Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-06-14
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me, I'll take all the blame"
"An right rejoined Kent, ''but, as
you value a human life, don't forget to
let me out inside of the half hour.
Make it twenty minutes"
They entered the cell together. La
port was sitting on the stone floor with
neither rose nor looked up as they came
in. The place was dinly lit by one
embrasure. It was furnished with an
iron pallet and a pail.
Kent went toward the light and
looked at a large gold watch. ct is
ten minutes of teu," he said. "Give
me till a quarter past"
Laport looked up and addressed him
self to the governor:
"Are you going to put this lunatic
on me?' he said, It'll 1 knock my
brains out against these walls?"
The best way to get rid of him."
replied the governor, 'is to treat him
civilly. He doesn't want to annoy
| you, and he comes from some of your
friends"
YES" said Kent, you can treat me
confidentially. The governor is going
to leave us together for a few moments.
If you will answer some of my qucs-
lions l can be of service to you"
Laport dropped his head between his
hands. The governor gave a shrug
and turned to the door. I've heard of
squeezing pig-lead out Of a SPONGE" he
said. Its holiday work to squeezing
that old bundle of scrap-iron."
For Gods sake, don forget me
when the times up" said Kent, and
sat down on the iron bed.
The governor then went out Kent
heard the great bolt shot with an iron
clang.
Now then" he said SO that the
! Governor could hear him on the other
side of the door if he listened. This
is the last chance I've got to talk to
YOU, my friend. If you will tell me
what I want to know it will secure
zon the influence Of powerful friends.
He listened. He heard the retreat,
ing footsteps of the governor in the
corridor. lie sprang softly but quickly
to the iron door and put his ear down,
The governor was some distance
away.
Lapcrt looked up with something
like a momentary interest in the
strange actions.
Nov listen to me, Jean Laport."
said Kent, dropping his voice, I've
just twenty minutes to say all I've got
to tell you. | have come here to liber-
ate you. All this business of nevspa-
per and politics is a blind to get liz
here. | can stay here three days more.
In that time | can free You. You
must follow my directions infinitely
In three interviews can get the tools
to You. / have made all the arrange
ments to take care Of you when you
are outside the walls. Is there any
chance Of their changing your cell?"
Laport looked at Kent su~spiciouSly.
"Nhat do you want to free ne for?'
he asked.
Il know your whole history" re-
piled Kent, land l symrathize with
you. But sympathy has nothing to dc
with my actions l want your help
You are the best m-echanician in the
country. I have work for you-let
that suffice. If they do not change
your cell within five days you are a free
man. Now, listen. The first thing tc
do is to get a stone ont in the darkest
corner of the cell SO as to hide the tools
/ bring you. Here is the thin stee-
knife to do it, and here is the m~uriati<
acid and syringe to soften the MOI
tar"
Kent took from an inner breast
pocket as he spoke a tool watch he
screwed together, a small phial and {
little syringe. You are to gather the
mortar in this handkerchief and I viii
take it away when l next see you. The
wall on that side is part Of the old wal.
of the original ~penitentiary. 1t was
built by contract and is only faced VI
with blocks; the center is filed il
with cracked stone. You can looseI
one of those blocks before tomorrow
and l will bring you the implements t.
cut that bar and the wire to make The
descent. I have made the measure
ment of all the spaces outside, watched
the system of guard relief-and viii
furnish you a plan for every loot o:
your way"
Laport was turning the tool over an;
inspecting it with a workman's adj
miration. Kent continues: You arc
to escape by the window. 1t is twelve
feet above the laundry shed. TIL,
window bar is iron, not even cas-,
hardened. You are to work at it on
Friday when the engine in the laun-
dry is running. From the corner OF
Unc ldu1SIy W U1lS dlS1C VI III pr lSOL
wall east is fifty feet. The guard can
and if you get there at the right time
he will be on the eastern stretch and
you will be in the shadow OF the main
building. There will be a wire ove1
the wall in the far angle. Once you
are over 1 will take care of you. I'll
give you further directions tomorrow.
,-l0.4--l 4L-4 -
carry out this scheme you must remain
in this cell and, to insur your stay.
ing here, you must assist me in deceiv-
ing the governor. l shall tell hin
hat you complained of the confne
, ment and shall advise him to keep yor
here till l get all the information
l want"
Kent stopped and listened. He saw
, that the prospect of freedom hat
.. awakened a fash of interest in the ole
mans eye.
what do you want me to do,
asked Laport. that you take all Thu
i~trouble?"
II want to employ your genius,
said Kent, "and pay you handsomely
If you don't like the employment, yo1
, are at liberty to go and do as yo1
I please. But you will not object to If
There is no time to discuss hat now
/ l will tell the governor that am get
ting the information | want from you
/ have already invented a plausibl
r story. He will let me come back her
tomorrow. Do your work tonight S
e that when / bring you the tools yo
will have place to put them. Every
thing depends on your loosening on
of those stones tonight in case the