Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-15
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Case of Conscience.
[OriginaI.J

don't get out y here I'll 20 crazy.
BE patient: you've only got year
and a half more. counting time off for
good behavior. ard that'N soon pass
The convict turned away with dis
satisfied exclamation: the Keeper LOCK-
ed him in his cell and returned to his
Office.
Just three months from that time
Jim Burt. after Il visit from his wife,
who Struggled him steel saw, cut
two bars out of his window. let him
self down by means of his bedclothes,
lodged the guard and got away. When
the escape was reported 10 the keeper
lie Ecaved Il sigh and, arming himself
started in pursuit.
Il must get Jim or kill him. he
said. Everybody knows that he and
l were schoolmates. and everybody
viii believe that l connived at his es-
cape"
There was more than this in Bill
ConnolIy's determination TO capture or
shoot his old friend-a east iron con-
science. He considered it his duty 10
safely keep every prisoner. and if any
one Of them escaped to get him. dead
VI lIlNt- I1r NtlllN Iiislh' iiO N-N' l'AACLA1
and in the case of his former friend he
must make Il greater effort. lie divid-
ed the pursuing force into sections,
sending them in different directions,
keeping one route for himself. Il route
he felt sure Jim Burt would take. Tom
Hathaway, who had been one OF trio
Of friends when they were boys, Bill
Connolly and Jim Burt being the 9th
ers. lived in retired spot between
two mountains. Il convenient place to
hide, and Bill knew that Tom would
hide their old friend BIZ.
One with Il less sturdy conscience
would have looked elsewhere for the
fugitive except i'll the place where he
felt sure he wIS to he found, but Con
molly could no more lie to himself than
TO those by whom he WAS paid to do
his duty. He went alone to Hatha-
ways. hoping that he might the better
prevail upon Jim to return with him
voluntarily.
1t was Il cold winter day when the
keeper approached Hathaway's place.
Connolly shivcrcd at the thought OF
hurts being obliged to lie in conceal
mcut in the cold.
= -
Hathaway Hathaway was not at
home, that Burt had not been there. !
But he had. and she mad given him her
husbands OVcTcoat.
Connolly knew Of cleft in the rocks
Il short distance ZIP the road and felt
sure he would find his man there. lie
walked till he came 10 an opening in |
the bushes through which Il path led to |
the little cove. then took the path and |
advanced. When he came within Il few !
hundred yards of the hiding place |
voice called:
Halt"
Come out. Jim"
''NevCr alive. Billy"
You know my duty"
NO don't. Billy. suppose you do /
I'm obliged to take you back with /
me. Nou know how it would grieve me |
10 take You back i'm box"
Yes. | do. Billy. and you know how |
it would Ericve me To shoot my old |
friend. You sec. I've got 4 position |
here behind these rocks 10 do all the |
damage. or rather YOU can't see. for /
I'm too we'll covered"
And you'll Kill me while I'm doing |
only my duty. duty that l cant fail /
To- perform without diShonor."
Il don't exactly see it in that light |
You have your old friends word that
he is not guilty of the crime for which |
he is punished. The master you serve.
the state. has made Il mistake. What /
you want to do is to make a big effort .
To satisfy the public without really try
ing to do anything"
That's not my way OF doing a
thing I'm bound to do. I'm not to de-
eide on your guilt or innocence. y
jury has done that. If they hit your
case wrong. that's your misfortune"
And if you are my jailer trying to
take me and l Kill you in self defense
that's your misfortune"
There was long silence. at the end |
Of which Connolly said, in tone ne
might have used 10 4 stranger:
Prisoner. come out and surrender or
I'll open fire on YOU
To which, after a short silence, Burt
replied:
Keeper. Ill not take advantage of
n man who regards it his duty 10 kill
me- If l must fight you. I'll fight you
in the open"
He SpTang over Il rock and advanced.
firing and receiving his antagonists
fire aS he advanced. He had emptied
three chambers OF his revolver and
Connolly had emptied five of his when
both fell some thirty feet apart and
lay without motion.
Late that night Hathaway returned
TO his home and learned that both his
old friends had been there Burt had
told Mrs. Hathaway where he was GO
ing and asked her 10 tell her husband
10 come and consult upon some plan
for further action. Hathaway hurried
away. The moonlight lay on the white
snow as he left the road and struck
into the path that led 10 the rocks. He
walked rapidly till lie came TO the
bodies Of Burt and Connolly lying side