Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-08-17

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, 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
ceed. The scheme was 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 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
iercely searched the gloom, as if in that
awful moment they could penetrate it.
81 hold the shortest" said Dawes to
Bland. "'Tis you that must do it,"
"I'm glad of that" said Mooney.
Bland, seemingly terrified at the dam
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."
"No, 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 own
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 it, he whispered, lifting
a white, wet face.
"What are you waiting forY' said for
tunate Mooney. Come on; I'm ready"
"I-I-thought you might like to-to
pray a Bit" said Bland.
The notion seemed to sober the senses
of the old man, exalted too fercely by
his good fortune.
ayr he said. "Pray, A good
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 lips
silently. y
1t was quite dark now in the cell: but
as Bland advanced his face was like a
white mask floating upon the darkness.
Dawes pressed his lucky comrades hand,
and withdrew to the furthest corner.
When Troke came in the morning. he
saw what had occurred at a glance, and
hastened to remove the corpse of the
strangled Mooney.
'We drew lots" said Rufus Dawes,
pointing to Bland, who crouched in the
corner furthest from his victim, "and it
fell upon him to do it. I'm the wit
ness"
They'll hang you all for that" said
Troke.
81 hope So" said Rufus Dawes.
The scheme Of escape hit upon by the
convict intellect was simply this: Three
men being together, lots were drawn to
determine who should be murdered. The
drawer of the longest straw was the
lucky" man. He was killed. The
drawer of the next longest straw was
the murderer. He was hanged. The
unlucky one was the witness. He had,
of course, an excellent chance of being
hanged also, but his doom was not so
certain, and he therefore looked upon
himself as unfortunate.
no he continuedl