The Washington times., 1904-05-22
CHAPTER IX.-(Continued.)
Neither of us answered.

there is not a ray OF hope somewhere"
He shook his head sorrowfully.
Let me begin at the beginning" he
said slowly. Il suppose you know all
about the Brand trial"
Your trial for killing Brand? Yes.
You were convicted on the testimony of
James Lee and Ellis Finland"
Yes. But / did not kill Jake Brand.
j swore IT at the trial and / swear II
now. I never told a falsehood in my
life. The story l told at the trial was
true In every respect. James Lee and
Finland deliberately lied
II was certainly strange that a man
would deny positively a murder that had
resulted in his being sentenced to life
imprisonment and yet confess with
equal elaboration the commission of
another that could but send him to his
death.
The bitterest part Of it all was the
disgrace that was heaped upon Bea-
trice." Forrest continued Poor girl,
she was ostracised by everybody. Peo-
ple said she had a good home in John
Les house. She lived in a perpetual
hell. Oh. those Leesi" he added Dit
terly
Reserve that. Mr.. Forrest" said.
I'VE must get the thing into shape and
order. 1 shall ask you some questions
about that by and by. Now l want TO
get at the story of your escape and the
killing of Finland"
Beatrice used to come to see me once
every month" he said. She was ac-
companied always by Norah, her faith
full attendant. She did not accept my
conviction with resignation. She is
young, you know. She rebelled at the
law and hated all who had had a hand
in bringing me to tbs Her mind was
constantly at work on a plan to escape.
AT first I tried to stop her, but she
finally convinced me that ought 10 get
out If I could, and try TO discover some
evidence that would bring the crime
home 10 the real murderer.
80. at the last visit II eliminated.
Henry Vaildon was my night keeper
here. He often used TO talk to me
about the trial He did not believe
was guilty He was a poor man, Vail
don. and was not over and above honest.
well. there is no use in going into ali
details. Suffice it TO say that we talked
It over. and he agreed to help me es-
cape for a certain price. Beatrice had
worked hard teaching music. and had
saved all she earned. and also what her
guardian allowed out Of my money. She
brought this to me, I gave II to Vaildon,
and on a favorable night we left the
prison.
ut was believed that Yaildon went
east and 1 west That was the result Of
Vaildon's own shrewdness. He did not
care what became of me when he had
done what he agreed TO do. But he did
not wish to be caught himself. So we
exchanged clothing.
HE went west. wearing a new suit
he purchased somewhere. 1 don't know
where, leaving my prison garb on the
way ] wore his keepers uniform TIL
managed 10 get hold OF some old duds
that made me look Ike a tramp.
Il had written TO Norah's people ir
Syracuse. enclosing a note TO Beatrice
Her brother managed to convey the let
tiers to them at Lees. You know how
we met II was you who warned ms
that the Lees were coming. The,
thought it was Finland Beatrice was e
meet In her excitement she had lef
the letters IN John Lees house.
when you went to find the pony 70
Beatrice, she joined me. She left Lee
house dressed for a ride. believing thi
10 be the most certain way OF account
ing for a long absence
''Norah had provided some oil
clothes. which were hidden in a ruine'
cottage near the mill. Beatrice an
Norah changed their clothing there
but assuming male garb. some old dud
OF Norah's brother. AS three tramp
we started away from Pawmuc.
1--WE went through Bridgewater an
other hamlets. and eventually reache
RichheId Springs. We did not max
a..
days hidden in hay stacks and in tn
woods. When we reached Richiiel
Springs I saw on the outskirts of tn
village a man I at once recognized a
Ellis Finland.
God knows. l had reason enough I
hate the fellow. but no thought o
vengeance entered my head We struc
into some woods. until a train Of empt
coal cars came along. They came al
most to a stop at a siding, and / pu
Beatrice and Nora into one. and clam
bered in myself. On that train we cam
to Utica.
There we managed to get into a
empty freight car going West. OF cousS
/ knew that the chances Of escape wer
slim. but / feared Finland more tina
I did the police. did not know the
that Finland was following US. He Ia
a bundle in his hand
Near Syracuse we were discovere
by a brakeman and put OF the trair
We struck of toward the West. poe
Beatrice almost dead from hunger an
exhaustion. I found that taking he
with me was going to hinder my escapi
II talked with her about this, an
she agreed TO It. II was certain ths
three Of US could not run away as easil
as one. Beatrice decided 10 go back
Syracuse with NOrah. who had peop
there. faithful TO her and Beatrice. s
we parted. 1 kept on, UlI / reached
farm 1 was hungry and tired mysel
and / received some food from n womal
/ found a place 10 sleep IN an old bar
Imagine my surprise wnen IN walk
Ellis Finland. I thought he had con
20 take me back 10 prison. But !
declared that n l obeyed him. he wou
do nothing of the kind. He limited thi
he was in the same boat / was
Judged he had committed a crime ais
He went On 10 tell how he love
Beatrice. and how. as Finland, he ha
tried after the trial TO win her. 81
she. hating him for hts testimony again
me. would have nothing to DO with hir
It seems that James Lee was also tryir