The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-12-02

"Twant you, curse you'll" he savagely
replied as he came a step nearer.
~ am here. What is itY"
If ] seemed to be cool, such was far
from being the case, but my apparent cool
ness rather Disconnected the man. Had l
shouted for help had stood on my feet
or made move, he would have flung him.
self upon me and used the knife. / sim.
ply leaned back in my chair and looked at
him and spoke in even tones. He reached
for chair placed it opposite and sitting
down, with his elbows on the table, glared
at Inc and said.
"Yes, 1 escaped from Dartmoor this
morning, and no doubt they'll have me
back before noon tomorrer, but when they
come for ne they'll find your dead body.
That's Why wanted to give 'em the slip
to kill you. AS for getting clear off
without money or friends, ! can't hope to
do it. You remember me, governor-Bill
Watson, No. 4,S20-in for 20 years."
"NO, l don't recall you.
"Oh, you don't! You ordered the lash for
81 many of the poor devils-you were so
bent on breaking the spirit of so many of
the gang that ye don't happen to remem.
Der me. l remember you, though l had
so many favors at your hands that swors
never to forget you. and l never shall. /
went to prison thinking to do my best but
as held my head up they said was too
airy and must be broken down. ! was
punished again and again, but because
would not bend you gave orders to break
me. They starved me, loaded me with
chains, dashed Inc till they dared not strike
another blow. Twas told that you rubbed
your hands and laughed over it, and /
swore | would live to escape, and escape
only to drive knife into your heart I
have waited for ~ long years, but l am
here at last.
"You are mistaken In your man." I
said as he finished. "Colonel Hampton
used to be governor of the prison. but
am not he
Don't say that to mel" be almost
shouted. "D'you think ] could ever forget
the face Of the man who gave orders that
] should be beaten like dog beaten to
death if did not give inY"
but you are mistaken. The colonel
and are about the same age and build,
and some people have seen facial resem-
blance, but you are all wrong"
Course you, moi" he Kissed. "My eyes
are not W hat they were before l was bro
ken by your orders, but they tell me that
you are the nan / want! I'm going tc
make you suffer-Ill kill you by inches!
Trying my best to repress any sign Of
fear und continuing to speak as l had be
gum told him my name and address. II
L. l,Nt IN mn
i by good fortune an epistle from COlone
Hampton him self. l had my Cardcase
my initials on my watch case. The mai
. was obstinate, but he had to believe. III
, could have nothing against me, but in hi
, ! disappointment at being baffled of the re
= yenge he had looked forward to so long h
= would have murdered ne had given hin
q provocation. For a time he had it il
mind, believe, to do for me, but afte
. awhile he grew calmer, and then said:
. "If they used you too roughly in prison
l am sorry for it. Now that you are out
y / hope you may get safely away. 70
4 came here to kill the colonel. He is ne
q here and may not return for three or fou
n days. You should be moving"
o but where to-" he demanded, with
e great cath. ~ am in convict dress, hay
y no money, no friends to hide me. new
4 thought to get beyond this came
n kill the governor and let 'em hang ne II
N it, Is his wife here? Has he childS"
No ale has neither wife nor child. YC
n were sent to prison for heinous Grim
q You have long been a convict. may {
NJ further and say that believe you to
n. as wicked as man ever gets, but w
ne give you a square deal "
N "As to how? No nonsense now to trit
nm me. or it Il be the worse for you"
q. You can keep your word as well as t
II next man. Give Inc your word that "
an will not betray me, and I'll help you
" get off, "
Mt "If you are setting a snare for me, tn
look out for yourself, " he said after loo
N. ing at me for a moment
- l had an even e1OO in my wallet
-, made an even divide with him. VIII
,ot he had the money in his fingers,
DIV laid away the knife for the first time a
-, apreared to believe in me. / had brouP
he down a rough and ready suit for hunt
q 7 and fishing. l took this from the val
I'D and told the convict to exchange suits.
Tow walked over and stood by the fire while
,rs did So My suit was tight fit for hi
ID but would do. had no shoes to give hi
The but passed into the coloncl's room
,on found an old pair in closet which
Cd could get his feet into. To these ado
so9 q cap which had seen its best days, &
rId when the change was complete the
victs identity was gone. lie gathered
+ho his cast eff uniform and tossed each G
Vim ment into the hearth fire, and by and
mo-, there was nothing left to trace him by.
mo gave him pair of scissors and told hin
IN clip his shaggy eyebrows, and when
mrs was completed put a strip of court p
9 7 ter along his cheek as if to hide a scra
do. and felt sure he was so disguised thai
nod could pass safely. Where should be g
, p asked. left that matter to him, but 6
,Iyo him a hint as to where he might lie b.
!, 90 safety for three or four days. When
Inc was quite ready, we tiptoed down sta
90 and let him out of the front door 1
a,,d he took my hand and said:
NV "God bless you, sir, but 1 wouldn't
,hay believed that one man would do the
thot fer another. / only hope the time
ard come when can repay you.
ont So he passed out into the night and
ind gone and nm hour later Hampton
10 70 was aroused by band Of police lool