The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-08-25
xMisIellanepus
IN DEATHS PROTECTION.

A heaVy, wet sea log. out OF which
guns Numbered.
Convict escaped" muttered the
people in the village, most of them
with hope that he might get clear
away.
On the outskirts of one of the villages
| gloomy looking house, standing in
its own grounds, and surrounded by
ornamental clumps of evergreens. 1t
| had been occupied now for some
mouths by straDgers--a widow and her
son; none seemed to know them, they
had no visitors-they were, TO the
country folk, a mystery.
II must be near him, Chris, i" was the
widows plea to her remaining son. II
know he is innocent, and like to feel
that he is not far away-and yet how
fart
But, though the convict in the great
prison was entered in the books as
EXham, the widow and her son were
known as Murray.
The gloom thickened as night ap-
preached; darkness would soon settle
over all.
Through the driving mist, which was
ed the house. For the last ten minutes
he had been lying beneath the drip
ping shelter of a Portugal laurel. Now,
at the sound of distant voices. he lad
crept from his hiding place. He 10. k
ed rounG in despair. Through the
thickening gloom he could just discern
the house. Above the lower windows
a heavy string course ran; it gave him
an idea; there were but q lew more
minutes of daylight left; if he could
climb up there he would be safe for
the next eight hours or SO. He thought
it seemed possible; there was a water
spout, and some fairly stout vines of
Virginia creeper. 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 in time.
I'm here you say, eh? p
"Ay, measter! l sin nun bout
quarter hour agone J"
"In here, men Spread yourselves -
"Right, oh ~
1.-TWO of you to back. Keep sharp
lookout now! You stay along % me,
Thompson W
A pealing ring at the door bell, then
silent waiting.
The man OH the ledge listened, hold.
ing his breath.
Now, young woman, who lives
here ~
Mrs. Murray, officer-will you kind
ly speak soft -
Then d mans voice.
whats this-what do you want ~
want enough sir. One of the con-
victs escaped this afternoon and was
ira ced here"
Here ~
Yes, sir-seen only a few minutes
ago. Unjust come in, please, and search
tha house."
THAT you can't do-my mother lies
dangerously ILL.,"
afraid we must, though"
Then another voice."
"Ah, Sergeant Makepeace Look
here, it's impossible, you know. |
shan't allow you in without a search
| warrant. l wouldn't answer for my
patients life. Mrs. Murray is danger
ously ill-dyipg, fear"
well, DR.. Stewart, you see, sir, it's
| serious business-and you a magis-
trate."
"Yes, Makepeace; and for that
reason tell Won to get a warrant-if
you can. Why, man, the prisoner
wouldn't be such a fool as to come
here"
II don't know, sir-they generally
run into some silly place or o:her-
besides, he was een'-
"Ah, well-you'll have to stay out
side the door, aud that's all about it.
e. Lol
know what to do with him."
The doctor could not have explained
| what made him hesitate in the middle
| of his speech. An absurd ghost of an
/ idea had crossed his mind that the
wretched convict might have hidden
| there after all.
The sergeant and his men turned re-
| luctantly away as the door closed soft
ly behind them. Night had fallen,
| and the thick driZZle had made it dark
as a grave.
Hell be off sure as a gun. Well
search the outhouses and keep watch
anyhow. This rain hasn't been falling
long enough to soften the ground.
There'll be no tracks to follow. I'll
get a warrant, though"
| AS they walked away the hunted
creature on the ledge drew breath OF
relief, and, letting his head lie on his
arms, heard through the silence of the
night the soft hiss of the rain as it fell
all around him. At any rate, he had
time for consideration.
For half an hour he lay there in the
darkness, his head buried in his arms
perfectly secure, and thankful for the
breathing space. He was thinking
hard what he should do next. The
soft, warm summer drizzle envelopeG
him and melted him to the skin. Al
last it began to chill him. In discom
fort he raised from his warm place
and shivered. A ray of light shot ou
into the darkness in front of him.
window He crept toward it, then
cautiously raising his head, he peepec
in. An empty bedroom-a mans room
by the garments hanging on the door
He might climb in and steal a suit o
clothes 1t was easement wiz dow
and Unmatched. He h. d almost screw
ed his nerve up to this venture wheI
he heard voice; another window hat
been opene d further along. He shranl
against the wall. The voices ceased
''I'll see who they are" he said, ant
, again he crept onward. With iniinit
/ care he raised his head, and found h
: could look right into the room past TIL
edge of the blind. Two men stooC
with their backs toward him. The,
were looking down upon some one il