The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-08-18
ESCAPE OF CRANDALL.

duu LIlIQ, green ydfu contrasting Will
the dreary barrenness of the low, sage
brush covered hills which lie about it
in all directions.
Young Paddock, who had been sent
by his paper to report anything Of in
terest concerning Crandall's escape,
drove up over the dusty road and
alighted at the great barred doors. He
found to his disappointment that the
warden and his posse were still out on
the hills, and he sat down with a bored
air upon a bench in front of the low
stone building to await their return.
The day was warm and bright, the
sun beaming broadly down from the
clear Nevada sky. It was so still that
the sound of the bells on a mule train
passing just beyond the stone walls,
sounded dreamily through the hazy
summer morning long after the heavy
wagons were out Of sight. Paddock
was almost doing when man in
stripes approached.
Mr.. Jarret wants to know, sir, if
you'd care to see the men turned out
in the yard"
Paddock rose lazily. "Why yes-I
guess so. YOU
Pm trusty, you know" the man
said with half laugh. II 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 con-
victs pass after each meal. Here Jar
rett joined them. He was tall, burly
man with great heavy shoulders, a
massive head, and quick, keen eyes.
They stood on one side while the men
fled out, numbered, and at the clang
of a bell, slowly dispersed in all di-
rections over the great stone yard.
"YOu see," Jarrett remarked, striding
ahead Of the reporter, ''the yards
quarry guarded on three sides by ma
tural stone walls. On the fourth-well,
here's where Crandal had hidden his
gun; here's where he crept up the earth
wall. Here's where my shot caught
him in the shoulder, think. But the
mans got the luck of Satan to back up
his courage, for general break of the
men on this side followed. We settled
them pretty quick, but Crandall-oh,
what's the use O. talking of these
things! They jest happen, and I'm
bowed if I know who's to blame. He
turned away swearing under his
breath.
Paddock's languor had all disappear
ed back here, where the men, with list
less, tagging step crept around the sun
baked stone yard. They were like so
much locked-up capital, which the
states hard times had condemned to
heart breaking idleness. Being denied
the privilege of occupation, they talk
ed indifferently among themselves, be-
coming dumb and watchful at the
guards approach, or tended their little
gardens which the unwearying, labor
ious patience of long, monotonous
years had built up in the corner Of the
rock. Here, in the most sheltered spot,
which even the bitter mountain storms
had SPARED. was one little plot of
green which more than the others at
tracted Paddock's attention; for the
vines and bushes were fresh and thrifty
the few vegetables were crisp and
fourishing, and the graceful morning
glories and sweet-peas, aided by the
implanted trellises and much knOtted
string, clambered high up on the rocky
walls.
YES" said Jarrett, ngraciously, "the
lucky garden is a pretty spot, but it'll
be damned unlucky for the next man
who tries Crandall's trick"
This was his garden?"
Jarrett nodded. ut took him three
months to get enough earth to make
the bed on the rock, and the winter
had come by the time he'd managed to
get 1t fenced in. But he took more
pride in this bit Of green! He knew
every blade of grass, an not a bud
could be picked without his noticin'.
Course none of the cons would touch
a thing, but we've visitors sometimes
that haven't sense enough to be out
Of Jail. Yon's the innet Crandall
trapped" He lifted the clumsily fash
toned wooden cage from it's place
among the vines, but nothing moved
inside.
Hey, Jackv' Jarrett called to one
Of the men who came limping I'D. He
touched his old hat
where's Crandall's linnet?"
'It-got away" said the man, hest
tatingly.
Got away, did it?' repeated Jarrett.
"When?"
Don't know. When I took the gar
den-for the plants were Almost dead
for water-1 lifted the paper Crandan
always pinned over the cage to keep
the hot sun off, expectin' to see the
mad thing dash it's silly, red head agen
the bars and shrek till it's throat was
hoarse But the bird was gone"
Jarrett nodded understandingly.
"Crandall set the bird loose before he
made his break, I'll swear. Wish I'd
ha' known it," he said to the young
man after they had turned to re-enter
the prison.
They passed through the cells till
they came to the one the murderer had
occupied. It seemed to the young man
that the small, compact dens were
tainted. in spite Of the rigorous, insti-
tutional cleanliness. He gasped and
grew faint He followed Jarrett eager
ly out Of the Enclosure and drew long,
free breath when they were once more
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-natured face
to the guard and said in his most Off
hand manner:
Its tough that the posse had left
before I came. I'd liked mighty Well
to get a lok at the fellow"
'Ho!' laughed Jarrett. you'd like
To Iln will IN III I, ~