Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-09-26
THE


little windoss into the narrow cells
within.
The inside walls, like the outside
ones, we're cherries and gray. with
nothing 70 relieve the monotony OF
their blinds but printed copies Of the
prison regulations, which consisted
Of the things prisoners were not al
loved TO do.
The work went slowly, and the
longing for the outside world. the
blue sky and the green fields grew
IN the hearts OF many OF the hapless
beings behind lock and bars. No
body felt less like working than the
giant prisoner IN the second tier OF
cells. who was feared OF the war
dens and his fellow prisoners be-
cause OF his enormous strength and
violent temper. Just now lie was try
inc 10 make a basket, but time and
again his hands dropped into his lap
anu he listened to the regular knock
ings on the water pipes, which, like
Ia wireless telegraphy, carried mes
sages from cell TO cell.
A smile spread over the face Of
The giant when he succeeded in put
ting The letters' together TO words
end the words to sentences. Sud-
denly the smile disappeared, and in
its place came a hard, almost fero-
cious, expression.
Steps were heard outside in the
hall II was the turnkey. The con-
yict saw him. 80 to speak. with his
ears, coming down the long hall.
broad shouIdered, well nourished and
gelf-satisned, carrying his bunch Of
keys In his hand.
What could he want hero. this time
OF the day, when It was the rule
never TO disturb the conyicts7 The
giant was literally foaming with fury.
Was be to be punished once more for
some petty violation of the rules?
The keepers always knew how 70
find fault in those they did not like.
Nearer and nearer came the steps,
and now they stopped outside the
door. A thought shot like light
ming through the conyict's brain. The
turnkey was alone. Undoubtedly
there was not even a guard In the
hall during the quiet noon hour.
Behind the loose brick In the wall
was sharp piece Of iron. which he
had sharpened during the long mon
this he had been confined to the cell.
Outside the sun was shining, the
birds we're singing and the woods
were green. A key turned in the
door. The turnkey came I'm, but in
the same moment he fell to the
ground as II struck down by light
ming. with terrible force the giant
had buried the sharp instrument in
his temple.
The convict did not even look at
his victim. With staring eyes he
sneaked down the hall. Every mo-
ment he stopped, listened and looked
around.
He felt nothing but great Joy
at the success OF his decd. Now the
road to freedom was open, the Dri-
son door was open, there was no
guard outside.
The giant had now reached the
yard. II was as If heaven itself had
decided that he should be free man
Near the wall stood a chopping block
and a ladder. He placed the ladder
on top OF the block yaulted over the
wall and let himself fall down on
the outside.
For a moment he laid there abso-
luteIy quiet, without moving hand
OF foot. Had he broken limb in
the fall?
No, he felt plainly that he was
unhurt, and he had only one thou
ght--to get away.
He jumped to his feet and ran as
fast as his trembling legs would
carry him across fields, over hedges
and fences, until he reached the
woods. painting and exhausted.
Completely tired out, he threw
himself down in the grass under a
shady beech tree, and, half asleep,
looked through the green foliage at
the blue sky and the white clouds
beyond.
A sinner to whom the gates OF
heaven had opened could feel no
happier than he did
But only a short hour was given
him to enjoy his liberty.
Suddenly he heard noise of many
voices, footsteps and excited signals
He Jumped TO his feet, picked up a
heavy branch lying close to him
in the grass, and, brandishing it
around his head, he disappeared as
a deer in the woods.
Too many men were following him,
however. Five minutes later the
giant Jay bound and gagged on. the
ground, with a rifle bullet in his leg
He was carried back to the peni-
tertiary in triumph.
The inspector stood in his Office
behind the rail and looked at him
sternly.
Tho. convict, who was nov chain
ed hand and foot. cast down his eyes
and seemed absolutely broken He
mumbled something to himself.
which sounded like an excuse: why
did he Gomez"
A shadow Of sincere sorrow came
into the inspectors face as he an
swered in an almost fnaudible voice:
Il sent him TO bring you here that
might inform you that you had