Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-22
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE UNDER DOG.

1
l had been Invited 10 spend Il weel
1 with Colonel Hampton at Hampton
/, Hall. but on arrival found that he hat
been called away for couple of days
: by urgent business. A note to this eff
. feet was handed me- and | was told tc
. make myself very much al home The
bedroom given me was large room
3. with a bed against the west wall and
J reading table in the center.
When | went up TO the room l sat
facing the bed. Ii was u heavy ma
hogany frame. with a valance hanging
down. and just peeping out from I'M
der this curtain was the toe of coarse
shoe a coarse and heavy shoe. with the
; sole nailed on. l recognized il in an
! instant as a prison shoe. All convicts
wore that make OF shoe while serving
their time and left them behind when
set at liberty.
That there was an escaped convict
under the bed l hadn't the slightest
doubt. As looked at that toe remem-
bered that Colonel Hampton had been
governor at Dartmoor for many years.
though ont OF IL for the last five and
wondered what the connection could
be-
| knew little of the hall and was ig-
norant of the servants quarters. while
II was full mile 10 the nearest house
and over three 10 the police station
| However. l had no thought of running
| away. | grew cooler as the minutes
passed. and presently | did the best
| thing | could have done under the cir
| rumstances. Doing my best To steady
| my voice and speaking as if 10 one be-
side me. | said:
"iou might as well come out from
under the bed. my man"
The man rolled into view and sprang
10 his feet with muttered curse He
was convict In uniform He was
short and thick set and Il man OF great
strength. As for his face every line
of II was evil. In his hand he clutched
and fourisbed naked knife nearly a
foot long. Given a choice, l would
rather have been I'm that room with a
Bengal tiger just escaped from his cage.
We'll. what do you want here?" I
asked in IA voice l tried to make care
less as put away my book
81 want your life. curse you" he re- |
piled as lie came step nearer.
Il am here. What is 1t? Have YOU
just walked out of Dartmoor?"
Yes. | escaped from prisOn-from |
hell-this morning. and no doubt they'll Il
have me back before noon tomorrow II
but when they come for me they'll find
your dead body. That's why wanted
TO give 'em the slip for Il few hours. to
Kill you. AS for getting clear off with II
out money or friends, / cant hope TO do II
IT, You remember me. governor. l am
Bill Watson, No. 1910, in for twenty
years"
You call M governor" said in re-
ply as he finished. You are mistaken II
in your man. Colonel Hampton used to II
be governor. but you ought to remem-
Der that he resigned five years ago. He
IS away from home just now"
~ as, know he resigned but | swore
revenge on him long ago and am here
10 get IL. No, you are not the governor. II
,urse you see the difference now ii
We waited ten years for this. and now II
m told that he will escape me. Man, III
iont lie TO me or I'll Kill you like "A
log. / came here to kill the devil who III
'rdered me to be dashed until cringed III
mi whined like a cur. and no one shall III
,alk me-
1 showed him the note that the colo
lei had left me and then asked him to
~ down. There was a bottle Of wine
u the closet. and | brought II out 10
nm. offered to tiptoe down To the |
ldeboard and bring up some biscuit III
or him. For five minutes he watched |
ne with tigerish glare. seeming TO be
ndecided what TO do. but then he took
long drink from the bottle and said:
I'd willingly hang after killing that
lan, but ! can't hold you responsible
lis wife and children are here, how
YER"
You must have heard that the colo
Ell is an old bachelorT'
Curse me. hut I remember now!
hen I'm 10 get no revenge? I'm to
p taken back TO that he'll OH earth
nd dashed and locked up in darkness
Id get nothing out OF II? Say. I'll do
urder and hang for IT, I'll-I'n"-
Lets talk a moment" broke in Oh
m. What was your crime?"
Il had fight with man, and he
Ell two weeks later"
: nd how long have you servedT
Sixteen years sixteen years so III
ne that / can hardly look back 10 the
y L entered prison. If had killed
rec men the punishment is enough"
And II you could escape-get clear
get out of the country
1t couldn't be done. haven't a
my. I'd have to rob some one for
en- change OF shoes. No. I'll go
Z and meet the police and
Listen. I'm bit sorry IL they used
u roughly in prison. Sixteen years nm,
a long. long time. have a hundred
unds here. Half Of IL Is yours. me
ere is clothing In that closet to fit VIC
H. When you 60 out Of here you can hei
'lk past the police without fear. "a,
Jew star, IN ,,,ar, "o' '''AAe be;