Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-05-20

| Imagination
Occasionally, during the winter, Joe
talked of escape; but rs Jack did not
enter into any OF the plans, the subject
would be dropped. The acquaintance
of the cell mates deepened gradually
into strong friendship, and when, one
night in the early spring, the subject
uppermost in Joe's mind, escape, was
again mentioned, Jack told his friend
his reasons for not desiring % make
the attempt-told him something of
his life; his briGht prospects, his fol-
ly, his ruin.
As he related the story, not defend
ing himself in the least, of his down
ward course, and finally of his arrest
and inability to prove his innocence.
Joe sat pale and uneasy. Several
times he opened his lips as if to speak,
then with feverish nervousness, he
would spring up and pace forth and
back across the cell. As Jack finished
| the recital of his sweetheart's fidelity
Joe suddenly stopped. and laying his
hand on the others shoulder, said i'm
pulsively:
Jack, I did not dream-that is. /
of course you are innocent! | have
known that all the time; but I did not
imagine that it was l who could clear
you"
You clear me?" exclaimed Jack, in
credulously. what do you mean?"
But Joe had turned away and
| thrown himself upon his cot; then he
said, hesitatingly:
Il only meant that I could help YOU
to escape, Jack, that's ALL" and de-
spite his friends efforts to continue
their conversation, he would say no
more.
| In short time Jack was fast asleep,
and dreaming of the time when his re-
lease should come and his innocence
be proven.
Joe Streeter, however spent the night
in 1tiul slumbers from which he
awoke with start, sometimes half ris-
| ing with the evident intention of
arouslng Jack; then his mood would
change, and after some moments of
indecision, he would again sink upon
his bed.
Hardened criminal that he was he
knew his duty. but he was selfish
enough to fight against and at last
overcome the promptings of his con
science, rs he well knew that his
| chances for escape alone were small.
II he could but persuade Jack 10 80
| with him, why, he could then find
some means OF proving his innocence.
In fact Joe fully made up his mind to
tell Jack all as soon as they were free,
so the "stiIl small voice within" was
| silcnced.
After that night Joe kept constantly
urging Jack to accompany him in his
attempt at escape, and ut last gained
| his reluctant consent.
For some time Joe had been ut work
in the harness shop Of the prison. and
! upon every opportunity he possessed
! himself of thongs and bits of leather.
\ large steel ring and small file were
also deftly concealed in his clS~D.ing
and conveyed to the cell. Then the full
details of the plan were unfolded to
Jack, who was amazed at the ingenul-
| ty Of his coEradc.
1t took some time for the ring to be
| filed into a hook, which was made
very sharp. Then it was carefully
covered with pieces of leather wound
| around in such n manner that only the
| point was visible. After this was COM
pleted, many wearisome nights were
spent, one of the men standing upon
the shoulders of the other. working
alternately to remove the bars from
| the window.
| At last this, too, was accomplished
! the narrow strips were cut from theil
blankets, which, strengthened by the
leather thongs, were braided into q
stout rope TO which the hook was Sc.
curely fastened. Now came the most
tedious task of ALL and many nights
were spent in futile attempts 10 throw
| the hook over the edge Of the cornicp
and catch it firmly there. Hundreds
Of times the hook fell back, and but
for its leather covering, would have
struck the bricks with ringing sound
Sometimes the hook caught and hello
slightly, and the hearts OF both men
would beat fast with hope, only tc
have their spirits drop to the depths
Of despair the next moment, when tho
hool; looscned and fell.
But even in this their work was re
warded, and there came Il time wher
the hook caught and held, the com
bincd weight Of both men in the eel
failing to dislodge it. The two prison
ers stood for Il moment gazing at eacl
other, speechless with emotion. The
next instant their hands clasped ant
each promised the other to notify his
friends in case any accident befell him
Joe promised - find some way to tel
Nellie OF Jacks fate, but when Jacl
was asked to tell Joe's mother Wher,
she would find the last stolen valuable!
he drew back involuntarily, for IL
the close friendship existing betweeI
them he had not thought of Joe as
criminal, only unfortunate. But t
suddenly realize that even Joe's moth
er was implicated, and had no doub
encouraged her son was :, shock to th