Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1906-12-29
BACK THROUGH
THE RAT HOLE
BY DtSNs n. sIOvArl
CCOpyrishs by Daily Story Pub. Coz


Warden Allison closed the heavy
door of the Rat Hole. and followed the
narrow corridor to the rear entrance
of his residence at the end Of the
prison yard wall. It was just $50, and
the night shift prisoners. with the reg.
ular. "hip-tramp. hip-tramp." Of the
lock-step, we're marching out, single
file. to go on duty in the smoky foun-
dry.
II had been a hard day for the war.
den. as a bevy of new convicts had
been received that afternoon from
various counties of the state. But the
night promised even more difficult
things for him; not in the doing OF
prison duties, but in things domestic.
Just three weeks before, Warden ALI
son had become a happy father. and
since that eventful day he, too, had
been on the night shift.
He entered the kitchen door and
hung his hat on the prong of a deer
antler in the rear hall. Then, remov-
ing his heavy shoes, took his slippers
from their accustomed place behind
the closet door, and stepping into
them, settled comfortably in his easy
chair before the dining-room crate.
Twenty minutes later the big brass
gong sounded from the prison yard.
Last call to work." said he, arousing
himself and tip-toeing upstairs to a
dimly-lighted bedroom. His wife was
sleeping soundly. He crept softly to a
large clothes basket beside the bed,
and removing the covering. lifted out
Fred W. Allison, Jr., carrying him
carefully down to the big chair before
the fire.
Though Fred was but three weeks
IF age, he had already established a
rule OF absolute regularity in the TAX.
ing Of his meals. If the man of the
night shift was neglectful or forgetful,
Fred had a most effective way of re-
minding him.
Side by side on the mantel, set
long-stemmed pipe and long-necked
bottle. They both came off the shelf
together, for both senior and junior
Allison took refreshment at the same
time. Fred opened his eyes blinkinglS
and dug his fists into his cheeks lit
tie fretfully when his father held the
bottle over the crate to warm. With
the nipple properly adjusted and
placed, Allison lighted his pipe and
leaned back comfortably, while Fred
tugged at the bottle.
But the baby and the bottle did not
get along well together. The youngsteI
would pull viciously at the nipple for
I a while, and then let go, emitting a
veil that was, anything but pleasant
to his father; also, It made smoking
very difficult. The baby lost the nip
pie as fast as 1t was replaced. The
walls grew louder and more frequent,
and impressed Allison with a real
sense of foreboding. He gave up his
attempt at smoking. and replaced the
pipe on the mantel, with the remark
that there was goin' to be something
doin'"
| In the almost musty recesses OF his
memory. were sundry recollections OF
baby collie. and these all returned to
him now with remarkable clearness.
Fred closed his eyes, clinched his fists
and released a shrieking, long-drawn
veil. He squirmed and kicked furious
". There was no installing them
the symptoms we're genuine-the
young man had a bad attack of baby
collie.
Allison realized that something must
be done. The hired girl was gone,
Cshe refused to stay in the warden's
house over night.) So it was up to
him to relieve the youngster. He made
a mental inventory of everything he
had ever heard discussed or recon-
mended for baby collie. Man-like, the
first and most prominent that came
to his mind was whiskey. Yes. four
or five drops Of pure rye in teaspoon
full of warm water.
The whiskey jug always reposed on
the lower pantry shelf. Allison drew
the kicking, squalling youngster closer
to him, and arose to take the shortest
route to the pantry. He was halted
abruptIy in the kitchen door, for he
had thrust his face into the black muz-
zle OF a prison arsenal rifle. In the
half darkness of the kitchen, he saw
rough-shaven face and smOoth-shaven
head. Also he saw the form Of a man
in stripes.
Fred junior ceased yelling just long
enough for the armed convict to make
his presence known. Sorry to disturb
YOU. boss, but must have the keys to
| the outer wall gate
The warden recognized the voice Of
Kelly. trusty No 1855. the only man
Of the night shift who was allowed the
privilege of passing through the Rat
Hole.
why so?" the warden replied, very
calmly. for he was a man whom sud-
den calamity could not frenzy.
Because we need It to open the
only door that stands in the way Of
! freedom"
Then there's going to be a break?"
Allison inquired, but the reply. which
he knew to be an affirmative one. was
smothered by another sore ching yell
! from the yOungster.
Il can't give you the key just now.