The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1904-03-07
IN CONVICT'S
DRESS
Copyright, 1903, by c. B. Lewls.l

It was a dark, rainy evening In No
vember, and sat in my room in East
Norwich reading book when | sud
denly fancied that there was man
under the bed in the alcove. ltswas
only fancy and one could not &C
count for, but glanced in that dilec'
ton, and next minute my heart was in
my mouth.
1t was massive, old fashioned bed
stead, with valance or curtain falling
to the floor around the front and the
foot. Just peeping out from under this
curtain was the toe Of shoe-a coarse,
heavy shoe with hobnails in the sole.
1t was not the shoe worn by mechanics
or day laborers, but spotted it in an
instant as prison shoe.
hadn't the slightest doubt that there
was an escaped convict under the bed.
1t was sixteen miles to Pentield, and
had heard nothing of an escape, but
the man under the bed was no doubt
In prison uniform and from the instl-
tuition named.
had pretty good nerve in those days,
and yet as sat there trying to solve
the problem | found my mouth as dry
as cotton and rny whole body trem-
bling. You will perhaps say that l
should have got up and walked out of
the room andsdownstairs To be hon
est with you, my knees were SO weak
that l feared they would not serve me,
and 1 also feared that the convict
would suspect my design and goll out
and attack me.
still had no thought Of running away.
BY and by, as ] continued to grope fol-
solution, grew cooler, and present
ly did the best thing under the cir.
cumstances. Doing my best to steady
my voice and speaking as If to one be
side me, said:
"You might as well come out from
-u1der the bed. gsy man. have known
of your presence there for this half
hour, and you must be tired by this
time" rra
The toe suddenly disappeared.
81 think you had better come out"
l continued. "You are here on an err
rand, and the sooner you accomplish II
the sooner you can 60 The men from
Penfield will be on your heels before
daylight"
Then the man suddenly rolled into
view and sprang to his feet with a
muttered curse. He was in convict's
uniform, but he was not an evil look
ing man. On the contrary. he looked
to be more of a sufferer than GRIM
inal. There was more pride in his face
than might have been looked for. and
he had my sympathy at once.
"Well?" queried as he stood star
ing Mt me.
81 shall never go back to prison.
neverw he exclaimed as he looked
around the room. "Pll die right hero.
| I've been in q living hell for ten long
years, and the other hell can't be
worse. l went to prison thinking to do
my best, but as held up my head they
said was too airy and must be broken
down. I was punished again and again
| because ! WOulu ilOt DcCOifsS tuW uiuS
sycophant, creeping, crawling thing
at the feet Of a brutal Keeper. They
starved me, loaded me with chains,
dashed me till they did not dare to add
another blow. | was told that the gov.
ernol rubbed his hands and laughed
over it, and l swore would live to es
cape and escape to drive a knife into
| his heart | never knowingly broke a
rule of tie prison. 1t was because
would not lick the shoes of the keepers
that they wanted to break me"
asked the man to take chair, and
/ gave him glass Of Wine and cigar.
He was nonplused at my action and
didn't know whether to receive 1t as
kindness or as scheme to entrap him.
For long hour he told me of his life
in the famous English prison, of the
sfoeatings and staFYiagssze e ba.sr9eltS
and the curses heaped upon him every
hour in the day to drive him to rebel
/ lion, and when he had finished there
was but one thing for me TO do.
| had hundred pounds in my wallet
| made an even divide with him. had
q rough and ready suit for fishing. i