Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-03-22
CONVICT Al.
BT ROBERT wIzIARDk

to watch the body in the outer dor
mitory; at the second change OF
guard they were observed to be sit
ting at the head and foot, with thei-
heads bowed, thinking or sleeping.
The solemn death Ca ndle cast a weird
light over the long, stark form Gov
cred with a rough Misunderstanding
monStrous. uncanny shadows back
from the two Watchers. All was quiet
but for the footballs OF the guard as
he paced monot0nously mp and down
The passage outside. never varying
fraction, never halting.
On account of the good behavior of
the deceased, No. Al. his body was to
be shipped to Moscow, as a telegram
had ordered, there TO he given TO the
aged mother of the political offender.
When the night had worn on to its
noon, the larger of the two men, he
of the gray. close-cropped hair,
looked up and stared long into the
candle fame. then nciselessly went
over to his companion and laid his
hand lightly on his shoulder; the
the other stated and looked up wildly,
hi eyeS; going involuntarily to the OBJ
jet before him, slowly turning to-
ward No. 425 in mute inquiry.
care you awake, brother?" asked
the one standing.
"Aye-what is it?'
as your head clear-can you I'M
derstand me--something Important"
What can be important to me?"
with bitterness.
The elder, No. AZ, stood a moment,
chen letting his hand rest on the 9th
cr's shoulder, paused.
How long have you been here,
brother?" he asked.
Six years, as you well know"
AYE, six years; l have been here
twenty-five, mark that
"Well?" H..
"WeIl-I shall leave today" -
How" {M.
g and you shall aid me-"
''To escape?"
aye, call it that.
The blank look came again ON the
younger face. He did not believe be-
cause he did not understand.
Listen. comraGle; you and | have
been friends from the first-him, as
well''-as he indicated the still form.
That which | have planned while
sitting there by his side it is my re-
solve to carry out: he'll help. and I
am sure you will. \ man may as well
die as to sit inert when opportunity
comes"
"Go cn;" there was hopeless note
in his voice.
What would you have me do-the
guard?"
mo: not a finger shall you lift
nor will l."
You are daft
Little comrade. qufck-before day
break all must be in order. Let me
make it clear" and the two talked
low. almost in whispers: gradually as
the details unfolded. convict &C
caught some of the spirit of the other.
"You know that am here for a crime
which | did not commit. something
which / did not know of. yet it seems
nay, / swear-that | was the victim
of an occultist who made me the tool
for his schemes: being subject to
catalepsy. | was ain easy prey to such
as he-enough-my infirmity or SEN
SitivenesS shall now be my deliver
ance, as it has been my undoing."
Are you sure of YOURSELF?
aye, sure-so sure that l will ven
ture all on the one chance"
But now
Look" he turned down the cloth
which covered No. Al. pointed to his
gray hair. and traced his profile with
his finger: with the same gesture.
standing between No. 40 and the light.
he called his attention to the rough
resemblance.
Then you will"
"And then, this" dvesting the
sleeper of the decent suit of gray,
which was without the hateful prison
Buttons and the white muslin num-
bers; next, quietly slipping off his
own garments. he assumed those he
had taken off No. Al.
so, that much is done-a fit, eth?
Come help me dress him" No. 40 be-
gan to see more clearly into his in
tertions. Your part comes later. I
take our friend, now convict AZ, like
this, set him in this chair like THAT,
me lays his arms on the table thus,
and his head rests on them so; and
the half is DONE"
No. 40 was startled at the resem-
bhance; his companion continued as
coolly as though demonstrating a
child's problem in numbers.
81 lay myself down in his place;
SOu tdhe your Scdl, dnOuHeE lrdCLlOu
is DONE"
""Tis but begun!"
you will see: a half hours quiet
and presto am off for forty-eight
hours; they find convict No. AZ sitting
there and try to arouse him-tfind that
another funeral must be held; they
question you: you tell them | was un-
well, but quiet; that once l gave a
great sigh; they will surn.ise that
that was the moment of my death
the rest is simple-\o. AZ will be in
tered at once in the field, and olLr
friend will have served his turn. Dc
you underestimate"
81 do; there is not much for me IL
do"
Bat one thing-manage to be one
Of the bea rers To take me to the rail
way, slip wreath beneath the box
lid. and pierce hole or two near the
head IL you can: do what you can
and nv blessing be yours"
You are a wonderful man." said
the other. taking his hand
"No. not that. but bold one for
freedoms sake"
''But IL Won fail?"-
."T cannot fail. Say good-by to me
friend, and leave the matter with
God"
Silently the two wrung hands; the
candle was burning low, and the fig.