The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24


And wait till morning for IL to get here? No!
I'll get it-somehow."
And that he did get II somehow was current
rumor on the following day for the sentries on
the guardhouse side OF camp swore that a
closed carriage drove down from McAlsteI
street for all the world as though II had jus,
come out Of the park, and rolled on past the
back Of the guardhouse, the driver loudly
whistling Killarney" so that II could be hea I'd
above the crunchng Of the wheels through the
rough, loose rock that covered the road, and that
carriage drew up not hundred yards away.
while the Lieutenant was out visiting sentries,
and presently they saw him coming back along
the walk, stopping TO question each sentry as
to his orders Then he returned and inquired
II all was quiet among the prisoners, and then
went and put out his light in the tent reserved
for the officer Of the guard and once more left
his post briefly informing the sergeant Of the
guard he was going TO the officer Of the day. Then
il was ascertained that he had visited half dozen
places in search OF that veteran captain, and
appeared much disturbed because he could moi
find him. In half an hour he was back, asking
exctedly Of the sentry in rear of the guardhouse
II carriage had come that way. II had, said
the sentry, and was waiting down the street,
Gray hurried in the direction indicated, was gone
perhaps three minutes. and returned, saying
mat the sentry must DC mistaken, tndt no car
rage was there. But the sentry reiterated his
statement that II had been there and had been
waiting for some time, and must have disap
peared while he was temporarily around at the
opposite side Of the building. This about
IL p NJ
Then when Gray appeared at reveille Morton
had disappeared.
The question that agitated the entire range
Of regimental camps was: How did those fellows
break away from the prison Of .the-tcenthT
Then came clue and then-dscovery.
BY order of Lieutenant ~ Colonel Canker a board
of officers had been convened to investigate the
matter and after questioning everybody whom
"Squeers" had already badgered with his asser-
tons, threats and queries, they went TO the guard
house and began a thorough inspection of the
premises The wooden building stood in the
midst OF a waste of sand blown in from the shore
line by the strong wind. 1t was perched on
something like a dozen stout posts driven into the
soft soil and then the space between the floor
level and the sand was heavily and stoutly boarded
in-thick planks being used. Between the floor
and the sand was space Of about eighteen inches
vertical. and dozen men could have sprawled
therein-lying at full leng,h-but TO escape
would have required the connivanco Of one or
more OF the sentrics surrounding the building
and the ripping off OF one more of the planks.
In his keen anxiety Canker accompanied the
Board on its tour of Investigations thing the
Board did not at all like-and presently. as was
his won't began running things his own way.
II had been found useless TO question the soldiers
of the guard. As for the prisoners most of them
reckless devil-may-care rascals, they grnncd
or eered suggestively but had nothing to tell
Well have this boarding ripped off," said
Canker decsivcly, "and what they've got
secretcd under there. | shouldn't be surprised
to find whiskey still In full blast a complete
gambling outft-dash. dash'em TO dash and
destination! Send for carpenter, Sergeant"
The carpenter came, and he and two three
Of the guard laid hold of one end Of the plank
after It's nails were drawn. and with little exertion
ripped it of the other posts Then everybody
held his breath minute, stared. and small
majority swore. So far from its being open to
cats cans and rubbish the space on that side
was filled solid with damp, hcavy1pea sand-a
vertical wall extending from floor 10 ground.
Canker almost ran around TO the opposite side and
had big plank torn of there. Within was a
wall damp. solid and straight as that first dis
covered. and so, when examined, were the other
two sides provided. Cankcr's face was a study
and the board gazcd and was profoundly happy
At last the Colonel exploded
by Jupiter. They haven't got away at all,
then, There isn't flaw in the sand wall any
where They must be hiding about the middle
now. Come on. gentlemen" and around he trotted
TO the front door Sergeant" he cried, get out
all the prsoners-all their bedding every blessed
thing they've got l want to examine that floor"
Most of the guardhousc birds were out chopping
wood. and Canker danced in among the few re-
naming loading them with bedding belonging
to their fellows until every item of clothing and
| furniture was showed out of the room. One mem
Der of the board and one only failed TO enter with
his associates veteran Captain who read much
war literature and abhorrcd Canker. To the sur
prise OF the sentry he walked deliberately over to
the fence climbed it and presently began poking
about the wooden curb that ran along the road
making low rcvetment or retaining wall for the
earth cinders and gravel that distributed the
| sand. had been hopefully designated a sidewalk
by the owners OF the tract Presently he came
sauntcrng back, and both sentries within easy
range would have sworn he was chuckng Can.
ker greeted him with customary asperity.
| What do you mean, sir, by abscntng yourself
| from this investigation, when you must have
| known was with the Board and giving II the bene-
| fit of the information had gathered"
Il was merely expcditng matters, Colonel While
you were looking for where they went in was find,
| ing where they got out"
Went in what? Got out Of what?' snapped
| Canker.
Their tunnel sir It's Libby on small scale
owe r again. They must have been at work at il
at least ten days" And he spoke, calmly
| ignoring Canker and letting his eyes wander ovcl
| the floor, the veteran battalion commander saun
| tered across the room. stirred up slightly pro
jectng bit OF flooring with the toe of his boot nno
| placdly continued. IF you'll be good enough tC
| let the men pry this up you may understand"
| And when pried UP and lifted away a snugly
| fitting trap door about two feet square there
| yawned beneath il, leading slantwise downward in
the direction of the street. tunnel through the soft
| yielding sand braced and strengthened here anc
| there with lids and sides Of crackerbo2es
| Now, II you don't mind stradling fence, sir
| I'll show you the other end" said the Captain, i'm
| perturbably, leading the way, and Cankcr, half
dazcd yet wholly in command of his stock of bias
| phcmy followed - u
| At the curb, right in the midst Of lot Of loost
hay from the bales dumped there three days before
the leader dislodged with his sword the top Of {
| clothing box that had been thickly covered with
| sand and hay--and there was the outlet
| Easy rolling of log, Colonel" said ole
| Cohh with a sarcastic Grin This could all h,