The leader., 1897-09-15

the number, one morning. as they were
engaged in cleaning their cells, and
carelessly turned his back. Instantly
the ex-burglar was upon him, struck
him down with q terrible blow. and
stopped to possess himself of the pros
trate mans revolver. But Number Six.
ty-nine had seen the assault, and boldly
faced and seized the fcrocious convict.
Alarmed by pistol shots, the other
guards hurried in to find the two men
struggling fiercely over the insensible
body OF the keeper. The other prisoners
had retrcated TO their cells, but Sixty
nine, though severely wounded, chung
to his antagonist till the latter was dis
armed and fettered. The keeper and his
s1vior were both taken TO the hospital.
Joseph was about his duties in a couple
OF days, but Sixty-nine lowered between
life and death for as many weeks.
lie reused from the long thrall of in
sensibiiity and delirium to see the war
den at his side with paper bearing the
great seal of the commonwealth-to
know himself no more prison number,
but man, and his first feeble cry was:
denny! Tell Dennyi"
The orders are he's to be fetched In
the moment he shows his face" said
Guard Joseph, forgetting that the hand
he held belonged to a sick man, and
shaking it vigorously.
lie did not think il best to mention
that one Saturday had gone by without
Denny's appearance at the prison; and
when the second came and passed with
like result, it was hard telling which
was the more disapponted-GuaId 10.
seph or the invalid.
but it's terrible rough day." the
keeper assured Denny's father. Nigh
about take the little fellow off his pins
10 cross the bridge. Next weekll fetch
him"
Next week" did not fetch him."
however, though the day was fair.
Hes got tired of coming-no won.
der!" said the sick man, turning wear
lily upon his pillow.
Don't you believe that" urged Guard
Joseph, speaking more confidently
than he really felt. He'll be along mex
week, sure"
Privately, Guard Joseph determined
that if the lame boy did not then APP
pear he would go in search of him.
The fourth Saturday came-a lovely.
mild spring day. Guard Joseph began
making trips to the gate at an absurdly
early hour. Behold! as he swung il
cTen the third or fourth time, there
stood boy, leaning against the prison
wall.
"Whoopee!" cried the keeper delight
edly. Come right along in, sonny.
Where've you been all these weeks
Your fathers crazy to see you"
Then he saw that it was not Denny,
but the older lad who had accompanied
him that first morning; and Guard Jo-
seph said afterward that he felt as if
some one had "dowsed" him into tn >
river
where's your mate?" he demanded.
Hes Dead" answered the boy,
mournfully.
"Dead?" echoed Guard Joseph.
"Yes; and | wish you'd tell his father
that we couldn't hardly keep him in bed
observation-disclosures he'd think it was
Saturday and want to go across the
river. i must go. Daddy amt got no.
body but me- he kept a-sayin'; and
about the very last thing: Tell Daddy
I've come You'll tell him, won't YOU
nister?'
Give me ten days in the dungeon
first" said Guard Joseph. "The Lord
help the mani Somebody'll have to tell
him, s'pose."
The boys eyes filled. Denny was a
good kid" he said, and went away rub
bing his coat sleeve across his face.
Guard Joseph went straight to the
warden. mo, SIR" said that official
promptly; mo, sir; | simply can't. I'd
rather lose months salary than take
that news to Menly. Let the parson do
it, It's more in his line"
So it was the parson who bore the
tiGings, and when the interview was
over the good man looked as if he had
had q weeks illness.
When Horace Menly, free man and
citizen once more by the governors
grace, left the hospital, he asked Guard
Joseph to go outside of the prison with
him.
"Will you show me where" He
choked over the name, but Joseph un.
derstood, and silently pointed out the
spot where he had so often seen the
lame boy waiting patiently for the
opening of the gate.
Standing in the place, Meniy took
off his cap and lifted his pale face to-
ward the sky-blue, for it was the Sab.
bath day.
"My little Denny" he muttered
brokenly, my faithful little lad" He
leaned his head against the gray wall,
and across the river floated the sound OF
the church-bells, like his chld's voice
"a lling him home -Youth's Com M piOn