscmaid.
"ibcy wen, away this morning. mas.
tor and missus and Miss Angela did.
10 Oxford. str, and they are not com
ing back Until tomorrow night Me
aud cook is Ia charge. sir
] was astaniahcd J looked az my
watch and found IL was too late to
cutch tho lHst train back 10 town
Your usual room il ready. cir.
said the girl, 10 you thought o.
stoppiug
was aroused about 9 o'clock the
next morning by much tapping below
my window Six or eight selected
couvicts doing some necessary re.
pairs around tho front 81 the house
were working on ladders under the
superintendent ~ three warders,
who. with their loaded carbiues in
hand. patrolled the lawn beneath
! dressed lcisurcly and then sal
down 10 write limo 10 Angela. As
did so shadow appeared at the
window, and raising my eyes | saw
the close-clippcd face " bnrly,
middle.aged convict. His number
was pa. lie did not look up. but
commenced stolidly 70 paint the
woodwork.
Dearest Angola, ! wrote, II re-
ccived yesterday a mysterious"
"Guvnorw
The man was painting away and
did not look at me.
"Guvnorm
. Thie time am sure that II was he
who spoke,
"WiIl you = do - chap--a
good turnn
This in hoarse whisper, with one
syllable running into the other and
making OF the sentence one huge i'm
possible word.
win 49, you--write- -down--tive--
fifty -iivc--Mill- Road WaIworth2 p
] did so on an envelope before me
"Will you go--therc--and--tel
my wife that - Jim's ~ hats
buried - az r. the back OF tho
: stablopn
Almost Without thinking Of what
did wrote down the words.
"Thank--ya.
The figure went up tho ladder l
few steps and saw nothing but hi
coarse gray stockings. / considered
for moment. The message SCENE,
an innocent one, but thinS dc
termined 30 ask Mr.. Laidlaw's advice
in the matter when next saw him
finished my letter / hurrie,