The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-16
cold and soft struck him in the face. He

looked out.
Up on the HILL where the car tracks were
were a number Of box cars. In one OF
those a man who had taken refuge from
the storm was lighting his pipe.
Duckworth glanced In that direction
for an instant. then stopped and picked
up something that had fallen to the floor
II was piece OF putty. wound and re-
wound with fine cord.
The cord passed out Of the window into
the darkness beyond. Duckworth pulled
II In. hand over hand.
Outside at one end OF the wall a sentry
chung, shivering, to his sentry box. The
sentry kept his eye running back and forth
along the wall. Suddenly a small long
object scampered across.
Darn them rats" exclaimed the sentry
How Ia time do they get way up tbereP'
Over In his cell. Duckworth removed
the bars that he had sawed. affixed the
rope ladder that he had just pulled up and
lowered himself into the prison yard,
He crouched in a corner for an instant
with his eye upon the sentry. Suddenly
he sprang across to the wall. felt In the
dark for a rope that he knew was hanging
there and In an instant was up the wall
and over II.
The sentry raw him. Duckworth as
sumed that he would. Now the difficult
part Of an escape IL not 10 much To get
out of prison. That's hard enough. too
But To get away into freedom-to elude
recapture To accomplish the impossible.
The schemes which are the most skill
full in preparation are those which are
the simplest of execution. Up to this
time Duckworth's escape had been SIM
pie enough The balance of the arrange
ments were somewhat too cumbersome
and apparent
There had been man at the foot Of the
wall. There had been two men in the
empty car. Way down the road, tow ard
the town, two other men young ones-were
driving slowly away from the prison in a
closed carriage
All of these men had been stationed TO
aid in his escape. Everything WAS cut and
dried
All. therefore, that Duckworth had to
do. in order to make his escape success
ful, was to elude--not the officers-but
to elude each of these men. and shift for
himself and he did Il.
When the pursuing party emerged from
the Jail they found the two men In the
car and the two men in the carriage, That
is to say, they became aware OF their
presence.
They did not disturb them. They knew
too well that Duckworth somewhere be-
tween the prison and the town would join
the four
The train stopped and the two men
descending from the car, started toward
the town The entire force OF pursuers
followed on their trail-confdent OF success.
All tnlH TOOK time, tine II1eU WdlktNl BLOW ~
and the carriage drove slowly.
As they entered the town. one set OF
p,lrsuers closed in upon the carriage; the
other upon the pedestrians.
1t was a fruitless proceeding The men
were unknown. but what OF thatP Two
men have a right to take shelter from the
wet and ~ at night IL not an unheard -of
hour for two young skylarkers to drive
to town. They kept the gang week and
then discharged them.
Duckworth, with an intuition born OF
much experience. ~ soon az he had landed
outside the wall, had eluded, not only the
officials, but al-O his own men. There was
less danger Of mistake.
He struck straight across country. his
trousers rolled up and the red stripes II
his suit concealed by long linen buster
which had been placed outside. He had
a good start and he took all chances-for
he was ahead Of the alarm.
Next morning about O'Clock a man in
a linen duster sat shivering in the branches
of a tall tree The tree stood near the road
and commanded the view in both directions
Occasionally some conveyance passed
The man in the tree surveyed the occu-
pan, of each as it went by. Finally he
spoke:
He looked far up the road, then far In
the other direction There was no other
vehicle but the one in sight.
In il was Young man. tall and lean and
gaunt as Duckworth himself. Duckworth
sauntered out and hailed him
stranger" he said in pleasant voice,
can you give me a lift to"
The fellow looked at him doubtfuly--
then al his watch, I'm In a hurry" he said
Duckworth glanced at him with a gentle
smile the kind that had separated the
two old ladies' from their patrimony.
Well" the fellow said. Il suppose
l cam don't know.
II. 4. ~ - q.
I'm tagged OUT he said YEARLY
Would you mind gettin' my bundle there
against the tree' don't want to ask too
much
Duckworth In his linen buster was a
pleasant hooking fellow enough. and he
had a persuasive way with him. The
fellow got out.
As he stepped down, his coat tails were
brushed aside and the handle of a six
shooter stood out in view, Duckworth
gently seized it and slipped it out-a pro-
ceeding of which the other man was totally
unconscious
The other man stepped to the tree.
There was no bundle,
He turned around to ask for an explana-
ton and found himself looking down the
barrels Of his own gun; g.
ing back his buster, I'm an escaped
convict My name is Duckworth. You We
heard of me. I'm desperate man.
Strip.
There was but one thing to do The
other man removed his outer garments
and then stopped. Duckworth stood over
him.
60 on he said
'Bnt,' the other man protested. For
answer Duckworth clicked the weapon
to full cock.
"Now he said finally. you put those on,
Ii had been difficult process for each
--Duckworth dressed and ldressed with
one hand, but the whole thing had taken but
a few moments at the most
Now" said Duckworth, with smile,
as he drove off in the other mans clothes
in the other mans buggy, with the buster
in the bargain, if they find you, az they
will, you tell EN- you're not Duckworth.
Understand They'll believe you. Tell
em | said So
The place where this happened was forty
five miles from Duck~orth's starting place.
The local officials, as Duckworth had as
sumed did later find the man
They lodged him in the local Jail and
telegraphed the news back to the prison.
BY the time the prison officials had reached
there on the train 1t was late in the after
noon.
Duckworth had counted on this. He
had at the least secured a good start
Now, what the devil, unused Duck
worth as he sped along-he had good
hor-e--did that fellow want with a elk
shooter in a peaceful community like this,
and what was he riding like the devil for.
] wonder?"
As soon az he felt his composure fully
4 l. L.. .l. -.