Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-03-06
MQubIkeCk, |he u01-10nG[.
Dy SEWARD W. HOPKINS.
Asthsr VI 'Jsex Retbias VI AsssiSs.' "ta the
chias ss..'' Tee asatis.sa ~
Hs~si,." 'Oa . Fsiss
charge Ets-
Ey SEWARD W. HOPKINS.
c.,,r,.s.. sss. =, i,ss.sT sOssrs'. ssss
CHAPTER *.


the public boulevard"
I was known as Number ioi. My
keeper impaired the above delightful
Information To me On the ninth day
Of my imprisonment.
say delightful because ! mean II.
aud do not use the WOTd In an ironi-
cal sense, The reNs Vas indeed de-
lishtful and gratifying. 4, Was what
had waited for. u Nns the begin
ming at my labor for III. state. and
my hopes rose. for nov. surely.
would md an opportunity To strike
for my liberty.
The officer In command lost Eo
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 II they were
resamlng work that had but recently
been laid down.
Ausr dinner. I. In company with
the same ill'smsliins ruiiian who was
my marching partner. was sent som.
distance away TO bring back supply
OF cement In wagon drawn by n
small horse. rugged. stout litti.
animal. that did rot seem TO feel
fatigue.
AZ We left the main force behind.
my heart began to bcat violently and
my brain tn work quickly. for now. l
thought. the only opportunity would
get had come.
We travelled perhaps three miles.
Thea ~" came To a sort OF Htorchous.
or shed. where We stopped. The guard
had the hey to the shed. and. handing
Il To me. he ordered me to open the
door.
did m was told. Nothing could
exceed my humility and mccEncsS nj
that moment.
The stun used for these roads
proved TO he n Kind OF asphalt
brought from the coast farther north
and stored In the shed until needed.
n was row dry. aud lay In piles OF
broken Jumps and blocks.
The guard stood looking on vhllr
my companion and ! proceeded to
carry the H,un TO tho wagon and load
M for our return tIip, I hal rcznlycd
that this return trip would never be
madc-at least by me.
Suddenly an overwhelming Infiu.
cncc seized me. and struck the blow
that had been dreaming OF ever
since my Incarceration,
I had not the least cause to feel
murdcrously inclined toward tho
guard but II wna my liberty against
his life. ard the balance fell my way.
had reached his side with heavy
piece OF the asphalt In my hands.
Without giving him time to raise
hls rifle. lifted the lump and sen, II
crashing against his skull.
With n groan he fell into n heap on
the floor.
spranG to the horse and began
rapidly To loosen him from the wagon.
Hut row an enemy arose upon whom
had not counted. My fellow prison.
or. either from mistaken sense OF
duty or from n desire to win favor
and perhaps pardon for himself.
sought To prevent my departure. He
sprnng upon me. and We had n hand
to.hand tusslc, In which II seemed Mt
times as II | was going to get the
worst OF It. Backward and forward
we swayed. now with his hand Mt my
thruat. now with my fist thrust square
against his jaw. writhing. twisting. bit
ing and kicking. until finally got n
good grip on his throat and nearly
strangled him.
Selling him with n mighty effort. |
hurled him against the body OF the
guard ard with n last pull at the
straps, freed the horse from his en-.
cumbrarcc.
Loaplng upon his back. | banged his
sides with my heels, and away he
went 10 the northward, carrying me
toward freedom.
But the Sandman prisoner was not
yet beaten. | heard the crack of the
guards rifle behind me- ard felt
singing sensation in tic back. l
was shot.
felt the warm blood oozing down
my back and began TO feel weak and
dizzy. Even though had not been
hit In vital spot, | 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 rifle was fired again.
but this time the distance was too
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 man para.
lyzed. rolled from the animals back
and fell with tAud by the waysidc.
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 burning sensa.
tion in my throat, then an excruciat-
irg pain in my head. taen 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. opened my eyes.
Vision had returned to me.
Bending over me was a monk
You are wounded. SON" he said, in