Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-11-29
THE CONVICT

T HALItl.
The inside walls. Ike the outaids
ones. were cherries and gray. VIII
nothing % relieve the monotony Of
their blinds but printed copies Of the
prison regulations. which consisted
only Of the things prisoners were moi
allowed 10 do
The work went slowly and the long
ing FOR the outside world the blue ssly
and the green fields grew in the hearts
OF many 81 the hapiess beings behind
lock and bars Nobody felt less like
working than the giant prisoner in
/ the second Tier Of cells. who was feared
Of the wardeas and his fellow prison
( ers because Of his enormous strength
and violent temper Just now he was
T trying 10 r. e q basket. but time and
again his hands dropped down into
T his lap and he listened 10 the regular
/ knockings on the water pipes. which,
ike the wireless telegraphy. carried
I messages from cell 10 cell
! smile spread over the face Of the
giant when he succee led in putting
. the letters together to words and the
words 70 sentences Suddenly the
smile disappeared ant III its place
came a hard almost ferociOus express
sion
Steps were heard outside in the
hall It. was the turnkey. The con
yiet saw him. so to speak. with his
ears. coming down the long hall broad
shouIdered well nourished ana self
satisfied carrying his bunch OF keys
in his hand
What could ne want here al this
time OF the day. when il was the
rule never TO disturb the convicts2
The gis1t vas literally fosming with
fury. Was he 70 be punished once
more for some petty violation Of The
rules The keepers always knew how
20 find fault in those they did not
like. Nearer and nearer came the
stems. AID row they stopped outside
the door thought shot Ike light
Mrs through TIE convict brain The
turnkey was alone. undoubtedly there
was not even a guard in the hall DUR
ing the quier noon hour Behind the
loose brick in the wall was q sharp
piece of iron. which he had sharDened
during The long months he had been
confined TO the cell
Outside the sun was shining. the
birds were singing and the woods
were green. \ key turned in the door.
Tie turnkey came in but in the same
moment he fell 10 the ground as If
struck down By lightning With ter
rible force The giant had buried The
sharp instrument in his temple
The convict did not even look at
victim With staring eyes he sneaked
down the hall. Every moment ke stop
ped. listened and looked around.
He felt nothing but z great JOY At
the success Of mis- deed. Now the
road TO freedom was open. the prison
door was open. there was 10 guard
outside
The giant had now reached the
yard. u was as If heaven itself had
decided that he should be free man.
Near the wall stood chopping block
and a ladder He placed the ladder
on TOP OF the block yaulled over che
wall and let himself fan down on the
outside
For moment he laid there ALSO
Iutely quiet. without moving hand or
foot. Had he broken limb in the
faIa
No. he felt plainly thar he was I'M
hurt. and he had only one thought
to ger away.
He jumped 10 his feet and ran as
last As his trembling legs would carry
MIN across fields. over hedges and
fences. until he reached the woods.
painting and exhausted.
Complere.y tired ont he threw him
self down ia the grass under shady
,eech tree. and. half asleep. looked
through the green foliage az the blue
Ky and the white clouds beyond
A sinner TO whom the gates Of
heaven had opened could feel nc hap
,ier than he did
But oalv a shOr; hour was given
i'm 10 enjoy his liberty.
Suddenly he heard q noise Of many
oices. footsteps and excited signals
Ie ilmued TO his feet. picked up =
eavy branch living close 10 him in
he grass, and. brandishing il around I
il head, he disappeared IL q deer
2 the woods.
Too many men were following him.
owever. Five minutes lager the
liant lav bound and gagsed on the