The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-23
CRANDALL'S ESCAPE.

barrcnncss 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 Crandall's escape, drove up over
the dusty road and alighted at tho great
barred doors. He found to his disnppoint
mont that tho warden and his POSSE were
still out on tho hills and no sat down with
q bored air upon u bench in front of the
low stono building to await their return.
The day was warm and bright, tho sun
bcaming broadly down from the clear Nc
vada sky. 1t was so still that tho sound
OF the bells on nulc train passing lust
beyond the stone walls sounded drcamily
through tho hazy summer morning Iona
after the heavy wagons wore out of sight
Paddock was almost doing when man
In stripes approached
Mr. Jarrett wants to know, sir, If you'd
care TO soe the men turned out in the
yard.
Paddock roso lazily "Why, ycs-I
guess SO. You'--
Tina trusty you know, /" tho man said,
with half laugh. II unlock the inside
gate. Plcnso come this way"
Ihcy passed the outer gate, through the
corridor, and then came to tho tall barred
door through which tho convcts pass aft
or each meal. Hore Jarrett joined them.
lie was tall, burly man, with great
heavy shoulders, massive head, and quick,
Keen eyes They stood on one side while
the men filed out, numbered, and at the
clang of u bell slowly dispersed in all
directions over the great stonoyard.
You sec, Jarrett remarked, stridinp
ahead OF tho reporter tho yard S quarry
guarded OH three sides by natural stone
walls. On the fourth-wcll, here's whore
Crandall had hidden his gun Here's
where ho crcpt up the earth wall. Here's
where my shot caught him, in the Shout
der, think. But the mans got the luck
of satan to back up his courage for gen
eral break of the men on this side follow
cd We settled them pretty quick, but
Crandall-oh, what's the use of tnlkin of
these things? They Jest happen, and I'm
blowed II L know who's to blamo" He
turned away, swearing under his breath.
Paddock's languor had all disappeared
bnck here, where tho men, with listlcss.
lagBing stop, crcpt around the sun baked
stoneyard. They wcro like so much locked
up capital, which tho stato's hard times
had condemned to heartbreaking idleness.
Being denied the privilege of occupation.
they talked indifrcrcntly among them
selves, becoming dumb and watchful at
the guards approach or tended their lit
tie gardens which the unTo.ry.ng, Iabo.
rlous patience of long, monotonous years
had built up In the corner of tho rock.
Here, In the most sheltered spot, which
even the bitter mountain storms had spar
ed, WAS one little plot of green which moro
than the others attracted Padtlock's at
tcntion, for the vines and bushes were
fresh and thrifty, the few vegetables were
criSp ana lourishing, and the graceful
morning glorlcs ana sweet peas. aided by
the implanted trclliscs and much knottcd
string, clambcrod high ND on the rocky
walks.
Yes" said Jarrett ungraciously. "thc
lucky garden is n pretty spot. but it'll
be ID unlucky for the next man who
tries Crindall's trick"
This was his gardcn2"
Jarrett nodded. 1T took him three
months to get enough earth to make the
bed on the rock, and the winter had como
by the time he'd managed to get it fenced
H. But he took more pride in this bit of
green. He knew every blade of grass. and
not bud could be picked without his no
ticin. Course mono of the cons would
touch II thing, but we've visitors some
times that haven't sense enough to be ont
of Jail. Yon's the linnct Crandall trap
ped. He lifted the clumsily fashioned
wooden cage from its place among the
vines, but nothing moved inside
Hey, Jackn' Jarrett called to ono of
the men, who came limping up. He
touched his old hat
"Whcrc's Crandall's lnnct?"
''lt-got away, " said the man hcsitat-
ingly.
Got away, did it9" repeated Jarrett
"Whons"
''DoD'o know. When took tho garden
--for the plants werc almost dead for wa.
tori lifted tho paper Crandall ALWAYS
pinned over the cage to keep tho hot sun
OIL, cxpcctin to see the mad thing dash its
silly red head agn tho bars and Shrek
till its throat was hoarse But tho bird
was gone"
Jarrett nodded UNDERSTANDINGS
"Crandall set the bird lose before no
made his break, I'll swear Wish I'd
a-known it, y he said to the young man
after they had turned to rc-cntcr tho
prison.
They passed through the cells till they
came to the ono the murderer had occu-
pied. 1t seemed to the young man that
the small compact dcns were tainted. in
spite of the rigorous, institutional clcanli.
ness. He gaspcd and grew faint. He fol-
lowed Jarrett eagerly out Of the Enclosure
and drew long free breath when they
were once moro in the open. But being
| young and rather inexperienced, he was
ashamed of his emotion, and, what was
| worse to him, afraid that it had been re
marked. Assuming an air of ferocity, he
| turned his boyish, good naturcd face To- the
| guard and said in his most offhand man.
ner:
Its tough that the posse had left be-
fore | came. I'd liked mighty well to ;,ct
look ut the fellow"
1 ,aJ To-