Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-05-18


least he goes by that name. although
the Weasel | have chased these ten
years was different cut of rogue.
But it's all one, captain. He was took
with Jack Mount, and he'll dance a
rope Jig the 10th of April next"
"Why not hang him soonerT in
quired Walter Butler, moving back a
step into the corridor He limped as he
walked and leaned on a cane. My
mark was still upon him. Cant he
change places with some other rogueT'
Lord, no." cried Bishop, horrified.
"Leastways not unless the court
martial directs it. sir. They don't do
no such things in Boston. sir"
They do in Tryon county" observed
Butler. eying me coolly. Presently a
CHASTITY smile stretched his paliid face,
but his yellow eyes glared unchanging.
"Well, WELL" he said, $50 you are to
sail to glory at ropes end, eh? You
wouldn't burn. you know. But the
flames will come later, l fancy. Eth.
Ar.-er-Mr. WeaselY'
Are your broken bones mendedY' I
asked qulety.
quite mended. thank you"
Because" said. you will need
them some day"
II need them now" he said cheerful
~. II am to wed q bride ere long.
Give me Joy. Weasel! am to know
the day this very night"
l could not utter a sound for the hor
ror which froze my tongue.
Eyes" he continued thoughtfully, II
ride this night to Lexington She's a
sweet little thing-a tribe skinny per
haps l think you have seen her-per
haps picked her pocket. When we are
wed we shall come to Boston-on the
10th Of April next"
I sprang at him; had gone stone
blind with rage and knew not what
did. The steel door crashed in my face;
the locks ratified. All that night lay
on the stone floor Of my CELL by turns
inert. stupid, frantic.
When Bishop came to me In the
morning he thought me Ill and sum
moned the prison apothecary to cup
me, but ere that individual appeared
with his pills and leeches / was quiet
and self possessed, ready to argue
with the pill roller and convince him
needed no nostrums. All that day l
watched for Dulcima; twice l saw her
go to Mounts cell, but could hear
nothing Of what they whispered.
Now, as / was standing looking out
Of the grating l CHANGED to glance
down and saw that the apothecary
had left his case of herbs and drugs
on a bench which stood just outside
my cell door.
Idly read the labels on the bottles
and boxes-"Senna. Jalap. Birthstone.
Els. Cammomile Saffron Pills, Tine
Opium
Opium? An easy death.
/ gazed at the dark flask scarcely a
foot below me. but as safe from me
as though under lock and key Pres
emily I turned around. My cell con-
tanned cot. an iron table, bowl for
washing and a towel
After moments thought / caught
up the coarse towel. drew from 1t
some threads, twisted them. tied On
more threads and then, greasing the
cord with bit of soap, made run
ming moose at the end.
There was nobody in the corridor.
heard voices In Bishops room. whittier
the apothecary had gone to examine
the baby at Mrs. Bishops summons.
Very carefully / let down my thread,
fishing for the bottles neck with my
slip moose, but the neck was so placed
that 1 could not snare it, and drew
up another bottle instead, bearing the
label, Eek. s. Nigrum."
What Eek. S. Nigrum might be l did
not know, but hid the tiny flask under
a loose fragment of stone In my floor
ing where black beetle had his abode.
Scooping out for il little hole In the
damp earth, | buried it. not harming
my friend the beetle. Then l returned
to fish for my opium flask. but could
not snare it. Finally l drew in my
string just as the apothecary came out
with Mrs. Bishop at his heels.
He stood moment, talking. then
picked up his cowhide case, closed 1t
and took himself of.
That night when the corridor was
dusky and Bishop sprawled outside his
door to smoke his evening pipe ! call
cd to him and asked him for a jug OF
water. He fetched II and seemed dis
posed to linger and chat . bit, but I
was uncommunicative, and presently
he left me to my own devices.
I now unearthed my nask containing
the Eek. 8. Nigrum, poured single
drop into my basin. filled It up with
water. and then returned the TASK to
In hiding place.
eve shall SEE" I muttered, "wheth-
"a there be any virtue Of poison In my
Nigrum." and I caught the poor little
black beetle who had come out to en-
Joy the lampiight.
Now, a the drop Of Ex. 8. Nigrum had
been diluted many hundreds Of times
b. the water In my bowl ! argued that
e this solution dealt death to the bee
IL . few drops pure would put Jack
Mount and me beyond the hangman's
banda.