Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-21

the middle Of December / had been
lying on my belly trying to think out
something of that future which I had
not vet despaired Of. Muslng there,
nose buried in my arms, I lay almost
on the verge of slumber, yet with n
eye on the corridor beyond, when |
saw distinctly a woman's face peer
through the thick grating which sep
arated the corridor from our stone
chamber.
After awhile the face disappeared.
I lay still a moment. then touched
Mounts arm.
He turned his haggard face to me.
Bishops daughter is in the corri-
dor" I whispered.
"Whereg' asked Mount %vncantly.
"Out there behind the grating. She
may do something for-for you. If she
should, / think we had better try to-
eat"
YES" he said, 1--WE must eat"
That night we heard the noise Of
hammers overhead, and at first terror
seized On us, for we believed that
Will Alu Jill " pull0 SlbDClSs
In the morning when our jailer ar
rived to fetch us water l spoke to him.
scarcely expecting a reply, for he had
never before paid the faintest atten-
ton to questions from us.
| was surprised, therefore, when he
hesitated, glanced up at me and finally
informed me that the hammering we
heard was made by masons and car
penters who were reconstructing the
upper tiers of the prison for the new
warden andthis family.
l asked for news of the outside
world, but he would give me none.
We were condemned to death with
out a hearing by military court sit
ting at Fort Hill, before which we ap-
peared in chains. The 10th Of April
was set for our execution. We were
taken back to the south battery in a
coach escorted by light horse and from
there conveyed through the falling
snow to the brick prison on Queen
street. They finally unlocked our irons,
leaving us without manacles.
1t was now the LIST Of January, 1775.
The new year brought changes to the
prison, but the most important change
for us was the appointment of Bully
Bishop as warden of our tier.
All day long I watched the famous
thief taker installing his family in
their new dwelling place. Doubtless
Mount also noted everything from his
cell, but I could not communicate with
him without raising my voice.
Mrs. Bishop, a blowzy slattern with
I sickly, nursing child, sat on q bundle
Of feather bedding and directed her
bGxom daughter where to place the
furniture. The wench had lost her
bright color and something, too, in
Qesh. That she knew Mount was here
under sentence of death was certain.
[ could see the sorrowful glances she
stole at the grating Of his cell
The early winter night fell, darken-
Ing our cells and the corridor outside.
Anon I heard Bishop bawling for can
die and box, and I looked out Of my
grating into the darkening corridor,
where the thief taker was stump
ing along the entry bearing ali
empty ~candlestick. Mrs. Bishop fol
lowed with the baby. AS they passed
my cell I moved back; then as 1 heard
their voices growing fainter and fainter
down the corridor I stepped swiftly
forward and pressed my face to the
grating. Dulcima Bishop stood with
In two feet of my cell.
"Will you speak to me?' I called
cautiously.
La! Is 1t you, sir?" she stammered.
all a-tremble.
Eyes; come quickly, child! There:
stand with your back to my cell. Are
you listentngT
Eyes, sir" she faltered.
"Do you still love Jack Mountr l
asked. twill you help him?"
ooh, yes, yes" she whispered.
"Turn your back" 1 said. "Don't
look at my grating. Now, listen! This
ls the LIST of January. We are to die
at dawn on the 10th Of April. Do you
understand
Yes, sir"
"You are to get us out, do you under
stand, clhld?"
"Yes-oh, yes, yes! How, Mr.. Cardi-
gan? Tell me and I'll do It; truly, I
Wilt"
"Then go to Jacks cell and let him
talk to you. And have a are they do
not catch you gossiping with prison
ers"
The girl glanced up and down the
corridor. A deeper wave of red stained
her face, but already ] heard Mount
calling her in q cautious voice, and she
went tmidly, with lowered eyes.
Jack" l called out In a low voice,
tell her to find Shemuel If she can"
.Quiet, lad" he answered. II know
what is to be DONE"
Before I could speak again a dis.
tant sound warned the girl to has room
once more. Presently Bishop came
stumping back, holding a lighted can
die.
"A ray of light fell on my face.
turned and sat up on. the edge of my