Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-03-07
BACK THROUGH
The RAT HOLE

., st~s \ s,esA,,

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 II was Just ESQ, and
the night saift prisoners. with the reg.
ular. "hip.tramp, hiptramp." OF the
lock'step. were marching out. single
hie. to 80 on duty In the smoky foun.
| dry.
II had been hard day for the war.
den. as q bevy Of new convicts had
been received that afternoon from
various counties Of the state. but the
night promised even more difiieult
things for him: not In the doing OF
prison duties. but In things domestic.
just three weeks before. Warden Ali.
son had become 4 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
Of age. he had already established a
rule OF absolute regularity in the TAX
Ing OF his meals. II the man OF the
night shift was neglected. or forgetful.
Fred had most effective way OF re-
Winding him.
Side by side on the mantel. set a
long-stemmed pipe and long-necked
bottle. They both came on the shelf
together, for both senior and junior
Allison took refreshment at the same
time. Fred opened his eyes blinkingly.
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 youngster
would pull viciously at the nipple for
while. and then let go. emitting a
yell that was anything but pleasant
to his father; also, 1t made smoking
very diiIicult. The baby lost the nip
ple as fast as II was replaced. The
walls grew louder and more frequent,
and impressed Allison with 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. we're sundry recollections OF
| baby collie. and these all returned to
him now with remarkable clearness.
Fred closed his eyes. clinched his fists
and released shrieking. long-drawn
yell. He squirmed and kicked furious
| ". There was no mistaking them
the symptoms were genuine-fhe
Young man had a bad attack Of baby
collie.
Allison realized that something must
be done. The hired girl was gone,
| (she refused to stay In the warden's
house over night) So 1t was up TO
him to relieve the youngster. He made
| mental inventory of everything ne
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 ave 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 ne "os n"ieo1
abruptly in the kitchen door, for ne
4 had thrust his face into the black muz-
Gle of q prison arsenal rife. In the
half darkness Of the kitchen. he saw
rourh-shaven face and smooth-shaven
head. Also he saw the form OF 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. 1865. the only man
Of the night shift who was allowed the
privilege Of passing through the Hat
Hole.
1. aWhy so?" the warden replied, very
calmly, for he was man whom sud
den calamity could not frenzy
because we need 1t to open the
only door that stands in the way OF
freedom" :.
"Then there's going to be break g
Allison inquired. but the reply, which
II -. offrmafiva one was