The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-04-03
CHAPTER VIL.-CoNrNUED.

CHAPTER NII-CONTINUED.
The carpenter came, and he and two
or three of the guard laid hold of one
END of the plank after its nails were
drawn. AID with little eXertiOn ripped
II of The other posts. Then everybody
held his breath minute, stared. and a
small ma iority swore. So far from its
being open 10 eats. cans and rubbish.
the space on that side was filed solid
with damp, heavy sea sand-a vertical
wall extending from floor 10 ground.
Canker almost ran around 10 the oppO-
site side and had a big plank torn off
there. Within was a wall as damp,
solid and straight rs that first discov-
cred. and so, when examined. were the
other two sides provided. Canker's face
was z sturdy. and the board gazed and
was profoundly happy.
At last the colonel exploded;
by Jupiter, They haven't got away
al all. then, There isn't d flaw in the
sand wall anywhere. They must be
hiding about the middle now. Come on.
gentlemen" and around he trotted 10
the front door. Sergeant" he cried.
get Out all the prisoners-an their
bedding every blessed thing they've
got i want 10 examine that floor
Most Of ihe guardhouse birds" were
out chOpping wood, and Canker danced
IN among the few remaining. loading
them with bedding belonging 10 their
fellows until every item Of clothingaud
furniture was showed out Of the room
One member Of the board and one only
failed Il enter with his associates
veteran captain who read much war
literature and abhorred Canker. To the
surprise Of The sentry he walked de-
hberately over 10 the fence. climbed il
and presently began poking about the
wooden curb that ran along the road.
making low reyetment or retaining
wall for the earth. cinGers and gravel
that, distributed over the sand. had
been hopefully designated q sidewalk
by the owners Of The tract. Presently
he came sauntering back. and both sen
tries within easy range would have
sworn be was chuckling. Canker
greeted him With customary asperity.
What do YOU mean, sir. by absent
ing yourself from this investigation.
when you must have known was with
the board and giving il the benefit Of
lie information 1 had gathered?"
Il was merely expediting matters,
colonel. While you were looking for
where they went in / was finding where
they got out"
Went in what? Got out OF what?''
snapped Canler.
Their tunnel, sir. It's Libby on a
small scale over again. They must
have been al work at il at least ten
days" And as he spoke. calmly ignor-
ing Canker and letting his eyes wander
over the floor, the veteran battalion
commander sauntered across the room.
Stirred up a slightly projecting bit of
2oOring with the toe of his boot and
placidly continued: If you'll be good
enough 10 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
81. leading slantWise downward In the
direction of the street, a tunnel through
the soft yielding sand. braced and
strengthened here and there with lids
and sides of efhcker-boxes- Now. if
Won don't mind straddling 4 fence, sir,
ia show you the other end said the
captain. imperturbably leading the
way. and Canker, half-dazed vet wholly
10 command of his stock Of blasphemy.
followed. At the curb. in the midst OF
lot Of loose hay from the bales dumped
there three days before. the leader dis
lodged with his sword the top of cloth
ing box that had been thickly covered
with sand and hay-and there was The
outlet. Easy as rolling of a log.
colonel" said old Cobb. with a sar-
castle grin. This could all be done
without a man you've blamed ard ar
rested being q whit The wiser They
sawed a panel out of the foo-. scoopcd
the sand out Of this tunnel. banked il
solid against the weather boarding IT.
side, filed up the whole space. pretty
near, but ran their tunnel under fence
and sidewalk. crawled down the gut
Ter 10 the next block out Of sight Of the
sentries, then walked away free mer.
Those three thieves who got away were
old hands. The other men in the guard
house were only mild offenders, except
Morton. 'Coerse he was glad o. the