Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-15

life. His contemplation was NANNY ihlio-
spective as was natural for man whose
horizon consists of an unlimited view OF
gray stone wall, through a set OF ulcoii-
promlsingly tough steel bars
Mr. Stephen Duckworth was no common
man-none of the fotsam and jetsam OF So
ciety. He was a man of property. He had
recently amassed a snug little fortune OF
some $4,000. This snug little sum of money
had at one time belonged to two old ladies.
who had been induced by Mr.. Duckworth
to invest IT In some giIt-edged c. T. and A
bonds The bonds had been Mr.. Duck
vorth's private property, and he had Ia
bored Industriously to make them market
able. and, of course his labor had not been
in vain. 1t rarely was. But later the Off
Gals of the road failed to detect a sufficient
similarity between the presidents signature
as 1t appeared on Mr.. Duckworths bonds
and the signature which appeared on other
bonds of the same concern.
Mr. Duckworth when the matter was
called to his attention, had been unable sat
isfactorily to explain the discrepancy-hence
his present plight. But fortunately for him.
and unfortunately for the two old ladies, he
was not caught with the goods on" He
had a very definite idea at present of the
exact location of the well-earned fruits of
his toll. and he was considering the posi-
bihy of a speedy enjoyment of the same.
Now, If Mr.. Duckworth had been pau
per he would not have rebelled. Three
meals a day and a place to sleep for FEW
years be they more or less, constitute
not unmixed evil. And the law, as Mr..
Duckworth acknowledged to himself, had
the right to restrain the personal liberty of
the Individual But the law had no right
and the constitution prohibited ito pre-
vent him from the enjoyment of his private
No on Ua q
good enough for him to go by, and he had
determined to take advantage Of its privi-
leges in this respect at least.
1t was while these thoughts were passing
through his mind that a thick-set individ-
ual apparently of sporty tendencies pre-
scented himself at the office down below.
He exhibited a considerable expanse of
shirt bosom decorated with a pin of re-
markable hue and brilliancy. He was some
what dusty, and he carried a brand-new
dress suit case, which he carefully deposit
ed alongside of the desk. He nodded famil-
iarly to the two or three officials who were
lounging around. and then addressed a turn
key who stood behind the bars.
I'm deputy sheriff from NYawk," he
announced, with considerable sprightliness
of manner, "of for a lark. Thought I'd
drop in here while l was in town and see
how you run this ranch If you got any
thing to show you kin show 1t to me If
you got any big bugs locked up I'd like to
see EN-. Have a seegar."
He handed in two of them on top of a
very large calling card with his name print
ed on 1t in gilt letters. The door was opened
and he entered
I'D like to see that cashier that got away
with three hundred and fifty from your
bank herein town, II you don't mind, an
any O the rest of EN-. 1 amt particular
They showed him what there was to see.
At last they stood in front of the cell where
Duckworth still INDUCED himself in rev.
cries.
The turnkey stood with his back to the
to- y1rr, ~, Tod n vic
the interesting circumstances in the career
of the incumbent.
This is Duckworth," he explained, Eel
low who had that million-dollar bond
scheme. Forgery, yep. Ten years Only
been in six months. Sent up last winter.
Slickest thing we got"
The deputy sheriff was lounging against
the bars With the one hand which was
out of the turkeys sight he made a move
ment as might one who shook the ash from
his cigar. At the same instant Mr.. Stephen
Duckworth leaned forward and-scratched
his ankle. He was still rubbing it when
the turnkey swung around and glanced at
him. The deputy sheriff waved his hand.
"Get away with much?" he inquired. The
turnkey shook his head.
Thirty or forty thousand" he replied;
"they nipped him in the bud"
Hes no good" returned the other. Got
any more that're better'n him?' Again the
turnkey shook his head.
81 tell you he's the Slckest Of the lot" he
protested. as they started off, leaving the
prisoner alone
Mr.. Stephen Duckworth rose lazily, and,
stepping to the window OF his cell. rested
nstlessly against the bars. In this posi-
ton. with his back to the door, he care
lessly placed his hands in his pockets. with
the air Of man who has nothing better to
do, and as carelessly withdrew them. In
one of them was a small gray ball of worst
ed yarn. He had picked 1t up when he had
stopped down to rub his ankle. Ten min
utes before it had reposed within the pock-
I, t. No
if from New York.
All that night and all the next Mr. Ste
phen Duckworth stood at the window Of
his prison cell, contemplating the heavens.
He calculated that there would not be
new moon for three four nights.
II reckon it'll rain in few days, too" he
said to himself.
On these dark nights there was no sound
to keep him company save the grooming of
a deliriOus patient over IN the sick ward.
The turnkey passed and repassed his cell
at intervals.
Gee! he sleeps like a topr commented
this individual, as he glanced at the recum-
bent form OF Mr.. Duckworth on his cot
When he had passed the sleeper again re-
suned his silent vigil at the window.
AS the east became slightly streaked with
gray, Mr.. Duckworth took little piece of
soap and pressed II into horizontal slit
that appeared in one Of the bars. Then he
took a little powdered plumbago and dust
ed the soap with II all around, and the
aperture Immediately disappeared. That
was a wonderful ball of worsted the deputy
has provided.
On the 5ecDrd night the turnkey thought
he heard sound, a peculiar sound, issuing
from the cell. He did. 1t caused by
the fact that Mr.. DuckwOrth, In sleeping,
had failed, unwittingly, to close his mouth.
A sharp, rasping sound Issued from some
where in his Uranium he lay with up
turned face in the glare Of the turkeys
light. The latter turned away with a sigh
of relief. The rasping sound was much in
evidence that night, but what can you do
with man who snores? No cure has been
invented yet.
on the third night it began to rain. 1t
started in before dark. At II 80 1t was
raining pitchforks. Mr.. Duckworth, a man
ford of nature in all her visible FORMS
stood at his window and watched the ele-
ments.
.D-n those fellows" he said to him
self, where are they? This is just the
time"
Even as lie spoke something small and
cold and soft struck him in the face. He
locked out Up on the hill, where the car
tracks were, were a number of box cars.
In one of these a man who had taken
refuge from the storm, was lighting his
pipe. Duckworth glanced in that direction
Cor an instant then stopped and picked up
something that had fallen to the floor 1t
was q piece of putty. wound and rewound
,,,gth ~ I'D