Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-05-04
CHAPTER ".


ity with which the escape had been
planned and at the address of Kent in
hoodwinking the governor while con-
spring to free bis prisoner. Without
reasoning upon the matter deeply he
set about following out the pro-
eramme laid down for him and his
methodical training enabled him to do
1t carefully. Laport was over fifty
five but he was made of tough vital
material and the prospect Of liberty
stirred all his old sagacity. Kent saw
him for the last time in prison on Fri
day morning; gave him his additional
instructions and tools and left osten-
sibly for New York at noon, much to
the regret of the Ixtels.
Kent's provision had been unerring
with regard to Laport, but he made
one or two miscalculations about his
own movements, and as the gov
efnor's special efforts were directed to
his capture, stimulated no doubt by the
chagrin on having been SO successfully
duped Che having learned that his
guest was unauthorized and unknown
In the New York newspaper ofhce),
one of the best detectives in the coun-
try got upon his track and followed
him to Louisville, Ky, when the trail
was week old. From this point he
traced him into western Tennessee
and there the pursuit ended. Kent
had disappeared from the surface OF
the earth. What is remarkable about
this part of the hunt is that nothing
occurred publicly to awaken the sus-
picion that Bench and Kent were the
same person.
Laport's escape from the prison was
effected with but slight variations as
it had been planned for him, and there
was nothing in his methodical execu-
tion of the plan but grim and un-
eventful determination accompanied
by silent apprehension, until he ar
rived as arranged at the old mill, and
there the whole character of the pro-
ceedings changed as if by magic and
began to wear the aspect of a sixteenth
century romance.
While yet some fifty feet away from
the mill and hidden in the brush, he
listened and distinctly heard female
voices of merriment coming from the
other side. His heart sank. Some pic
nicking party had taken possession of
the secluded retreat and cut off his
last chance. There had been no pro-
vision for this contingency in Kent's
plan. While Laport stood listening
to the bursts of laughter and subdued
screams that mingled with the voices
of men in some kind of sport, he dis
tinctly heard some one singing the
-, %f Day,,n ~ ;r,
clear soprano. 1t might be one of those
fatal condolences, for the air was one
that anybody would be apt to warble
He considered a moment and deter
mined to take the risk.
Working his way through the thick
cts he came out on the overgrown bank
where the mill stood and went delib-
erately round to the side from which
the voices proceeded. He had scarcely
turned the corner of the mill before he
found himself in full view of party
of ladies and gentlemen who had evil
IDENTIFY rendezvoused here for lunch.
Their horses were tied to the neigh
boring trees; white cloth was spread
upon the grass; a colored servant was
opening wine. They were elegantly
dressed and were Enthusiastically people
of means and leisure taking an outing.
At the same moment Laport saw pro-
truding from the grass almost at his
feet the circular form of an old mill
stone and, with feeling of helpless
ness, he sat down upon it.
A minute had not passed when he
was aware that some one was ap-
preaching him. 1t was a woman. She
had left the group Immediately and
was standing very near him. He
looked at her with the greatest amount
of interest and suspense. She was
handsomely and jauntily dressed In q
riding habit and appeared to be at
least thirty years of age. Her whole
bearing was easy, but dignified. Her
handsome oval face was expressive Of
determination, softened by sensibility.
She carried riding whip.
"You are late, professor" she said.
looking at her watch, land have kept
us waiting. Did you meet anyone after
you left the stile?"
"Yes, 1 did," answered Laport. 81
met woman in the wood road going
to town with basket, and she re-
garded me suspiciously."
Then we have no time to lose" said
the woman, calmly. "These people
are all friends. You are to change
your garments Immediately. My serv-
ant will help you Explanations and
further directions must wait"
She called the negro servant and
said to him: "Now, then, Fan, be as
quick as you can. We are fifteen min
utes late"
'This way, professah," said the serv-
ant, with grin, as he pointed to the
old mill.
Laport, without further words, made
a bow and followed the negro into the
dilapidated structure. Here, in one OF
the recesses where there remained a
clear space and a flooring, there was a
hamper such as is used at picnics.
There were one or two plates and
napkin conspicuous on its strapped lid.
The negro brushed them away and
hurriedly tore open the basket. 1t was
packed tightly and carefully with a
complete outfit of clothes, which the
man lifted out and spread in a pile
upon a clean newspaper. Laport was
watching him with curious Interest