Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-08-09
A SISTERS VENGEANCE
~ ogoRog MANvILlG PENN

ISSSS5SSSSjSSSSSSS@
Yes. but all in vain"
"Pshaw!" cried Bart again, "when you
Know she'll keep on coming till she's an
old gray-haired woman, or she gets ID
away"
Abel shook his head, for he was low
spirited. and not convinced; but that
night his heart leaped, for as he lay half
asleep. listening to the thin, buzzing hum
of the mosquitoes which haunted the pris-
oners' quarters, and the slow, regular
pace of the sentry on guard outside. there
was the faint rattle Of chain, as II some
prisoner had turned In his unquiet rest,
and then all was silent again, till he
started, for rough hand was laid upon
his mouth.
His Rrst instinct was to seize the own.
or of that hand, TO engage In a struggle
for his life; but mouth was placed di.
rectly at his ear, and a well-known voice
whispered:
| Don't make q sound. Tie these bits
Of rag about your irons go as they won't
| rattle
Abel caught at the pieces Of cloth and
canvas thrust into his hand. and, sitting
up In the darkness he softly bound the
links and rings Of his letters together,
hardly daring to breathe. and yet with
his heart beating tumultuously In his INK.
iety to know his companions plans. As
he was tying the last knot he felt Barts
hand upon his shoulder, and his lips at
his ear.
"Quiet, and creep after me. Keep
touching my foot SOS not to miss ME In
the dark"
Abcrs heart thumped against his RIBS
az he obeyed, taking Bart's hand first In
a Rrm grip. and then feeling short iron
bar thrust between his fingers. =,
Then he became conscious from MS
companions movements that he had gone
down upon his hands and knees, and was
crawling toward the end Of the long, low
stone.w walled building that served a.
dormitory for the white slaves whose
task was to cultivate the rough planta-
ton till they, a. rule. lay down and
died from fever.
Just then Bart stopped short. for there
were steps outside, and CLEAN Of light
appeared beneath the heavy door. Voices
were heard, and the rattle Of soldiers
musket.
'Changins guard" said Abel to him.
| self; and he found himself wondering
whether the sergeant and his men would
enter the prison.
Then there was q hoarscly uttered com.
mand; the light faded away. the steps
| died out upon the ear: there was q clink
or two Of chains, and heavy sigh from,
some restless sleeper, and once more In
the black silence and sitting heat there
was nothing to be heard but the loud
trumpeting buss Of the mosquitoes.
Softly, as some large cat, Bart resum.
| cd his crawling movement, after thrust.
| Ing back his leg and touching Abel on the
chest with his bare foot as q signal.
| The building was quite hundred feet
| long BY about eighteen wide, mere gal.
lery In shape, which had been lensthened
| from time to time o. the number Of con.
two.thirds Of the distance to traverse be-
| fore they could reach the end, and at
their excessively slow rate Of progress
ter several painful hats, caused BY move.
| Of discovery, the 6nal halt was made.
| "Now, then, what II itr' whispered
Abel.
Bart was slowly drawing out rough
pieces of badly cementsd stone-r0ugh
from the nearest roof, of which the pris-
on barrack was built.
| At last, after what seemed an age,
faint breath Of comparatively cool air
began to play upon Abels cheek, 40 Bart
seemed to work steadily on. Then his
hand was seized and guided where II
hardly wanted guiding. for the young
mans. Imagination had painted ALTO q
rough opening level with the floor. hole
little larger than might have been made
for fowls to pass In and out Of poultry
yard.
They crcpt on In silence, aud In the
midst Of the still darkness matters seem.
ed to be going no easily for them that
Abers heart grew more regular In, its
pulsation, and he was Just asking him
self why he had NOT had invention enough
to contrive this evasion. when clear aud
familiar voice cried, "Shtand! and there
was the click Of q musket lock.
| What followed was almost momentary.
Bart struck aside the bayonet leveled at
his breast. and leaped upon the sentry
before him. driving him backward and
clapping his hand upon his mouth ~ he
knelt upon bis chest; while. ably second.
Ing him. bic companion wrssted the mus.
ket from the mau's hand. twisted the
bayonet from the end Of the barrel, and.
holding It daggerwisc. pressed It against
the mans throat.
"Another word, aud It's your lastv
Kissed Abel.
! ''6ure. and I'll be o. silent a. Peter
Mulloney's grave. sor." whispered the
sentry; "but rs q. mother have over In
the ovid country. and ye'd break her
heart IL ye killed me-"
| "L0ok here" whispered Bart; "is's neck
or nothing. my lad. II YOU give the
alarm, It will be- with that bayonct struck
through YOU"
| "And would Kelly give the alarm.
afther he said on his honor? Sure, you
might thrust me-"
"Over with you. then, Bart" whispered
Abel; "Vll stand over him here. Take
the gun"
| Bart obeycd. and Abel stood with one
hand upon the sentry's shoulder, and the
bayonet close to his throat.
The man scaled the gate as easily as
Bart had done before him, and then Abel
followed; but as he reached the top and
shuiiled sideways to the wall, which he
bestrode, there was the sound Of a shot,
followed by another, and another, and
the fierce baying OF dogs.