The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-11
In Deaths Protection.

| ~ HS"NS' Wet SEA 10Y, out OF WHICH
| guns thundered.
Convict escaped" muttered the
people in the villages. most Of them
with a hope that he might get clear
away.
ON the outskirts Of one of the villages
gloomy hooking house. standing in
its own grounds, and surrounded by
ornamental clumps of evergreens. IL
had been occupied now for some
months by strangers-a widow and her
son; none seemed TO know them they
had no visitors-they were, TO the
country folks, mystery.
| II must be near him, Chris" was the
| widows plea TO her remaining son. Il
know he is innocent. and / like To feel
| that he is not far away-and yet how
| far"
But though the convict in ths great
prison was entered in the books as Ex-
ham, the widow and her son were
known as Murray.
The gloom thickened as night APP
preached; darkness would soon settle
over all.
Through the driving mist which was
now turning TO rain. man approached
the mousse For the last ten minutes he
had been lying beneath the dripping
ssheRer OF Portugal laurel Now, al
the sound OF distant voices, hC had
crept from his hiding place. He Looked
around IN despair. Through the thi k
ening gloom he could discern the house.
Above the lower windows a heavy string
ne could pjust dicsern the house A bove
the lower windows a heavy string
course ran; IL gave him an idea; there
Were but few more minutes OF day
Hght leH, IL he could climb up there
ne would b. safe for the next eight
hours or So He thought it seemed pos
slDle; there was waterspout. and |
some fairly stout vines OF Virginia |
cfseper. The voices came nearer: he |
sprang forward and after a minute OF |
wild eXertion lay full length upon the |
stone ledge. painting for breath.
The voices were close by; he had been |
just i'm time
I'm here you saw him, eh?"
Ay' measter! | sin mum bout quar-
ter hour agone,"
In here, men! Spread yourselves."
Right. OH"
Two of you to back. Keep sharp
lookout now! You stay along o. me.
Thompson
a pealing ring at the door bell, then
silent waiting.
The man on the ledge listened hold
ng his breath
Nov, young woman. who lives
lere?"
Mrs Murray. officer-will you kindly
peak soft?"
Then "A mans voice.
What's this-what do YOU want?"
Want enough. sir. One of the CON
lets escaped this afternoon and was
raced here"
Here
Yes. sir-seen only few minutes
go. | must come in, please, and search
ne house"
That you can't do-my mother lies
vigorously ill.,"
Afraid we must, though"
Then another vioce.
"Ah, Sergeant Aakepeace, Look here
IS impossible, you know 1 shan't al
Nv you in without search warrant | |
.ouldnt answer for my patients life.
lrs. Murray lis dangerously ill--dying,
fear"
well. DR.. Stewart. you see sir, it's |
serious business-and you a magis- |
rate"
Yes. Makepeace: and for that rea-
on L tell you TO get "A warrant-if you
an. Why. man, the prisoner wouldn't |
e such a fool as TO come here
II don't know. sir-they generally |
ins into some silly place or other-be- ,
des. he was seen"--
'Ah. well-you'll have to stay ou.-
de the door. and that's all about it, |
we lind him inside, why-wc shall | v
now what TO do with him" +,
The doctor could not have explained |
hat made him hesitate in the middle
his speech. An absurd ghost of an | ,
ca had crossed his mind that the :
retched convict might have hidden
ter ALL
\ X
ctantly away IA the door closed soft
behind them. Night had fallen, and |
e thick drizzle made IL dark as a !,
ave.
Hell be off sure as a gun. Wen
arch the outhouses and keep a watch !
iyhow. This rain hasn't been fall u
& long enough TO soften the ground.
nere'll be no tracks to follow. I'll get
warrant, though" ~
AS they walked away the hunted a'
eature on tho ledge drew "A breath of
lief, and letting his head lie on his
ms, heard through the silence OF the ID
ght the soft hiss Of the rain as il fell
around him. At any rate he had w
ne for consideration.
For half an hour he Law there In tho pe
his mead buried i'm his arms
rfectly secure. and thankful for the hc
eath'ng space. He was thinking hard
lat ne should do next The soft. warm pa pa
MINER drizzle enveloped him and se
.lted him To- the skin. At last IL be-
n to chill him. In discomfort no eN
sed himself from his warm nlace sp
d shvered. \ ray of light shot out a.,
o the darkness IN front OF hbm-a
ndow! He crept toward il: then ro'
itiously raising his head, he peered es'
An empty BEDROOM mans room ,n'
the garments hanging on the door. se'
might climb In and steal a suit OF Wa Wa
thes' IL was easement wIndov hi,
unlatched. He had almost screwed =.
nerve up TO this venture when he
ru voice, another window had e@n @
n opened further along. He shronk sas
inst the wall. The voices ceased 10, ion,
III see who they are" he said. ana a..
In he crept onward. with initiate ..o'
he raised his head and found no 'ue
d look right into the room past the ~,
, OF the blind. Two men stood with ne
r backs toward him They were a,, a',a
ing down upon some ono an ~
They spoke I'm low murmurs -
ently the younger turned so that -,
side face came into view Tbe @ a'
sl.ss. s.attI |