The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-05-03
CHAPTER vlI.-CuSTiSuED.

end OF the plank nftcr iIs nhiis WERE
irnwn. and with little cxertion ripped
II oft the other posts. Then everybody
,cld his breath a minute, stared. and u
small majority sworc. SO far from its
being open to cats. cans and rubbish.
the space on that side was filed solid
with damp, heavy sea snnd-a vertical
wall extending from floor 10 ground.
tanker almost ran around To the oppo-
site side and had a big plank torn of
there. Within wns wall rs damp,
solid and straight as that first discov-
cred, and so, when examined, were the
other two sides provided. Cnnkcr's face
was sturdy. and the board gnzcd and
was profoundly happy.
Al last the colonel exploded:
"By Jupiter! They haven't got away
al all, thcni There isn't u flaw In the
sand wall anywhere. They must he
hiding about the middle now. Come on,
gcntlemcn," and around he trotted TO
the front door. Sergeant" he cried,
"ge, out all the prisoncrs--all their
bcdding--every blessed thing they've
got. l want to examine that floor
Most OF the guardhouse birds" were
mt chopping wood. and Canker danced
In among the few remaining, loading
them with bedding belonging to their
fellows until every item of clothing and
furniture was showed out of the room.
)nc member Of the board aud one only
failed 30 enter with his associates-a
veteran captain who read much war
literature and abhorred Canker. To the
surprise of the sentry he walked de-
liberatcly over to the fence, climbed II
and presently began pokipg about the
wooden curb that ran along the road
making n low rcvetmcnt or retaining
wall for the earth. cindcrs and grave
that. distributed over the sand, had
been hopefully designated L Sidewalk
by the owners OF the tract. Presently
hc came snuntering back, and both sen
tries within easy range would have
sworn he was chuckling. Cnnkei
greeted him with customary nspcrity.
"Whut do you mean, sir, by absent
ing yourself from This investigation
when you must have known was will
| INV DNu'' bHh giving " 'h' peh'"' W
the information hud gnthered?"
~ was merely eNpcditing matters
colonel. While you were looking 70
where they went in was finding WI her
they got out"
"Wcnt in what? Got out of what?
snapped Cankcr.
"Thcir tunnel, sir. It's Libby on
srnall scale oycr again. They mus
have been nj work at IL ut least tcl
days" And us he spoke, calmly ignor
ing Cunkcr and letting his eyes wande
over the floor, the veteran battalio
commander sauntcrcd across the room
stirred up slightly projecting bit g
flooring with the toe of his boot nn
placidly continued: "lf you'll he goo
enough To let the men pry this up 20
may understand"
And when pried up and lifted away
u snugly fitting trap door about Nv
feet square there yawncd bcneai
IL. leading slantwisc downward In th
direction of the street, u tunnel throug
the soft yielding sand, braccd nn
strengthened here and there with lid
and sides of crackcr-boxcs. "Now.
You don't mind straddling fence, 81
I'll show you the other end" said III
captain, impcrturbably leading II
way. aud Canker. half-dazcd yet who'll
In command of his stock of blnsphem.
followed. At the curb, in the midst
n lot OF loose hay from the bales dumpt
there three days before, the leader di
lodged with his sword the top of clotl
ing box that had been thickly cover,
with sand and hay-and' there was u
outlet. Easy as rolling of 10
colonel" said old Cobb, with n sa
castle grin. This could all bc don
without II man you've blamed and a
rested bcing whit the wiser. Th,
sawed "a panel out of the floor, scoop,
the sand out of this tunnel, banked
solid against the weather boarding !
side. filled up the whole space, prct
near, but ran their tunnel under fcn'
and sidewalk. crawled down the gu
ter tn the next block out of sight of Il
scntri,s. then walked away free me
J | Those three thieves who got away we
old hands, The other men In the guar
house were only mild offenders, exec
Morton. Course he was glad Of q
chance To 30 with 'cn. ! s'posc you
release NY sergeant aud those sentri
nuw."
I'm do nothing of the kind" n
swcrgd Cuukcr. red with wrath, "ai
your suggestion Is disrcspcctful 20
commanding officer, When | want 80
advice I'll ask for it,"
We'll, Mr.. Gray will be relieved
learn of this anyhow. ! suppose | N
tell him." ha2nrded the junior me
|, her, miachiCvously.
} "Mr. Gray be--, Mr.. Gray d
everything to answer fort" shouted
J augered colonel. lit was he who te
: phoncd for II carriage tomect nnd I
} those rasculs or. Mr.. Gray's fate
sealed. lie can thank God don't s.
y him into the guardhousc with
= chosen associates, but he shant
\ cape. Sergeant OF the guard, pos'
sentry over Lieut.. Gray's tent, with
\ dcrs to allow no one To enter or lcay
y without my written authority,
Gray shall pny for this behind the pri'
bars Of Alcatraz."
, CHAPTER WI.