Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-02-10
CHAPTER XIII.

/ look around me and shiver. The
solid masonry of the walls is oozing with
damp, which envelops me, enters my
lungs, and literally permeates my being,
drowning my spirits, lowering my vi
tality and extinguishing hope in my
breast.
A warden brings me my allowance of
bread and jug Of water He informs
me that l can have tea If l choose to
pay for it. and shrugs his shoulders
when l tell him that have no money.
On lighting my lamp he leaves me.
After a while stretch myself on the
bed, where / lie staring at the light.
At times l groan aloud, wiring my
hands, whilst the sweat Of anguish pours
from my body. And thus the night wears
away-the ghastly, fevered night, whose
hours seem to lengthen out more and
more as they crawl toward the pale
dawn.
To-day is little more than a wretched
repetition of yesterday, only l feel it
less. / have become apathetic. l have
lost the mental energy to think strongly.
For hours | sit on one spot and move
not, or l stand at the grated window
gazing vacantly at the river and the
passing craft.
About midday the sky darkens and 1t
begins to rain. 1t is a straight, steady
land-ran without wind, and the monot-
onous patter of the drops on the water
comes to me, mingled with the creaking
Of the RATS and the husky calls Of the
boatmen.
After my midday meal they take me
to walk for a quarter Of an hour In a
court that is partly covered in, and again
shake off my apathy to observe the
faces of the two gendarmes who pace
at each side Of me. They are stolidity
personifed. Ny eyes dart now at an
official, now at a passing warden. with
vague hope that the Cossack may
throw himself in my way and give me a
significant glance or sign. In vain. And
we are treading again the damp corri-
dor and the gendarmes leave me in my
cell
The clock in the chapel tower Of the
prison tolls the hour of midnight.
count the strokes mechanically, sitting
on the steel with my head against the
humid wall. The final stroke Is still Quiy-
ering in the air when l hear a faint
click.
Am l dreaming, or is there really a
pair Of cleaning eyes looking at me
through the trap In the door? Is that In
very truth a hand holding something to-
ward me? l stagger to my feet, staring
with all my might.
The hand beckons impatiently. In two
strides l am at the opening! / grasI
cold, rough iron! 1t Is a file A fac,
Is advanced SO that l can see a Ions
dropping mustache, as black as jet, ant
a pair Of red lips which pronounce one
word, "Work!' And the trap is closed
/ clutch it, l hug 1.-THE little instru
ment that is to give me liberty! Th'
reaction from the deepest depths Of de
spair to sudden, full-Aedged hope, fol
a moment overpowers me. l sink on thu
edge Of the bed and find relief in a sue
cession Of gasping sobs. Then l ge
mastery of my emotion, and rise will
compressed lips, burning to commence
my task. First deliberately put out th'
light, after which l mount the stool anC
work. Even when the dawn began t
glimmer dare to continue it, until ever!
bar is sawn through top and bottom
leaving only a thin, unified surface t.
cause the entire grating to give way.
am examining my handiwork witt
comparative composure, for have grow
confident during my undisturbed labors
when the unexpected click Of the opening
trap makes my heart stand still witt
sudden dismay, whilst the sweat turn
Icy cold on my brow. l have, however
the presence Of mind to let the file sill
up my sleeve dimly descriy the point
of the Cossack's black mustache thrus
through the aperture l noiselessly spec
toward him.
How much have you done?" he whis
pers.
Finished" I whisper in reply.
Good. Give me the fle."
| hand it to him and he thrusts it int
the breast of his uniform. Again h
bends down to me and murmurs the on
word "To-night!'
20 over to the bed, and fling mysel
on it with a sigh of supreme satisfaction
at is done-my task is finished. Wit
a single thrust Of my hand l can max
for myself an outlet from this foul de
to liberty. A few hours and | shall b
free"
1t is the very longest day Of my life
And when at last the shades begin t
gather and enshroud me, cast mysel
down on my bed utterly spent with tn
burden of it, and my WORKOUT syster
finds relief in sleep. When l awak
the lamp is burning once more, and m
supper stands on the table. l eat up a
the food that has been brought me, q
have done systematically all day, an
take a long pull Of water. After whic
1 seat myself opposite the door and wa
breathlessly, braced for the moment c
action.
Suddenly, without the slightest war;
Ing l am startled by the grating of tn
key in the rusty lock, and directly tn
Cossack enters; changes the key to tn
inside, and locks us in! For the fir
time see my stranger friend A sing
Ant