Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-03
At THE PISTOLS POINT
BY F. W. HORNINa.
Copyright. 1897. by E. W. Horninr)


Written for The Evening Star.
The church bells were ringing for even
song. cracking across the snow with short.
harsh strokes. though the frost had
eaten into the metal and made it hoarsc
Outside, the scene had all the CHEEKY
sparkle. all the peaceful glamor of an old
fashioned Christmas card. There was the
snow-covered village, there the church
spire coated all down one side. the chancel
windows standing out like oil paintings. the
silver sickle of moon. the ideal matched
cottage. with warm. red light breaking
from the open door, and the peace of
heaven seemingly pervading and envaIo,ing
an Yet on earth we know that this peace
IS not; and the door of the ideal cottage
haa pnen opened, and was shut by crush
FUSED her pennies for the plate with a
curse which followed her into the SNOW
Ana TIE oior prevailing beneath the that h.
ca roof was one of hot brandy and water.
bacCo ' ~
Old Fitch was over sixty years of aga
ana the woman on her way to church was
MS third wife; she had borne him no child.
noI ndd Fltcn son or daughter living who
would set foot inside his house He was n
singular old man, selfish and sly and disso-
iute, yet not greatly disiked beyond his
own door. and withal miracle Of health
-
hearts content. but he was never drunk
nor was Sundays bottle ever known TO lose
him the soft side of MONDAYS bargain Nv
trade he was game dealer, contractor
money lender and mortgage of half the
village; IN appearance, a man of medium
height, with bow legs and immense round
shoulders, hard mouth, shrewd eyes and
why lair as white the snow outside
The bells ceased. and for moment there
was no sound in the cottage but the song
of the kettle or the hob. Then Fitch reach
ed for the brandy bottle, and brewed HIM
self another steaming bumper AS he
watched the sugar dissolve. a few notes
from the organ reached his ears. and the
old man smiled cyniC ally as he slipped and
smacked his lips. At his elbow his tobacco
pipe and the weekly newspaper were rang
ed with the brandy bottle, ard he soon
in enjoyment of all three. over the paper
Fitch had already fallen asleep after Il
particularly hearty midday meal. but he
had not so much as glanced at the most
entertaining pages, and he found them
more entertaining now than usual There
was scandal in high life running to sew
eral columns. and subdividcd into para
graphs labeled with the most pregnant
headlines: the old mans mouth watered as
he determined TO leave this item to the
last. 1T was not the only one of interest;
there were several suicides, ar admirable
execution, a burglary. and-what? Fitch
frownel as his quick eye came tumbHng
down paragraph: then all ut once he
gasped out an oath and sat very still. The
pipe in his mouth went out. the brandy
and water cooling in his glass; you
might have heard them singing the psalms
in the church hard by; bui the old man
heard nothing, saw nothing, thought OF
nothing hut the brief paragr ton before his
eyes.
ESCAPE FROM PORTLAND
One Convict Killed, Another Wounded, But
a Third Gets Clean Away.
THE greatest excitement was caused at
WEYMOUTH yesterday morning on the re-
port being circulated that several con-
victs had effected their escape from the
grounds of the Portland convict establish
n.ut There appears TO have been a reg
ularly concerted plan on the part Oh the
pris onerS working in one OF the outdoor
gangs 10 attempt 10 regain thelr NbertE, as
Yesterday three convictS bolted simuitane-
ousIv from their party. They were liz
stantlv challenged to step, but, as the or
der was lot complied with, che wariers
firal several shots. one Of the runaways
fell dead. and another was so badly wound
al That he Immediately recaptured
and is now lying in precarious condi-
tion. The third man. named Henry Cater
mole. continued his course, despite sue
ce>siOn of shots. and WAS soon beyond
rargc Of the rifles He was pursued for
some distance. but was ultimately lost TO
view in the thick fog which prevailed. \
hue and cry was raised, and search parties
continued TO scour the neiEhborhood long
after dark. but UP to d late hour his recap
ture had not been effected. Cattermole
VIII be remembered as the man who was
Sentenced TO death some years ago for the
murder of Lord Wolboro's samekeeper,
near Bury ST. Edmund's but who after
ward received the benefit of the doubt in
VOWED in the production OF a wad which
did not lit the convict's gun. In spite of
the successful efforts then made on his be-
Eaf- however, the authorities at Port
larl describe CatterEo!e as most daring
criminal. and one who Is only too likely
10 prove danger TO the community as
long as he remains at large
Fitch stared stupidity at the words for
several minutes, after he had read them
through; it was the last sentence which
at leTgth fell into focus with his seeing
eye. Henry Cattermole at large, How
long had he been at large? II was a Sun
day raper. but the Saturday edition. and
this was among the latest news. But Ii
said yesterday morning and that meant
Friday morning last. SO Henry Catterrnols,
had been al large since then, and this was
the Sunday evening. and that made nearly
three days altogether. Another question
now forced itself upon the old mans mind.
How Ear was it from Portland prison-tc
-this-rOOm?
Like most rustics of his generation. old
tltch had no spare knowledge of geog-
raphy; he knew his own country side and
the road to London, but that was all.
Portland ne knew to be on the other side
or London; II might be 10 miles might be
2p: but this he felt in his shuddering
deep SLOW or no snow. Henry Cattermole
was either reCaptured or else on his WAY
10 that cottage at that moment
The feeling sucked the blood from the
olG man : vessels, even as his lips drain
ed the tunlbler he had filled with 50 light
a heart. Then for a little he had snur,ois
courage. He leaned back in his chair and
laughed aloud. but II sounded strangely in