Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-04-21

doubly sure, a guard was stationed out
side his prison walls.
He's safe enough there" said Bill
Green, after he had given the place Q
close inspection. There hain't no chance
O. his gittin' out till we see ft to let him
out"
"Hain't. hey? Well see about that!'
| chuckled Samanthy to herself.
At last silence fell upon the scene.
But to more than one beneath Mr.. Por-
ter's roof sleep did not come that night.
CHAPTER XVI.
As may readily be imagined, Dick felt
little like sleeping after the exciting
events Of the past few hours.
He sat alone in the semi.darkness Of
the little room in which he was confined,
listening to the tramp Of men outside aud
now and then the sound Of voices.
Then these sounds died out, and he
seemed to be the only waking thing left
| In existence.
Waking? He felt as IL he could never
sleep again. Until he was left by him.
| self. and the confused hubbub OF angry
and excited voices had been smothered by
his prison walls, he had been unable to
think cohcrently. True, he had had a
vague sense Of his danger. but he had not
realized it in all its terrible clearness.
But now, In the silence Of the milk
house, II came home to him.
In the morning he was to be tried for
a crime the penalty OF which was death
In the settlers code Of justice.
hut would they find him guilty?
Taking the evidence against him into
consideration could there he any doubt
Of what the verdict would BET None at
oil.
But II they'll give me half chance, I
can prove my innocence" he thought. II
can prove where was at the time Of the
last theft. But I doubt II they'll give
me q chance. cant explain about the
knife, and Bill Green's story about seeing
me making inscriptions on the cotton
wood will tell against me. I'm In hard
luck. II I could only get out Of this!'
he cried, starting up and looking about
him, In sudden desperation. II can't
stay here to he taken ont and hung like
a dog who has been caught stealing
sheep"
lie went to the window and looked out
into the murky gloom of the night.
There was no chance Of escape in that
direction.
He turned his attention to the door. It
was a solid one, Of oak.
II am getting foolish" be said. making
his way back through the darkness In the
room to the block on which he had been
sitting. III could get through the door,
l couldn't get away. because half a dox-
On men are watching outside. There's
no use in trying to get away. I have
got to wait for the morning, and take
the chances Of what may happen. / won.
der what Mamie thinks Of It,"
Poor Mamie!
AT that very moment she was wetting
her pillow with jremorscful tears.
"Oh, they'll hang him. she kept say.
Ing over and over to herself. II know
they will! And / know he's innocent,
and ! shall never see him again to tell
him how sorry ! am for using him as I
have. Poor Dick! Poor Dick! And l
did love him, after all!'
10 Mamie, like other wrongdoers, was
obliged TO suffer the pangs OF rcmorse
and self-condcmnation when they were
unavailing.
The long and lonesome hours of that
miserable night wore slowly away.
1t must be l O'clock" thought Dick,
US he paced up and down the puncheon
floor OF his prison.
"A sound that seemed to come from un-
der his feet startled him.
1t was u gentle knocking, so faint rs 10
be almost unnoticeable. but 1t was rcpcat.
cd ut regular intervals. and he knew that
behind that sound was some agency
which desired to attract his attention,
He got down on the floor and listened
very attentivcly.
Tap, tap, tap, again.
lie raped softly on the floor over the
spot from which the sound came,
Presently a portion Of the hOOr began
to rise.
"A trap door," thought Dick, with a
wild hope Of possible escape flashing
through his still bcwildered ami belonged
brain. II must have some friends yet,
and 1t is evident that they are trying to
come to my aid"
The trap In the floor was tilted enough
by this time to allow head to protrude
through the opening.
"Sh" said voice which he had no
difficulty In recognizing as Samanthy's.
Keep quiet. There's sharp ears out.
side. Ef ye want to git out o. this dim.
Guilty, we've got to be awful still about
It,"
"How did you contrive to get here y
whispered Dick.
'"There's IN underground way 'twixt
this an the house that we use In winter,
from the sullcr," answered Samanthy.
II want goin' to say nothin' about 1t
when they was a-talkin' about this bein'
n IN n MI NJ \ hal