Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-04-24

seemed to be the only waking thing left
in existence
Waking? He felt as if 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 coherently. 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, it came home to him.
In the morning he was to be tried for
crime the penalty of which was death
in the settlers code of justice.
But would they find him guilty?
Taking the evidence against him into
consideration could there be any doubt
of what the verdict would be? None at
all.
But if they'll give me half chance, l
can prove my innocence" he thought. Il
can prove where l was at the time of the
last theft. But | doubt il they'll give
me a chance. I can't 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 | could only get out Of thisv'
he cried, starting up and looking about
him, in sudden desperation. Il can't
stay here to be taken out and hung like
a dog who has been caught stealing
sheep"
He went to the window and looked out
into the murlly gloom of the night.
There was no chance of escape in that
direction.
He turned his attention to the door. 1t
was solid one, of oak.
Il am getting foolish" be said, making
his way back through the darkness in the
room to the block on which he had been
sitting. If | could get through the door,
| couldn't get away, because half a doz-
en- men are watching outside. There's
no use in trying TO get away. | have
got to wait for the morning, and take
the chances of what may happen. | Won
der what Mamie thinks Of H."
Poor Mamie!
At that very moment she wis wetting
her pillow with remorsef,h tears.
Oh, they'll hang HIM" she kept say
ing over and over to herself Il know
they will! And | know he's innocent,
aud | shall never see him again to tell
him how sorry l am for using him as |
have. Poor Dick! Poor Dick! And |
did love, him, after all!'
50 Mamie, like other wrongdoers, was
obliged to suffer the pangs Of remorse
and decentralization when they were
The long and lonesome hours of that
night wore slowly away.
1t must be l o'clock" thought Dick,
as ne paced up and down the puncheon
floor of his prison.
\ sound that seemed to come from I'M
der his feet startled him.
1t was gentle knocking, so faint as to
be almost unnoticeable, but it was repeat
ed at regular intervals, and he knew that
behind that sound was some agency
winch desired to attract his attention.
lie got down on the floor and listened
very attentively.
Tap, tap, tap, again.
lie raped softly ON the floor over the
spot from which the sound came.
Presently a portion of the floor began
TO rise.
"A trap door, thought Dick, with a
wild hope of possible escape flashing
through his still bewildered and befogged
brain. Il must have some friends yet,
and it is evident that they are trying to
come to my aid"
The trap in the floor was tilted enough
by this time to allow a head TO protrude
through the opening.
''Sh.' said a voice which he had no
in recognizing as Samanthy's.
Keep quiet. There's sharp ears out
side. Eff We want to git out O this diff
Guilty, we've got TO be awful still about
IT,"
How did you contrive to get here?"
whispered Dick.
There's an underground way 'twixt
this an the house that we use in winter,
from the suller," answered Samanthy.
Il want goin' to say nothin' about it
when they was a-talkin' about this bein'
a safe place, cause eff l had 'twould a.
kinder split my plan, We see"
Have you got plan to get me out of
this?" asked Dick.
Il reckon" responded Samanthy.
'Leastwise, it's plan eff it can be made
to work. Ef il don't it's a failure. But
'twon't do fer us to be wastin' time
You've got to be maxim tracks fer some
place where they don't take honest men
for boss thieves an the sooner yer about
it the better for We, | ealkilate."
DO you advise me to run away" ask
ed Dick, to whom the thought of escape
by flight seemed almost cowardly, now
that a possible chance of getting away
presented itself.
"Of course l do responded Samanthy.
Il reckon / wouldn't stay an let 'em
string me up eff / could help it."
But if l get away an leave the place
they'll be sure to accept it as a proof of
guilt" said Dick.
WALL let EN-" said Samanthy. They
think that now. so faint goin' to make
no difference as | see, one way or 10th
err. You'd be a foot not to so. Ef you
stay they'll hang you as sartfn as your
names Dick Brayton. Eff you light out
an keep clear o these diggin's a spell
they may find out who the real boss thief
is, an then twill be time enough to show
up hereabouts."
Il think you're right" said Dick.
Staying here would not help me TO prove
my innocence if they're not disposed to
give fellow fair chance. I'd rather
face Che music, but it wouldn't make
hanging any pleasanter because facing
the music seemed drawer thing :han
running awe A ~ kdhS Abuk duNANCf od-
manthy, that is, il can. don't know
how you propose to get me away from
this place"
"Foller me an so like a cat" said Sa-
manthy.
He let himself down through the trap
door. A ladder led TO the bottom of the
passage between the milk house and the
cellar.
In the cellar they paused a moment.
Il want to know exactly what the
charges against me are" he said. Il
was SO bewildered by all that happened
thst don't know whether l comprehend
everything clearly yet or not"
Samanthy detailed the facts of the case
as succinctly as possible.
at looks dark against me. doesn't it,"
said Dick. But I'm innocent. and
mean that everybody shall know 4. some
day-that is, il get away and live long
enough 10 have the opportunity to work
up the matter and bring the guilty party
10 justice. l told you little. or rather
l limited at part had found out. the 9TH
er day. / want 10 tell you all about it
now, for il may possibly be the means OF
your halninc me- /"