The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-08
BOOK v
Chapter V-COntinue ued.

Ing Of helplessness passed, and he doggedly
composed himself to endure.
Your friends send love and presents be-
gan Brush again. "A bokay of flowers came
this morning. D'ye want to know who sent
them? Captain Sotheran. They say he's
much distressed at YOUR bad luck. Ho! no!
And your uncle, young man. sent prayer
book for your benefit. He feels much shame
at such scandal in the family"
Much shame" thought Frank Who let
the soldiers so silentl- into the house, and
led them upstairs to my door? Much shame!"
And your brother,' went on Brush, bids
ye welcome to your new quarters. He's on
this 1oor'-and Brush pointed with his
thumb-"only in room a little larger. Sorry
! couldn't accommodate you so we'll; but first
cone first served, you know
Many thanks thought Frank. though not
a change came over his face, "for telling
where Dickie is, On this floor; and Alice said
he was on the harbor side. That means but
one thing-the cell at the end of the corridor.
Many thanks, Mr.. Brush; come within
my reach!'
But Brush grew irritated at Franks impas-
sivty. His cruelty increased by the brandy
he had drunk. he wished to see the prisoner
shrink before him. Irony failing. he changed
to facts.
We're all so glad to have you here" he
said. 'Sotheran. old Tom and me- Proud
we've been. Ellery. Now ye're as good as
dead Who done it-ha? Who done it? Why.
three
Frank showed no interest. but he watched
the Others increasing VeXation. Brush was
slowly growing angrler. Franks craft did
not desert HIM, and his eyes and lips sneered.
"Ye don't believe it?" cried Brush. more
angry still Its so, ye fool. Tom with his
clever pen, has written yc into jail Ha-have
touched ye-have -
For Frank had started Brush looked eager
ly for sign of his emotion, whether rage,
chagrin or despair and saw instead a gleam
OF satisfaction. He realized that he had be-
trayed a secret, and broke into fury.
He storned and threatened cursed and
ieered He tried every means to bring Frank
from himself. He reminded him of his situa-
ton, kicked the crust Of bread within MS
reach gloated over the coming sentence and
the ignominious death, and fOretold the sure
downfall of the American cause. And FRANKS
friends should curse him, and his sweetheart
marry Sotheran. More and more threats he
dragged from his small Imagination, and con-
stantiy looked to see Frank s composure break
down.
1t was in vain. Brush brought no glance OF
interest TO Franks eyes, no fear into MS race
Instead once more there an unmstak-
able curling OF the lip. Rage seized the latter
at the young mans control; he rose from MS
seat, came closer and bent his face down to-
ard Franks.
"sneer at me. do ye?" he roared Sheer
again." He struck the keys and nanocuHs TO-
eetLer I'll teach ye! III break ye! owe
mo your hands here. III chain ye up! n
load We down." He ratified the keys again
anG stepped so close that he bestrode the
Young NmaI,s sh&cked legs. - Reach your
arms here!'"' i. +.
His eyes were red with rage his limbs were
uuivering Frank felt his foul creath as
Brush thrust his face nearer: The man raasen
the heavy keys and struck Frank on tue
shoulder Give me your wrists!' he roareo.
Frank moved his knees as far as they
could goa single foot-thrusting them
against Brush's leg. Brush oVeroalanceo'
toppled into the trap. Two waiting arms en-
folded him and crushed him close. ne strus
eled the arms were steel; he Writhed, but was
ninioned fast Fear came over him, and he
opened mis- mouth to shout. Then mana
caught his throat, one smothered cry, ana MS
breath was stopped
He could kick, but to no purpose. Let MIN
thunder on the floor with his heeis-nolses
were nothing in that place. his arms "ete
pOwerless his neck was almost broken. RE
looked with starting eyes into Franks smiling
face.
Take it easily, Mr.. Brush said FRANK
AN easy DEATH" was all Brush could
think Horror thickened the biooa IN his
body; his chest was bursting, and bells were
changing in his ears. He was heloAess as
child throttled like dog, and Frank was
now looking down ;nquiringly, carefully into
his face. He made last vain effort for re-
lease, then tainted from fright.
Frank and Dickie stood free in the jail
ward Old Nichols had been right-the clamps
Of the bars were rusted through The rope
of the bedclothes showed the methoo OF es-
cane. Yet the rear wall Of the yard was
formed by the back OF warehouses; tne sue
walls could be seen from the gate. Frank
nn0 k
set and bowegged, he seemed Its very owner
He jingled the keys, then picked up from
the ground an empty bottle
THANK God, the moon is hid!' he said.
"Yet we can see. Stagger, Dickie
They staggered. they lurched around the
Tail to it's side A few steps and Dicke saw
the gate with the sentinel. He felt Franks
elbow steering him wide of the building.
There, he felt, the danger The jail was
dark. but not silent, for from somewhere
came rough singing and loud laughter. Few
steps more and from the corner or MS eye
Dickie saw the light that streamed out into
the yard-the jalers had not shut the door.
Inyoluntarily he stepped faster.
"Slow!' cautioned Frank. BE drunk,
Dickie!"
,Dickie restrained himself. A little more
and thew would meet the sentry. He stag
gered artisticaly, his arms loose, his head
low Only twenty feet more to pass!
There came hail from behind. fii, Brush
-Crean!' Dickie looked. The under Jailer
was coming to intercept them.
go on said Frank to him, sternly
''Stand at the gate. Don't run till you must.
Then go home and find Ann.''
lie stopped. Dicke went on. But If de-
sert Frank" he thought, may l be struck
dead
He reached the gate. The sentry, halting,
held his musket across. Dickie, every nerve
eouiyer! stopped, turned, and looked back.
A storm of commands was issuing from
Frank, and the under jailer, dismayed, had
halted.
veq Lock that door. Lock 1t, I said! Lock
yourself inslde!' : :. - 5-
"But I thought began the man. The
british prisoners were crowding to the door
to listen.
l"I,ll do the thinking cried his false su-
perlor. go, 1 say!' E.~i2<
Frank reeled, caught himself, and threw
the bottle. The prisoners at the door dlsap-
peared inside; the under jailer lodged as the
bottle whizzed near him. 1t smashed TO
pieces; and its force conveyed the idea OF
obedience to the mans mind. He turned to
the Jail. H.,
Frank stood muttering for nearly half a
minute Dicke was in a cold sweat. Why
did he not come? At last his brother turned
and staggering to the gates, began laboriously
to shut them. Here, help me" he said to
= his brother. RI .e.-.. =: ..r.. . 'r4zN N..
sr- Dickie, with one eye on the sentry, helped.
The gates were heavy and wedged back; j;
the work was slow. The Jail door was al
ready shut, but the sergeant had come out
of the guardhouse and watching.
Frank, as II In anger. never ceased NUT
AArins- "Eha hlockhaad~-the tooI-the drunls>