The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-10
[CoprR1cHr. Is04l
CHAPTER I1L-cos11suEp.

said Kent, dropping his voice. I've
just twenty minutes TO say all I've got
to tell YOU. | have come here to Hber-
ate you. All this business of newspa-
per and politics is blind to get in
here. can stay here three days more
In that time I 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 suspiciously.
what do you want to free me for?"
he asked.
II know your whole history" re-
piled Kent, land l sympathize with
YOU But sympathy has nothing to do
with nv actions. l want your help.
You are the best mechanician in the
country. l have work for you-let
that suffice. If they do not change
Your cell within five days you are free
man. Now, listen. The first thing to
do is to get a stone out in the darkest
corner of the cell so as to hide the tools
1 bring YOU. Here is the thin steel
knife to do it. and here is the muriatic
acid and syringe to soften the NOR
tar
Kent took from an inner breast
pocket as he spoke a tool which he
screwed together. a small phial and a
little syringe. You are to gather the
mortar in this handkerchief and 1 will
take it away when | next zee you. The
wall on that side is part of the old wall
of the original penitentiary. 1t was
built by contract and is only faced up
with blocks; the center is filed in
with cracked stone. You can loosen
one of those blocks before tomorrow
and will bring you the implements to
cut that bar and the wire to make the
descent. / have made the measure
ment of all the spaces outside. watched
the system of guard relief-and will
furnish you plan for every foot of
your wav."
Laport was turning the tool over and
inspecting it with a workmans adj
miration. Kent continued: You are
to escape by the window. 1t is twelve
feet above the laundry shed. The
window bar is iron, not even case
hardened You are to work at it on
Friday when the engine in the laun-
dry is running. From the corner of
the laundry to the angle of the prison
wall east is fifty feet. The guard can
not see you till you get to the wall,
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 over
the wall in the far angle. Once You
are over l will take care of you. I'll
give you further directions tomorrow.
You must clearly understand that to
carry out this scheme you must remain
in this cell and. to insure your stay
ing here. you must assist me in deceiv-
ing the governor. l shall tell him
that you complained of the confne-
ment and shall advise him to keep you
here till 1 get all the information 1
want"
Kent stopped and listened. He saw
that the prospect of freedom had
awakened flash of interest in the old
mans eve.
"What do you want me to do"
asked Laport, that you take all this
troubleT'
Il want to employ your genius"
said Kent, and pay you handsomely.
If you don't like the employment, you
are at liberty to go and do as you
please. But you will not object to it.
There is no time to discuss that now.
/ will tell the governor that I am get
ting the information 1 want from you.
1 have already invented a plausible
story. He will let me come back here
tomorrow. Do your work tonight so
that when l bring you the tools you
will have place to put them. Every
thing depends on your loosening one
of those stones tonight in case they
examine your cell. Follow my direc-
tons and will give you your liberty.
Stand still moment and let me meas
ure you"
He took little piece of paper and a
tiny tape line from his pocket. You
understand he said, that it is to get
a disguise ready that will fit you To-
morrow / will bring you two blank
checks to sign You viii understand
later what they are for
A moment later step was heard in
the corridor, and Kent was sure the
governor was listening. He was not
mistaken What the governor heard
in part was this:
Now then why not tell me the rest
of it? These men can do you no serv-
ice now, and the friends of the adj
ministration viii secure your pardon
if they are furnished with all the facts. !
You have told me enough to make it |
worth nv while 20 stay here another
day to get the rest of il and I'm anx-
ious to get back"
The governor shot the bolt and open
ing the door looked in
Time" he said
Kent appeared to be so engrossed in !
his interview that he did not instantly |
perceive the entrance of the officer, |
but went on talking to Laport- Think |
it over" he said. Your own personal |
comfort if not your freedom may be in |
volved in it,
Then he and the governor left the /
cell
The first thing that Kent did was to |
tell the governor that he had succeeded 1
in unsealing Laport's lips and had al |
ready got from him some intimations (
OF the political gang which had at
tempted to use MIN He then narrated 1
story of his own invention which |
was so ingeniously fabricated that the
governor was deeply interested and 4
himself proposed that Kent should I
stay until he had got the whole Of it /
and this Kent at last consented to do, |
merely remarking: I'D keep the fell |
low IN that cell till / get it. if l were
you. The confinement gals him and |.