Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-05-11

they've got secrotod under there. |
shouldn't be surprised TO find a whisky
still i'm full blast, or a complete gam
bling outGt-dash. dash 'em TO dash
and dashnation Send for carpenter.
sergeant
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, and with little cNcrtion ripped
il off the other posts. Then every body
held his breath minute, stared. and
small Majority swore. So far from It's
being open TO cats, cans and rubbish.
the space ON that side was filled solid
with damp, heavy sea sauC-a vertical
wall extending from floor TO ground.
Canker almost ran around 10 the oppo-
site side and had a big plank torn of
there. Within was a wall as damp,
solid and straight as that first discoy-
cred, and so, when examined. were the
other two sides provided. Cankcr's face
was a sturdy and the board gazed and
was profoundly happy.
At last the colonel exploded:
by Jupiter! They haven't got away
at all. then. There isn't a flaw i'm the
sand wall anywhere. 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 prisoners-all their
bedding-every blessed thing they've
got. ] want TO examine that floor"
Most Of the 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 clothing and
furniture was showed out Of the room.
One member Of the board and one only
failed 10 enter with his associates-a
veteran captain who read much war
literature and abhorrcd Canker. To the
surprise Of the sentry he walked de-
liberatcly over to the fence, climbed il
and presently began poking about the
wooden curb that ran along the road,
making a low reyetment or retaining
wall for the earth, cinders and gravel
that, distributed over the sand, had
been hopefully designated a sidewalk
by the owners Of the tract. Presently
he came sauntering back, and both SEN
tries within easy range would have
sworn he was chuckling. Canker
greeted him with customary asperity.
What do you mean, sir, by absent
ing yourself from this investigation
wnen you must nave known 1 was with
the board and giving it the benefit of
the information | 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 Canker.
Their tunnel. sir It's Libby on a
small scale over again. They must
have been at 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
flooring with the toe of his boot and
placidly continued: IF you'll be good
enough to let the men pry this up you
may understand"
And when pried up and lifted away
snugly fitting trap door about two
feet square - there yawned beneath
it, 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 cracker-boXes. Now, if
you don't mind straddling a fence, sir,
I'll show you the other end" said the
captain, imperturbably leading the
way, and Canker, half-dazed yet wholly
in command of his stock of blasphemy,
followed. At the curb. in the midst Of
a lot of loose hay from he bales dumped
there three days before, the leader dis
lodged with his sword the top Of a cloth
ing box that had been thickly covered
with sand and hay-and there was the
outlet. Easy as rolling off log,
colonel" said old Cobb, with sar-
castle grin. This could all be done
without a man you've blamed and ar
rested being a whit the wiser. They
sawed panel out of the floor scooped
the sand out of this tunnel, banked it
solid against the weather boarding in
side, filled 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 men.
Those three thieves who got away were
old hands. The other men in the guard
house were only mild offenders, except
Morton. Course he was glad of the
chance to go with 'em. l s'pose youn
release my sergeant and those sentries
now"
III do nothing of the kind" an
swered Canker, red with wrath, land
your suggestion is disrespectful TO your
commanding officer. When l want your
advice I'll ask for it,
"Well, Mr.. Gray will be relieved TO
learn of this anyhow. / suppose / may
tell him. hazarded the junior mem
Der, mischievously.
"Mr. Gray be. Mr.. Gray has
everything to answer fort" shouted the
fingered colonel eft was he who tele-