Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-10-03
CHAPTER I.
The ConVict's Plight.

There had been haSty orders TO faIl Ill
and march back to the prison, but
four men had made sudden rush
and had got away The alarm had
been given, the neighborhood warned
and picket organized.
Three of the men were recaptured
during the day, but of one no trace
had been found at nightfall. Favored
by the heavy fog which had swept
over the country he had succeeded in
effectually concealing himself.
It was not expected that he would
get very far away. In his convict
clothes he would not be able to obtain
any kind of conveyance or to get food
or drink.
The authorities were confident that
the missing man would be captured
the next day. But that confidence was
rudely shaken by a discovery which
one of the search parties made the
following morning. In a clump of
trees at the back of cottage occupied
by a workman attached to the prison
a complete suit of convict clothes
was discovered.
a hurried inquiry held by the Of
dciaIs convinced them that there had
been collision between the workman
and the prisoner. A suit of clothes
had probably been kept in readiness
at the cottage. The escaped convict
had made his way there under cover
of the fog, effected the change, and in
civilian clothes had made good his es-
cape. The workman strongly denied
the accusation, and there was no
means of proving it. But the authori-
ties considered that their suspicious
were justified, and they became less
hopeful of running the missing man
to earth Whoever had cOnnived at
the escape must have been bribed,
and therefore the presumption was
that the convict had in some way OBJ
tanned possession of money. Money
being at his command, he would be
able in his civilian clothes to get to
the railway station. He might have
gone to London or some big provincial
city He might have reached a port
and be ON his way to the Continent.
The convict's name was John Will
son. He was Internationally, and at
the time of his arrest had been a
private in a cavalry regiment. He was
a man of fair education and of good
appearance. He had been arrested
on a charge Of abstracting the check
book Of an officer of his regiment and
obtaining money by forging the sigma
ture of the owner. He had been con-
victed and in due course had been
sent to the convict jail.
Two years of John Wilson's SEN
tence had yet to run when he made
his escape.
In a first-class compartment of an
express train tearing it's way rapidly
toward London on the night of John
Wilson's escape there sat two men.
One was clean-shaVen young clergy
man and the other was a man Of about
fve-and-forty with a closely-cropped
brown beard slightly touched with
gray.
The young clergyman did not seem
quite at his ease. When the train
stopped at a station he drew his soft
clerical hat low down over his brows
and turning his face away from the
platform, appeared to be fast asleep.
But directly the train restarted, be-
ing relieved to find that no other pas
aengers had entered the compartment,
he sat upright again.
The bearded gentleman rallied his
companion pleasantly.
'You really haven't the slightest
cause for fear" he said "The dis
gUlise that l so thoughtfully provided
you is perfect No one is looking for
you on the railway line-they are
still searching the moor. 1t will never
enter their heads that you have been
able to get a change Of clothes and
the money to travel by train
The young clergyman gradually al
lowed himself to be convinced that he
was safe, and his manner altered.
'T can hardly believe that it is true,
he said, "and l sha'n't feel quite out
OF the wood till we are in London
OF course, sooner or later the clothes
l got rid OF will be found, and then the
search for me will be extended"
"By that time you will be far away,
replied his companion. you will have
the means not only to travel any dis
tance you may like, but to pass fol-
what you are-the heir to an old bar
onetcy and a fine estate and a large
rent roll"
you are quite sure that I am the
MANI"
my dear sir, your escape has cos
me two hundred pounds. am only {
private inquiry agent doing an ordi
nary business. If 1 hadn't made ever!
inquiry and satisfied myself beyonC
all doubt that you are the man have
been in search of for the last three
months, I shouldn't have risked sucl
a sum as that. Remember. it is onl.
when l prove to your father that yol
are really his son that shall be in
position to claim anything like tn
sum that will repay me for my tim
and trouble"
HAS he offered a large reward
then, for the discovery of his MISSING
heir?"
mo; there was nothing particular
tempting about his offer I shall onl
get my regular professional charges
But I am quite sure that 1 shall fin
you more generous"