Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-08-31
since both had kissed the rosebud pluck

since both had kissed the rosebud pluck
ed by Sylvia's fingers.
Since the tobacco trick" Mooney and
Dawes had been placed in the new
prison, together with a man named
Bland,s who had already twice failed to
kill himself When old Mooney la
mented his hard case, Bland proposed
that the three should put in practice a
scheme in which two at least must sue
coed. The scheme was a desperate one,
and attempted only in the last extrem-
ity. 1t was the custom of the ring"
however, to swear each of its members
to carry out to the best of his ability
this last invention of the convict disci-
plined mind, should two other members
crave his assistance.
The scheme was simplicity itself. That
evening" when the cell door was secure
ly locked, and the absence of a visiting
jailer might be counted upon for an
hour at least, Bland produced a straw,
and held it out to his companions.
Dawes took it, and tearing it into un-
equal lengths, handed the fragments to
Mooney.
'The longest is the one" said the
blind man. Come on, boys, and dip
in the lucky bag"
1t was evident that lots were to be
drawn to determine to whom fortune
would grant freedom. The men drew in
silence, and then Bland and Dawes
looked at each other. The prize had
been left in the bag. Mooney-fortu-
nate old fellow-retained the longest
straw. BANDS hand shook as he com
pared notes with his companions. There
was a moments pause, during which
the blank eye-balls of the blind man
fercely searched the gloom, as if in that
awful moment they could penetrate it.
II hold the shortest" said Dawes to
Bland. S''Tis you that must do it."
am glad of that" said Mooney.
Bland. seemingly terrified at the dan
ger which fate had decreed that he
should run. tore the fatal lot into frag-
ments, and sat gnawing his knuckles
in excess of abject terror Mooney
stretched himself out upon his plank
bed. "Come on, mate" he said. Bland
extended a shaking hand, and caught
Rufus Dawes by the sleeve.
''You have more nerve than |. You
do it."
mo, no." said Dawes, almost as pale
as his companion. 1--WE run my chance
fairly. Twas your own proposal"
The coward who, confident in his OWL
luck would seem to have fallen into the
pit he had dug for others, sat rocking
himself to and fro, holding his head in
his hands.
81 can't do itr' he whispered, lifting
a white. wet face.
"What are you waiting forT" said for
tunate Mooney. "Come on; I'm ready
"I-I-thought you might like to-tC
pray Bit" said Bland.
The notion seemed to sober the senses
of the old man, exalted too iercely by
his good fortune.
"Ay" he said. pray 4 gooc
thought And he knelt down. and
shutting his blind eyes-'twas as though
he was dazzled by some strong light
unseen by his comrades, moved his lip:
silently.
1t was quite dark now in the cell: bu
as Bland advanced his face was like I
white mask floating upon the darkness
Dawes pressed his lucky comrades hand
and withdrew to the furthest corner.
When Troke came in the morning, h
fastened to remove the corpse of tn
strangled Mooney.
I'VE drew lots" said Rufus Dawes
pointing to Bland, who crouched in tn
corner furthest from his victim. "and /
fell upon him to do it. I'm the wit
ness"
They'll hang you all for that" sal,
Troke.
81 hope So" said Rufus Dawes.
The scheme of escape hit upon by tn
convict intellect was simply this: Tire
men being together, lots were drawn t
determine who should be murdered. TIL
drawer of the longest straw was tn
''lucky" man. He was killed. TIL
drawer of the next longest straw wa
the murderer. He was hanged. TIL
unlucky one was the witness. He had
of course, an excellent chance of bein
hanged also, but his doom was not $
certain, and he therefore looked upo
himself as unfortunate.
ITO he rontinuedl