Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-12-19
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by SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
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Charge" Etc.
oseyrisAs, issS, BY Roszar BORNE seyA
CpAPTER TX.


Number 1Ol!"
What is it,"
You are to be put into road gang
this morning. and go out to work on
the public boulevard"
";as koown as &oataec 20l. Ny
keeper impaired the above delightful
information to me on the ninth day
or my Imprisonment.
i; say delightful because I mean it,
anc do not use the word in an ironi-
cal sense. Tue news was indeed de-
lightful and gratifying 1t was what
| had waited for. 1t was the begin
ming OF my labor for the state, and
my hopes rose, for now. surely, l
would find an opportunity to strike
for my liberty.
The officer in command lost no
time, but put us at once to work.
Most of the prisoners had evidently
been there before, for they seemed to
know just what to do, as If they We're
resuming work that had but recently
been laid down.
After dinner, I. in company with
the same ill-smelling ruffian who was
my marching partner, was sent some
distance away to bring back supply
OF cement in a wagon drawn by a
small horse, rugged, stout little
animal, that did not seem to feel
fatigue.
AS we left the main force behind,
my heart began to beat violently and
my brain to work quickly, for now.
thought, the only opportunity l would
get had come.
We travelled perhaps three miles.
or shed, where we stopped. The guard
had the key to the shed, and, handing
it to me. he ordered me to open the
door.
did as was told. Nothing could
exceed my humility and meekness at
that moment.
The stuff used for these roads
proved to be kind of asphalt
brought from the coast farther north
and stored in the shed until needed.
1t was now dry, and lay in piles of
broken Jumps and blocks.
The guard stood looking on while
my companion and I proceeded to
carry the stuff to the wagon and load
up for our return trip. l had resolved
that this return trip would never be
made-at least by me.
Suddenly an overwhelming influ-
ence seized me, and I struck the blow
that had been dreaming Of ever
since my incarceration.
l had not the least cause to feel
murderously inclined toward the
guard, but it was my liberty against
his life, and the balance fell my way
l had reached his side with q heavy
piece of the asphalt in my hands
Without giving him time to raise
his rifle, lifted the lump and sent II
crashing against his skull.
With sroan lie fell into heap or
the floor.
l sprang to tho horse and begar
rapidly to loosen him from the wagon
But now an enemy arose upon whom
l had not counted. My fellow prison
er, either from a mistaken sense Of
duty or from desire to win favor
and perhaps pardon for himself
sought to prevent my departure. He
sprang upon me, and we had hand
to-hand tussle, in which 1t seemed al
times as III was going to get the
worst of it. Backward and forward
we swayed, now with his hand at my
throat, now with my fist thrust square
against his jaw, writhing, twisting, bit
ing and kicking, until l finally got 6
good grip on his throat and nearly
strangled him.
Selling him With 4 mighty effort,
hurled him against the body Of the
guard, and with . last pull at the
straps, freed the horse from his en-
cumbrance.
Leaping upon his back, banged his
sides with my heels, and away he
went to the northward, carrying me
toward freedom.
But the Sandman prisoner was not
yet beaten. I heard the crack of the
guards rifle behind me, and felt q
singing sensation in the back.
was shot.
felt the warm blood oozing down
my back, and began to feel weak and
dizzy. Even though had not been
hit in a vital spot, l knew that the
loss Of blood would finish me unless
was able soon to stay it. But to
halt now would be death anyhow, and
kept on. The rife was fired again
but this time the distance was toe
great for the Sardinian's aim, and
was not touched.
On, on we went, my little horse and
l, past woods and past farms, until
saw the road across the valley, which
had seen from my prison window
and which had seemed to lead to
places of refuge in the mountains.
Suddenly my horse stumbled and
fell. My weakness was now SO great
that my hands refused to cling; my
legs were as those of a man para
lived, l rolle:- from the animals back
and fell with thud by the wayside
Relieved of his burden, the horse re-
covered his footing and plunged for.
ward out of sight.
was stunned by the fall. I be-
came conscious of a burning sensa.
ton in my throat, then an excruciat'
ing pain in my head, then another IN
my back; my arms and legs tingled
as II filled with needles. felt some.
thing pressed to my lips, and again
the burning in my throat. My mind
grew calmer. I opened my eyes.
Vision had returned to me.
Bending over me was a monk.
you are wounded, son." he said, in