The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-12-30
A PRISON MESSAGE
IorLrnall

N
 picture of his home, the wife who adored hlm. the children who loved to play upon his knee and listen while he told them stories. that the jailer wished t was in his power to free the man and let him go home But this was im- possible. The jailer himself had a fam fly dependent on bis pay, and if a pris- oner escaped he would lose his posi- ton. However, be told the prisoner that he would soon need to go to the place where he (the prisonerl lived aud would bear message to his wife. Not long after this the jailer came to the prisoners cell and asked for the mes sage.
 "Teu my wife to send me word how to recover my liberty"
 "That Is a foolish message' replied the taller. flor l who bring the an- swer win know how to defeat any plan she may send you'
 "yery well. said the prisoner That is the only message l have. If you will not deliver it cant help it ] have ho other for you"
 The taller went away piUing the poor fool who had no other hope of se- curing his freedom than a plan of es- cape brought by the man whose duty and interest 1t was to watch him Nev- ertheless. after reaching the town where the prisoners wife lived and attending to what business be had to do he in- Quired the way to the woman he had promised to visit and went to see her.
 Your husband" he said, CT fear i> losing his mind by his confinement When l promised to see you and give you a message from him he told mc tc ask you how he might recover his lib- erty."
 When the woman heard this she fell over. to an appearances dead. A sur geon was called in. who Immediately let some blood The jailer waited In another room hoping that be might car ry news to the prisoner that his wife was better but when the surgeon came out he said that the woman was dead "Give this to your prisoner r' he said and handed the jailer piece of silver. Then the jailer wondering and heavy hearted at being the bearer of such news. went back to the iail
 CT bore your message" " said the jailer. "and l am sorry to say that your wife was so distressed at your condition that she fell in swoon and died soon aft er."
 Alas, alack! My poor wife" cx claimed the prisoner. And he too, feil in a swoon.
 The jaller ran for surgeon. This was at time when the barber and the surgeon were often one and the same person, and the only remedy was blood letting. The barber came and let some blood. but lt only made the prisoner look whiter. and when he left he pro nounccd the man dead.
 "This is remarkable. exclaimed the iailer "I carry a message that kills the poor mans wife, and her death kills the prisoner Well. there is noth. ing Co do but bury him.
 He put the corpse in a box and placed it on a bier in the corridor to await burial In the morning he called the priest. who read the burial service. and the box was committed to the earth.
 The next day the prisoner. alive and well. appeared at the castle of his teudal lord and begged an audience
 "I ask a pardon,' he said, having been in prison for debt and escaped. wish Co go home Co my wife and chil dren and not be again disturbed
 What have you to offer for such a pardou:" asked the baron.
 "A story"
 "Tcu it."
 Then che prisoner told of his mes. sage to his wife and what resulted. "Uer failing in a swoon. he explained "was message Co me Co do likewise She gave the surgeon money to pro- nouncc her dead and gave him the piece of silver to je given to me Co bribe the barber Thus my jailer carried am n- Quiry Co my wife as to how l might es cape and the reply"
 Your wife Is too shrewd a woman,' replied Che h1rou ito live in obscurity. Your pardon Is granted Bring your wife to the castle that she may enter the service of thc countess. AS for the jailer. ] pardon him also. since ] would have acted he did if ] had been in his place. This ] know because ] did not understand the device till you told 1t to me-
 The prisoners famiy was assigned apartments the castle. and his wife entering the service of the countess was consulted upon every knotty Ques- ton arising In both tl5 5arou's and the countess aIais
 The baron. who was an impolitiC man. was saved from many troubles by the womau's adroiuess. Nevertheless he got into difficulty with a neighbor- ing baron, who marched with all his re. tainers against him, besieging him fin his castle. The siege had lasted many days and starvation was imminent when the countess appealed to her chief attendant, whereupon the woman sent her husband out at night as a de- serter with an offer to lead the enemy Into the castle by a secret underground passage.
 Whats the matter with you| asked the besieglng baron. What are those spots on youF'
 "The plague. All in the castle have It."
 'Tun blm outm shrieked the baron.