Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-07-21
CHAPTER I1L-CoNr1NrEn.
[CoPYRIGHT, 1921

NOW 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 a blind to get in
here. 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. 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.
81 know your whole history" re-
piled Kent ''and | sympathize with
you. But sympathy has nothing to do
with my actions / want your help.
You are the best mcchanician in the
country. have work for you-let
that suffice If they do not change
your cell within five daysyou 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
! 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 n
little syringe You arc to gather the
mortar in this handkerchief and | will
take it away when ! next see 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 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 to make the
descent, | have made the measure.
ment of all the spaces outside, watched
the system Of guard rclief-and will
furnish you plan for every foot OF
your way
Laport was turning the tool over and
inspecting it with a worllman's ad.
miration. Kent continued: you are
to escape by the window. It is twelve
feet above the laundry she'd The
window bar is iron, not even case
hardened. You arc 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 cast 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 will take care of YOU. I'll
give you further directions tomorrow.
You must clearly understand that tC
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. I 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 lie saw
that the prospect of freedom hat
awakened fash of interest in the old
mau's eve.
what do You want me to do
asked Laport, ''that YOU take all thi
troublc?"
81 want to employ your genius,
said Kent, "aud pay you handsomely
II You don't like the cmplovmoDt. yol
are at liberty TO 60 and do as yol
please. But YOU will not object 20 il
There is no time 70 discuss that now
] viii tell the governor that am get
ting the information ] want from You
] have already invented a plausibl
story. He win let me come back her
tomorrow DO your work tonight s.
that when ! bring you the tools yo.