The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-05

CHAPTER XIII.

IN HE condemned youths heard the
next cell entered and their
comrade Carter reused from
his bed A key then grated in
their own door. 1t was flung open. and
there were Mr.. Cope. the governor. and
bevy of turkeys in the passage
"Out with it, gasped Creasey. on his
knees. I'm respited. amt I? l never
done it. sir | never did. The king
wouldn't hang an innocent MANI
"Get up and dress yourself was the
reply. You will hear the report up
stairs. all Of you together. You. too,
| Erickson. Slip on your things"
Tom obeyed and then lent hand to
Creasey. who hardly knew his small
clothes from his jacket. and chung to
Tom as a child TO its nurse
I'm innocent" he kept mumbling.
sThey'lI be the murderers If they let
/ me swing Didn't / tell you / was in
nocent. Erickson? Haven't / said so
all along: Oh, my Gawd. il they let
me swing"'
They won't" whispered Tom. But
/ if they did, why, we've got to die some
| time It's an easy death, and there's
| an end to it,
"But / don't want to die. I dursnt
die, l don't deserve to die, Don't 1
keep telling yer l never done it,"
| And the abject thing chung blubber-
ing to Toms arm as the turnkey who
was waiting at the door conducted the
pair upstairs.
The upper day room or cell ward, as
it was indifferently termed. was but
poorly lighted with candles. whose Sc
pulchral rays added pallor even to the
white faces of those dragged from
their beds TO hear their doom. The
number of the latter being now COM
plete. all fourteen were ordered to
kneel, and Tom found himself between
Creasey and Carter at one end of the
line. Creasey still chung to his arm.
Carter knelt like a rock. with his great
fingers cIutched in front of him and
heavy drops falling on them from his
Bonded brow. This was all Tom saw
before the ordinary entered in his gown
and halted before him first.
"Mr. Erickson" said he, with q COM
passionate tremor, 1.-The recorder has
this evening made his report to the
king. 1 am very sorry to have to in
form you that 1t is unfavorable."
Tom inclined his head. He had cher
ished no hopes.
The ordinary approached Carter.
II am sorry to tell you it is all
against you Also he continued. CAS-
for you. Creasey," and the latter tight
ened his grip on Toms arm, IL am
happy to inform you that your life is
spared, and 1 am very happy to In
mercy their lives are spared"
Creasey withdrew his hand from
Toms arm and edged further away on
his knees. A deep sigh rose from a
dozen breasts; then as the chaplain
was about to offer up prayer there
came a sudden crash at Toms side,
and the wretched Carter was founder
ing on the floor in commissions. The
rest were hurried back to their cells,
and Creasey executed a breakdown
while Tom quietly undressed.
But that's all right.' cried the for
mer, stopping suddenly. ITS no more
n 1 expected, cause, you see. I'm an
innocent man an allus was; that's why
you never caught me showing the
white, Erickson, though once or twice
you thought you did. Jiggered II you
wouldn't believe anythink q mug like
you! Why, l used to blk you every
blooming night for fun! Not but what
I'm sorry it's all up with you. old
man; though it's a nice an comfy
death, you told me SO yourself, and
you know we've all got to die some
day. Besides. you done yours-no
denying it-but / never done mine at
all. so it's fair an square enough, you
must admit"
The little cur was snoring in ten
minutes He was removed to the !
Transport side next morning. And
Tom. left in solitude, would have Civ
en- some days of the twelve remaining
to have had him back.
The execution was fixed for the Goth. !
He would never see another June
Bassett came from day to day with
news Of the petition. 1t was being I
signed, but not as freely as at first /
Bassett's disappointment was patent to |
the condemned man. The smart young
fellow was in fact beginning to weary
of his uphill work and to think about |
the BILL
SO next day Tom asked Bassett /
whether the noble unknown had also |
abandoned hope and effort
Not he.' said Bassett in q half dis
gusted tone. ''He is moving heaven
and earth; seeking private interviews
with the home secretary il not with
the king himself He's quite capable
of it. A wonderful man when he gets
an idea into his head,''
"But what put this idea into his
head?'
Heaven knowsw
Tom looked the attorney through and
through and asked another question
did you tell him how much 1 should
like to see him before | die-to thank
him?'
Il did. but he is too busy working
for you. He said that would do you
more good
Il see.' said Tom sadly; another
Culliford' Then why is he doing it?
Culliford was paid. He paid him. But
why. again? See here. you Bassett.
Both you and he disbelieve in mel
know it now-but you are tired Of your
job, and he is not Why not? 1 be-
L FOL nd lot