Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-01-06

S4N A1t 4A1SI WALL AMI SOfSGNEft OP'
OUR CELL.
Then they fled out, and the narrow
door shut with loud bang. We peered
through at the fading flicker of the
candles. They threw wavering, ghost
ly shadows on every wall Of the dark
passage, and suddenly went out Of
sight. We both stood listening q mo-
ment.
Course the luck!" whispered pres
emily.
''Jest es helpless es IL we was hung
up by the heels" said D'ri, cropping his
way to the straw pile. cain no use
gittin' wrathy."
What II we doW whispered.
Dunno" said he: IAN when ye dun
no whut t. dew, dom dew nuthin. Jest
stan still; thet's whut I b'lieve in.'
He lighted the candle and went
about, pouring its glow upon every wall
and into every crack and corner Of our
celia small chamber set firm in ma
sorry, with ceiling so far above our
heads we could see it but dimly, the
candle lifted arm's-length.
Judas Priest!" said D'ri, as he
stopped the light with thumb and fin.
ger. "I'm goin' t set here n tn straw
LUX an oil hen n lie up M thinker n
set 'er goin'. One O them kind hes
t keep is mouth shet er he can't never
dew no thinkin'. Bymby, likes es not
! IL have suthin' t. say ct III mount t
suthin'."
We lay back on the straw in silence
did lot Of thinking that brought me
little hope. Thoughts of Louison and
Louise soon led me out of prison. After
little time went philandering in the
groves Of the baroness with the two in.
comparable young ladies. l would will
lingly have stood for another bullet II
I could have had another month Of
their company. The next thought o.
my troubles came with the opening Of
the iron door. had been sound asleep
A guard came in with water and POI
Of stewed beef and potatoes.
"Thet air s all right" said D'ri, dip.
ping into 1t with spoon.
We ate with fine relish, the guard
q sullen, silent man with a rough voics
that came out Of bristling mustache
standing by the door.
LUX a-here," said D'ri to the guart
as we finished eating. 81 want t. asst 70,
Q question. Ef you he'd a purity com
ftable hum on t other side, m tev
tkcusan' dollars n the bank, n hossel
n ev'rything fixed fer good time, n
all Nv a sudden We found yerself !
sech gol-dum dungeon es this here
what 'u'd you dew?"
The guard was fixing the wick o
his candle and made no answer.
Want ye t. think it all over" sal,
D'ri. "See eff We can't think o. suthin
soothin' t say. God knows we nee
It"
The guard went away without an
swering.
eGot him thinkin'." said D'ri, as b
lighted the candle. "He can help u
some, mebbe. Would MT wonder Q
ne was good ct cipherin'."
II he offered to take two thousand
don't see how we d give it to him,
said l. "He would MT take our promis
for it,
Tibet ain a-gein' t. bother US any,
said D'ri. He'd tibet all fingered on
long ago"
He gave me the candle and lay down
holding his ear close to the stone foo
and listening. Three times he shifte,
his ear from one point to another
Then he beckoned to me.
"Jest hol' yer ear there m listen,'
he whispered.
! gave him the candle, and with m,
ear to the floor could hear the flow
OF water below us. The sound wen
away in the distance and then out o
hearing. After while it came again
What does 1t mean?" asked.
"Cipherin' leetle over thet air
said he, as he made long scratch OF
the fioor with his flint. Then he rubbe,
his chin. looking down at it. "Hain
Jest eggzac'ly med up my mind yit,
he added
We blew out the light and lay back
whispering. Then presently we heart
the coming of footsteps. Two me,
came to the door with a candle, on
being the guard we knew.
Come, young fellow" said the lat
ter, as be unlocked the door and beck
oned to me; they want you upstairs.
| We both got to our feet.
Net y0u," he Er0wled, wavinE D7y