Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-01-02
The Under Dog

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[Copyright 1906, by Mcclure. Phillips & Col
had been invited to spend a week
with Colonel Hampton at Hampton
Hail, but on arrival found that be had
been called away for q coagle of days
by urgent business. \ note to this eff
feet was handed me, and | was TOLD to
make myself very much ut home. The
bedroom given nae was q large room,
with bed against the west wall and
a reading table. in the center.
When / went up to the room | sat
facing the bed. 1t was heavy ma
hogany frame, with valance hanging
down, and just peepiEg out from I'M
der ibis curtain was the toe of q coarse
shoe q coarse and heavy shoe. with the
sole nailed on. | recognized it in an
instant as prison shoe. All c0nyicts
wore that make Of shoe Wife serving
their time and left them behind when
set at liberty.
That there was an escaped convict
under the bed | hadn't the slightest
doubt As | looked at that toe | remem-
bered that Colonel Hampton had been
though out of it for the last five, and
wondered what the connection could
be-
knew little of the hall and was ig
norant of the servants quarters, while
it was full mile to the nearest house
and over three to the police station.
However, had no thought Of running
away. | grew cooler as the minutes
passed, and presently l did the best
thing l could have done under the cir
cumstances. Doing my best to steady
my voice and speaking as IL to one be-
side me. l said:
"You might as we'll come out from
under the bed, my man"
The man rolled into view and sprang
to his feet with muttered curse. He
was a convict in uniform. He was
short and thick set and Il man of great
strength AS for his face, every line
OF it was evil. In his hand he clutched
and fourished a naked knife nearly a
foot long. Given choice, | would
rather have been in that room with a
Bengal tiger just escaped from his cage.
well, what do you want here?' I
sasked in Il voice | tried to make care
less as put away my book.
81 want your life, curse your he re-
piled as he came Il step nearer.
Il am here. What is it? Have you
just walked out Of DartmoorY'
Eyes. I escaped from prison-from
hell-this morning. ana no doubt they'll
have me back before noon tomorrow,
but when they come for me they'll find
your dead body. That's why | wanted
to give 'em the slip for Il few hours, to
kill you. AS for getting clear off with
out money or friends l cant hope TO do
it. You remember me, governor. am
Bill Watson, No. 4S40, In for twenty
years"
You call me governor" / said in re-
ply as he finished. "You are mistaken
in your man. Colonel Hampton used to
be governor but you ought to remem-
Der that he resigned five years ago. He
is away from home just now"
Eyes, l know be rnsigl I'd, but swore
revenge on him long ago and am here
to get it. No, you are not the governor;
curse you. | see the difference now.
I've waited ten years for this, and now
I'm told that he will escape me. Man,
don't lie to me or I'll kill you like
dog! l came here to kill the devil who
ordered me to be dashed until 1 cringed
and whined like cur, and no one shall
ba1k me-
showed him the note that the colo
mel had left me and then asked him to
sit down. There was Il bottle of wine
in the closet, and | brought it out to
him. | offered to tiptoe down to the
sideboard and bring up some biscuit
for him. For FIVE minutes he watched
me. with tigerish glare, seeming to be
undecided what to do, but then he took
a long drink from the bottle and said:
'I'd willingly hang after killing that
man, but l can't hold you responsible.
His wife and children are here, how
ever
"You must have heard that the colo
mel is an old bachclor?"
Course me, but l remember now!
Then I'm to get no revenge? I'm to
be taken back to that hell on earth
and dashed and locked up in darkness
| and get nothing out of it? Say, I'll do
murder and hang for it! rll-I'll'-
"Iet's talk Il moment" l broke in on
him. what was your crime?"
II had a fight with man, and he
died two weeks later"
"And how long have you served?"
sixteen years - sixteen years SC
long that / can hardly look back to the
day l entered prison. If l had killed
three men the punishment is enough"
"And if you could escape-get clear
OBJECT out of the country"
ut couldn't be done. | haven't a
penny. I'd have to rob some one for
| even a change OF shoes. No. I'll go
| out and meet the police and
listen. I'm a bit sorry If they used
you roughly in prison. Sixteen years
is long long time. I have a hundred
L LIZ L