St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1895-01-19
CHAPTER ttf.-EoEr1NuEp.
tCopYRtaHT, 1904 |

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 newspa-
per and politics is blind to get in
here. I can stay here three days more.
In that time can free you. You
must follow my directions minutely.
In three interviews can get the tools
to you. I 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 cell2"
Laport looked at Kent suspieiously.
"What do you want to free me fef7''
he asked.
II know your whole history fe-
piled Kent, "and / sympathize with
you. But sympathy has nothing to do
with my actions. ! want your help.
You are the best mechanician in the
country. 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 stone out in the darkest
corner of the cell so as to hide the tools
I 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 q tool which he
ssaassssed toae ller, a small pl,ial ssasaea a.
little syringe. You arc to gather the
mortar in this handkerchief and will
Al, t.-1,n 7 lan
wall on that side is part of the old wall
of the original penitentiary. It was
built by contract and Is only faced up
with blocks; the center Is filled 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 toemalze the
descent have made the measure
| ment of all the spaces outside, watched
the system of guard relief--and will
| furnish you q plan for every foot of
| your way"
Laport was turning the tool over and
| inspecting it with workman's ad-
| miration. Kent continued: "You are
to escape by the window. It is twelve
feet above the laundry shed. The
| window bar is iron, not even case
| hardened. You are to work at 1t 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 wire over
the wall in the far angle. Once you
are over / will take care of you. I'll
| give you further directions tomorrow,
4 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 / shall tell him
| that you complained of the confne-
ment and shall advise him TO keep You
here till get all the information
| want
Kent stopped and listened. He saw
that the prospect of freedom had
awakened a flash of interest in the old
mans eye.
What do you want me to do"
asked Laport, that you take all this
trouble?'
1 II want to employ your genius, .
said Kent, land 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 ] want from you
/ have already invented a plausible
story. He will let me come back here
tomorrow. Do your work tonight SC
that when bring you the tools yor
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
tions and will give you your liberty
Stand still moment and let me meas
ure you.
He took little piece of paper and |
tiny tape line from his pocket. sYol
understand" he said, that it is to ge
disguise ready that will fit you. To
morrow / will bring you two blanl
checks to sign. You will understand
later what they are for
Il A moment later q step was heard il
the corridor, and Kent was sure tn
| governor was listening. He was no
mistaken. What the governor hear,
in part was this:
Now then why not tell me the res
of it? These men can do you no serv
ice now, and the friends of the ad
ministration will secure your pardol
if they are furnished with all the facts
You hare told me enough to make