Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-08-17
CRANDALL'S ESCAPE.

The prison stands upon little elevated
stretch of ground, its tall trees and trim,
green yard contrasting with the dreary
barrenncss of tho low, sagcbrush covered
hills which lie about it in all directions.
Young Paddock who had been sent by his
paper to report anything of interest con-
corning Crandalls escape, drove up over
the dusty road and alighted at the great
barred doors He found to his disappoint-
ment that the warden and his posse were
still out on the hills, and he sat down with
a bored air upon Il bench in front of the
low stone building to await their return
The day was warm and bright, the sun
bcaming broadly down from the clear Ne
vada sky. Ii was so still that the sound
of the bells on mule train passing just
beyond the stone walls sounded drcamily
through the hazy summer morning long
after the heavy wagons were out of sight
Paddock was almost doing when man
in stripes approached.
q Mr. Jarrett wants to know, sir, if you'd
care to see the men turned out in tho
yard D"
Paddock rose lazily. "Why, ycs--I
guess so. YoU''--
Pm trusty, you know, " the man said,
with half laugh. Il unlock the inside
gate. Please come this way"
They passed the outer gate through the
corridor, and then came to the tall barred
door through which the convicts pass aft
er each meal Here Jarrett joined them.
He was Il tail, burly man, with great
heavy shoulders. massive head, and quick,
keen eyes. They stood on one side while
81 n. 4 L. IL
clang of Il bell slowly dispersed in all
directions over the great stoneyard.
You sec, Jarrett remarked striding
ahead of the reporter, the yard ; Il quarry
guarded on three sides by natural stone
walls. On the fourth-wcll, here where
Crandall had hidden his gun. Here's
where he crcpt up the earth wall Here's
where my shot caught him, in the Shout
der, I think. But the mans got the luck
of satan to back up his courage, for a gen
eral break Of the men on this side follow
ed. We settled them pretty quick. but
Crandall-oh, what's the use of talkin of
these things? They Jest happen, and I'm
Olowed if l know who's to blame" He
turned away, swearing under his breath.
Paddock 5 languur had all disappeared
back here, where the men, with listless,
tagging step, crcpt around the sun baked
stoneyard. They were like so much locked
up capital, which the states hard times
had condemned 10 hoartbrcaking idlencss
Being denied tlc privilege of occupation
they talked indiffcrcntly among them
selves, becoming dumb and watchful ut
the guard approach, or tended their lit
tie gardens which the unWoaTying, labO-
rious patience of long, monutonous years
had built up in the corner of the rock
Here, in the most sheltered spot, which
even the bitter mountain storms had spar
I'd, was one little plot of green which more
than the others attracted Paddock's at
tcntion, for the vines and bushes We're
fresh and thrifty, the few vegetables were
crisp and liourishing and the graceful
morning glories and sweet peas. aided by
the Imprinted trolliscs and much knottcd
string, clambcred high up on the rocky
walks
Yes, said Jarrett ungraciously, THE
lucky garden is Il pretty spot, but it'll
be ID unlIcky for the next man who
tries Crandalls trick"
This was his gardcn?"
Jarrett nodded 1t took him three
months to get enough earth to make the
bed on the rock, and the winter had come
" the time he'd managed to get it fenced
n. But he took more pride in this bit of
,reen. He knew every blade Of grass, and
rot bud could be picked without his no
icin Course none of the cons would
touch a thing, but we've visitors some
times that haven't sense enough to be out
of Jail. YOn's the linnet Candall trap
ped" He lifted the clumsily fashioned
wooden cage from its place among the
vines, but nothing moved inside
Hey, Jack" Jarrett called to one of
the men, WHO came limping up. He
touched his old hat
where's Crandall's iinnet?"
"It-got away, " said the man hesitat-
ingly.
Got away, did it," repeated Jarrett
"Wheny"
Don't know. When took the garden
for the plants We're Almost dead for wa
teri lifted the paper Crandall always
pinned over the cage to keep the hot sun
oil, eXpectin to see the mad thing dash its
silly red head agin the bars and shrek
till its throat was hoarse. But the bird
was gone.
Jarrett nodded understandingly
"Crandall set the bird lose before he
made his break, I'll swear. Wish I'd
A-known it," he said to the young man
after they had turned to re-enter the
prlaou
They passed through the cells till they
came TO the one the murderer had occu-
pied. 1t seemed to the young man that
the small, compact dcns were tainted, in
spite Of the rigorous, institutional cleanli
ness. He gasped and grew faint. He fol
lowed Jarrett eagerly out Of the Enclosure
and drew a long free breath when they
Mere once more in the open. But, being
young and rather inexperienced he wa.
ashamed of his emotion, and, what wa:
worse to him, afraid that it had been re
marked. Assuming an air of ferocity, he
turned his bOyish, good natured face to the
guard and said in his most offhand man
ner;
Its tough that the posse had left be
fore l came. I'd liked mighty well to &c
a look at the fellow"
"Hol" laughed Jarrett. You'd like Il
be with tho 'sseS Well, thatll be cas-!
enough. Look yonder." He pointed on
toward the long, white, dusty road Their
come some of them now. II they haven