Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-08-22

silenced men stood out strangely
against the background OF murky
gloom.
"Blondie," my voice sounded strange
and muiiled, "get out OF here as fast
as you can. Go around through the
new cellhouse; have Shafter let you
through the east trap door; then you
two crawl through on the other side
as fast as you can; you may be In time
to put out the lanternl"
Nov, Hanks, you go to the turn
key; tell him to get all the men out
Of their cells. I'll stay here TO watch
the fire; besides, must walt to di-
rect Blondie."
The men quickly disappeared in the
darkness, and / was alone. / think
prayed n little, for this fire light was
the last light ever expected to see.
Then, as in answer TO my prayer, an
idea shot into onsciousness-throw
my heavy sweater over the lantern
and smother the fame. -
Holding the sweater before me,
thrust my arms into the hole-one,
two, IL swung and landed squarely;
my aim was true; this would hold
the fire till help came, or possibly ex-
tlnguish IT,
The ease with which got into the
hole this time made me believe that
without coat and sweater / could
crawl through.
Holding my arms close to my sides,
! started to work my shoulders into
the hole. IL was much easier than
before, and in a minute or two my
head projected beyond Now
stopped for moments rest. and TO
ook around me. could see but
short distance into the gloom. and
then everything blended into black.
The lantern was completely covered
by the sweater and emitted only a
very faint light.
Suddenly my heart gave great
throb, for over to my right thought
] saw u shadow move. IL could not
be n friend, or he would have spoken;
surely then II must be that black
devil. For a moment could not stir.
but riveted my eyes upon the silent,
retreating figure. Then scarcely
knowing what I did, or why, l was
possessed with the spirit OF panic;
| struggled frantically TO escape
from my perilous position; but
while more sane and orderly efforts
might have been successful. the
many twists and turns caught my
shoulders under pipe fixture. and
] was wedged fast.
Even that faint, fading light must
have shown my face as a picture Of
struggling terror, for saw that
form again emerge from the other
shadows and plunge toward me on
hands and knees.
II was hel / heard his inhuman
chucltle; the whites Of his eyes rolled
and CLEANED hideously. Thea, slow
ly with malevolent glance toward
me and CHASTITY laugh, he drew the
sweater along from Oft the lantern.
Freed from it's smothering cover, the
flames lcaped out, lighting every cor
ner OF the little compartment. and
outlining the savage figure OF the
negro. Undoubtedly he knew OF an
escape for himself when the heat
grew unbearable.
| longed for shot at this animal,
but my arms were pinned close;
could only move my fingers aim
lessly.
With n look OF savage triumph, he
cautiously lifted the blazing mass by
means OF the sweater and allowed the
flames TO play around the rafters.
saw the cobwebs sputter, the little
splinters on the rofters caught and
burned like tiny matches
In imagination | could smell my
singed hair and my burning flesh.
The fiend had squatted cross-legged
on the ground safely beyond the fire
and was gloating over my gasplng
misery. saw him draw shining
razor from his belt. lie began rub
blng II back and forth across his
striped legs, and with each fash OF
the steel he laughed aloud.
"rhe fire will do its work first.
thank Godl" / murmured. drowsily,
and my head fell forward through
sheer exhaustion. Yes, | was dying
This numbncss was the beginning of
the end. Why did he not come on
with his murderous blade2 What
did the delay mean? Voices sang in
my ears. Pauline was speaking, oh,
the music OF that yoicel
Pauline" whispered. with des-
perato energy OF the death struggle,
l raised my head and stared before
me,
Work or you diet" The words.
the voice. the dramatic scene are pho
tographed on my brain. Brooks was
working like mad before the fast
sueoumbing flames. Every muscle OF
his giant frame was strained TO the
task.
Work, | say, faster, or" There
was sharp click, The sound emau-
ated from crouching white figure
IN whose hand CLEANED the barrel
OF pistol just then another light
glmmered through the gloom. and
Hanks chcery voice rang out:
Keep him covered. Miss Pauline;
were comm with the bracelets;
we've got the men cnlmcd down
hit"-he kept up stream OF talk
as he approached -"Me and nlondie
no thanks TO brown"
The sentence was flushed by snap
ping the handouts on the negro's
wrists, for Brooks had extinguished
The fire and was waiting strangely
locile.
Pauline, hearing OF my danger from
Blonde. had riehed her HE for r,i.e