The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

4 ] chance 20 escape? Is it because
- do hope to see you again? is 1t
HU, enough that ] am begging, impioring
gOu 20 go: i can say no more"
lie folded the brief note, written in
agitation, and. after kissing it, proceed
cd 10 place ii ia his pocket. determined
ID keep il 10 the last hour of his life
Glauc:ug MP al a sound from the guard
lie found himself looking into the muzzle
OF q revolver. deep se0Ni overspread
the face Of the Dlan as he pointed TO the
letter and then the lamp. There was no
mislahing his meaning. Lorry reluctant
iy held the note over the fame and saw
IL crUmble away as had its predecessor.
IybsTe WIS 10 be no proof OF her COM
pHcity left behind. He knew ii would be
folly 10 offer a bribe to the loyal guard.
After this very significant act the
guards face cleared. and he deposited
his big revolver on the table Stepping
70 the cells entrance. he listened intent
ly, then softly closed the heavy iron
doors. Without word he began TO strip
of his uniform, LOrry watching him
II fascinated. The fellow looked up i'm
patiently and motioned for him to be
quick taking Il for granted that the pris-
Oner understood his part OF the transac-
tiOn. Awakened by this sharp reminder,
Lorry nervously began 10 remove ms
clothes. In five minutes his garments
were scattered over the floor and he was
attired IN the uniform Of a guard. Not
a word had been spoken. The prisoner
was the guard, the guard a prisoner
Are you not afraid this Will cost you
your Efe2" asked LOrry. first in English
then in German. The guard merely shook
his head, indicating that he could not
understand.
He quickly turned to the bed. seized
6 sheet and tore it into STRIPS
impatiently thrusting them into the
others hands The first letter
had foretold all this, and the prisoner
knew what was expected OF him. he
therefore securely bound the guards legs
and arms. With a grim smile the cap
tive nodded his head toward the revolver
tAs lantern and the keys. His obhging
lr1soner secured them. as well as his own
personal effects, and was ready TO depart
According to instructions he was to 90
forth. locking the doors behind him, leaV-
ing the man to be discovered the next
morning by surprised keepers. 1t struck
him that there was something absurd IN
this part of the plan. How was this
guard to explain his position with abso-
lutely no sign Of a struggle to bear him
out2 1t was hardly plausible that blg,
strong fellow could be so easily oYerpoW-
cred single-handed; there was something
wretchedly incongruOus about the-but
there came a startling and effective END
10 all criticism.
turned and lunged head-foremOst against
the sharp bedpost. His head struck with
a thud, and he rolled TO the floor as If
dead. Uttering an exclamation Of horror,
Lorry ran TO his side. Blood was gush-
ing from long cash across his head, and
he was already unconscious. Sickened
by the brave sacrifice. he picked the man
UP and placed him on the bed. A hasty
examination proved that it was no more
than a scalp wound, and that death was
TOO remote 10 be feared The guard had
done his part nObly. and 1t was now the
prisoners turn TO act as resolutely and,
Sas unhinchingly. Sorry TO leave the poor
fellow in what seemed an inhuman man
ner. he strOde into the corridor, closed
and locked the doors clumsily, and be-
gan the descent Of the stairs. He had
been instructed TO act unhesitatngly, as
the slightest show Of nervousness would
result in discovery.
With the helmet well down over his
face and the cape well up, he steadily,
even noisily made his way TO the next
floor below. There were prisoners on this
floor, while he had been the only occu-
pant OF the floor above. Straight ahead
he went, flashing his lantern here and
there. passing down another stairway
and into the main corridor. Here he met
g guard who had just come in from the
outside. The man addressed him in the
language Of the country, and his heart
almost stopped beating. How was he to
answer Adumbling something almost in
audible, he hurried on to the ground
floor, trembling with fear lest the
man should call to him to halt He
was relieved to find, In the end,
that his progress was not to be i'm
peded. In another moment he was boldly
unlocking the door that led to the visi-
tors hall Then came the door to the
warden's Office Here he found three
sleepy guards, none OF whom paid any
attention TO him as he passed through
and entered Captain Dangloss' private
Room. The grun old captain sat at
Neslx writing. The escaping man half
paused as II 70 speak TO him. A sharp
cough from the captain and & significant
Jerk OF the head told him that there must
be no delay. no words. Opening the door,
he stepped out into a storm so fierce and
wild that he shuddered apprehensively.
"A fitting night" he muttered, as he
pluuged into the driving rain, forcing his
way across the courtyard to the main
gate The little light IN the gatekeeper's
window was his guide, SO, blinded by the
torrents, blown by the winds, he soon
found himself before the final barrier.
Peerfng through the window, he saw the
keeper doing IN his chair By the light
from within he selected from the bunch
OF keys he carried one that had a white
string knotted in its ring. This was the
key that was to open the big gate in case
he was to give the cOuntersign, Dan
gloss" and trust fortune to pass him
through without question.
Luck was with him and, finding the
great lock. he softly inserted and turned
The key. The wind blew the heavy gate
open violently, and it required all Of his
strength to keep it from banging against
the wall beyond. The most difficult task
that he had encountered grew from his
efforts TO close the gate against the blast
He was about to give Up in despair when
2 hand was laid on his shoulder and some
ono hisscd IN his startled ear:
stShi Not 2 word"
His. legs almost went from under his
ho6v SO great was the shock and the
fear Two strong hands joined his own
in the effort 10 pull the door into posi-
ton and he knew at once that they be-
lonsyed to the man who was to meet him
on the corner at the right Of the prison
wall He undoubtedly had tired Of the