Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-05-12
A CASE OF
CONSCIENCE


into myself than into you
I'm try, Bill, to be satisfied to do my
time, but sometimes l feel that If
don't get out O here I'll so crazy"
BE patient; you've only got a year
ana half more, counting time off for
good behavior, ana thatIl soon pass"
The convict turned away with a 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 visit from his wife,
who smuggled him steel saw, cut
two bars out of his window, let him
self down by means of his beLlothes,
/ lodged the guard and got away. When
/ the escape was reported TO the keeper
he heaved a 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
will believe that I connived at his es-
cape"
There was more than this in Bill
'
shoot his old friend-a cast iron con
science He considered 1t his duty to
safely keep every prisoner, and If any
one of them escaped to get him, dead
or alive He could make no exception,
and in the case of his former friend he
must make a greater effort. He divid-
ed the pursuing force into sections,
-,
keeping one route for himself, a 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 a retired spot between
two mountains, convenient place TO
hide and Bill knew that Tom would
hide their old friend Bill.
one with q less sturdy conscience
would have looked elsewhere for the
fugitive except in the place where he
felt sure he was TO be found but Con
molly could no more lie 10 himself than
10 those by whom he was paid TO do
his duty He went alone 10 Hatha-
ways, hoping that he might the better
prevail upon Jim To return with him
voluntarily.
1t was q cold winter day when the
keeper approached Hathaway's place |
Connolly shivered at the thought Of
Rurts being obliged 10 lie in conceal |
ment IL the cold.
At Hatbaway's he was told by Mrs |
Hathaway lHathaway was not at
home that Burt had not been there /
But he had. and she had given him her /
husbands overcoat
Connolly knew Of a cleft IN the rocks /
"a short distance NJ the road and felt 4
sure he would md his man there. He /
walked TIN he came 10 an opening in 4
the bushes through which path led 10 4
the little cove then took the path and 4
advanced When he came within a few 4
hundred yarlS Of the hiding place a
voice called
Halt"
Come out. jim"
Never alive, Ril2y"
~You know my duty"
No, ! don't, Billy. suppose You do"
I'm Obliged 10 take you back with
me You know how il would cr5eye me-
10 take you back IN = box"
Yes. do, Billy, and you know how
II would E1Seve me 10 shoot my old
friend You >ee, I've sot a position
here behind :heSe vJcSS 10 10 an the
damage, or rather you can't see. for
I'm too well cove-ei
And youu kiu me while I'm doing
only my duty, q duty that l can't fail
u perform without diShooor"
i don't exactly See il in that light
You have your old friends vool that
lie J. not guilty Of the crime Tor which
lie i punished The master You serve.
the state, has made mistake What
you want 10 10 + 10 make q big effort
10 satisfy the public without really try
inS "a 10 anything"
That's NOT my way of doing \
thing I'm bound 10 DO. I'm not 70 de-
eide ON your guilt OF Innocence. \
jury has done that. IL they hit your
ease wrong that's your misfortune"
And II you 0Uc my jaller trying 10
take me and Kill You in self defense
that's your misfortune"
There was long silence. al the end
OF which Connolly said. in tone he
might have used 10 a stranger.
Prisoner. come out and surrender or
I'll open fire On YOU"
To which, after a short silence, Burt
replied:
Keeper, I'll not take advantage OF
q man who regards il his duty 70 kill
me. Ii l must hight you, III fight you
in the open"
He spranS over rock and advanced,
firing and receiving his antagonists
fire as he advanced. lie had emptied
three chambers Of his revolver and
Connolly had emptiei rive OF his when
both fell some thirty feet apart and
lay without motion.
Late that night Hathaway returned
10 his home and learned that both his
old friends had been there Burt had
told Mrs, Hathaway where he was go-
ing ana 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 TIL he came to the
bodies OF Burt and Connolly lying side
10y side, He placed his hand first ON
Rurt's then on Counolly'S heart. Burts
was still; Counolly's was beating fee
bly,, The overyoat that Mrs. Hathaway
had loaned Burt had been thrown over
Connolly, RUrt, knowing that he had
received his death wound, had crawled
10 his friend and carefully covered
him.
THOMAS KENT WATERMAN.
An Important Announcement.
When the late Lord Lyons was Brit