Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-14
How Enirfax Did Not Escnne.

Fairfax reckoned that he had from ten
to fifteen minutes for the business OF eX-
ploring. Stuffing into his pocket the half
loaf OF bread he had preserved for "Old"
Remnant, IL he had trapped himself below.
must be hungry as a raU. he pushed open
the solid door in the solid wall and peered
down. II was as black as he had dreamed
1t, but he could Just make out the narrow
stairs.
Stepping out. he drew the door close but
was careful not to shut 1t, as old" Rem
nant must have done.
Time was everything and Fairfax called
softly upon the burglar by name. No an
swer The "old un," II he we're there was
evidently in doubt Again Fairfax called
and this time he added his own name.
Somewhere from the dark below the answer
came:
ut amt you, matey, is IT,
Yes; where are you?'
Slipped down the steps, and thought I'd
broke my blooming back Fairly nabbed
this time, matey."
Wen see about that directly" said Fair
fax. who knew that the hidden passage
must issue somewhere.
lie felt his way down until he came upon
"Old" Remnant at an angle Of the stairs.
Are you badly hurt?" he asked.
"No; / seem all right now but I'm that
sharp set, matey!'
Fairfax produced his half loaf.
What made you call?'
We'll, matey, | reconed the cat was
better than buryin alive
Fear, hunger and that narrow passage OF
darkness had almost cowed old Remnant.
where's the screw" he asked again.
He had Just passed when | slipped out.
At the worst, we can go back, but we've a
few minutes yet"
But how in the world did you get here,
matey? Fancy you in chokey,"
"I'll tell you that when there's time. I'm
going to see where we are first"
As he spoke he made another step down
ward
"old" Remnant, losing his foothod. fall
ing, swooning and coming to his senses with
the frightful conviction that he had buried
himself alive. had shouted, in the desperate
hope that he might be rescued and retaken.
But at the moment OF his fall he was
within a few feet of liberty.
Some half-dozen steps brought Fairfax TO
the bottom OF the flight Here however, the
way was barred by another mass OF stone
but Fairfax, remembering the point OF light
his dream had revealed to him, groped until
wall. Was this another door with a spring
He pressed. and it yielded as the wall OF
the cell had donel
"Quick!" he whispered TO "Old" Rem
nant but before the burglar had descended
Fairfax had the second door open. In an
other moment they stood together by the
swift-running Tene. The governors boat
lay moored at the bank. Liberty at last!
For both? .E
No: for one only.
Even as he stood there Fairfax had taken
his resolve. For the burglar, at war with
all authority. freedom at. amy price. but the
course which was natural TO "Old" Rem
nant was denied to the political. For mo-
ment. with the sweet air OF freedom in his
nostrils, and the thought of the quarries
on the morrow, flight tempted him-but he
could not steal away with the felon.
He Judged that he had still some two or
three minutes left him.
silently pointing TO the boat, he held
out his hand to "old" Remnant.
Astonshment was writ in capitals on
those not repellant features. but Fairfax
gave his man no time for words.
"Goodby, old chap. and good luck" ne
said, and, slipping behind "Old" Remnant
whom he never saw again--he made fast
the door In the wall
Then he mounted to his cell. and, closing
noiselessly behind him the second OF those
magic doors, he stretched himself once more
upon his plank.
The night warder approached the door on
tip-toe, peeped in, and passed on.