Putnam patriot., 1908-10-09
Winners
 Escape. D.. COLIN cnIIINs-
By COLIN 5. COLLINS.
Copyrighted. fss. by Associated
 Literary FfHzs

ing Hammoud had LeeB fifty Uiies from the Dearest town Of any size. and only n spur track ran down to the shore of th. lake. connecting with the fist bo..orled boat that ferried the freight cars over fo the isiaDd. Now the south shore fairly bristied with camps and huge hotels. Even on the north the beach and the numerous iit- tie islands were dotted with white tents and weather stained log huts.
 The campers objected to the presence of the penitentiary. with its great gray barracks and its forbiddIng iron bars across the windows That the penften- tiary was there first did not alter the situation. The permanent campers wished the prison removed that they might enjoy their three months In camp unterrihed by the thought Of a possible Jail delivery.
 No stone wsiis surrounded the Island. Only here and there n guard hut dotted the white cxpanse of the stone pier. which had been built entirely about the island. ready fo shoot at any prisoner V ltD ffliBUf TbHHif lI1 u 'Ttsi iffs T tried. If was fl good two miles 10 the nearest shore, and in tine winter the white expanee of lee made a back. ground against which a convict would become fair target Tor the guns.
 Nancy Barlow liked 10 run her boat in close h the wall and wave her hand fo The prisoners hulienIy working on The now wing They eonld not wave baek, she knew. but she liked fe believe thai fbls glea from The world outside eheered them iu iheir work. flIe guards All HHe to know her and the trim little raciag moier bent They pre- seutea effns elth I grin as she sped pat ihe wall. an1 Nancy had the feel. ing that they answered for the prison erN
 Her little mator was the fastest boat on tlle iafe an1 she spent her days speeding ap and down the placid sur face She consumed Yast quantities of petrol, but the outdoor life was bringing back the roses io her cheeks. and James Barlow would have run il pipe line to the lake If necessary to bring about that result. He had re fused hia consent 10 the marriage of Nancy and Fred Wilmer but he felt vaguely troubled when he saw how the girl had dropped Sine was all he had left In the world, and he could not lose her too II wns IN much this as q tendency To wildnesa on Winners part That had led te his refusal. and could he have found Winner he would have recansidered his determination
 But Wilmer had dropped from sight. and none of hls old acqnalntances knew what had become ef him
 Nancy had learned to bundle a motor under his guidance en the lake the year before, and her devotion to the boat vas in part due te that fact As she guided the little crnft among thc chan nels he Ind shown her. she liked te dream day dreams of the time when they two should share boat again So rent was the imagined presence at times that now. as Nancy pdffrd pnsi the prison island and looked on the nlraae seenua she ruhheA her eyes as slle noticed lac leader ef Il Gle of con Ficts making their way along the edg ct the wail
 If dii not seem possible that il eonid he Nilner. hnt as the little file e45Ht, Maeee, she wis certain Winner had nRHer waen a #esiaehe. and there was np mistaklng the face She even ian eied tbut she eaugit rieam ef reeoe uitlea lh bis eses, a= he passed witt trta iread She shut oG the power ant turned to looe after the men in th, striped suits It came as shock tt her that Winner was wearing th. stripes She Was certain that he hae done nothing to deserve Imprisonment tt must have been all mistake. anu he had been too proud ta cali upon hi, friends for aid She turned her haai determined to visit the prison office ant hnd out something about the cause, " WhieA had led to hss incarceration
 A she cid so there Was sudden commotion in tbe line 1he escn tfead Of the locksiep was broken. and Nil mer, With . sudden dash. hnd knoekee down the keeper and sprung Into th, water
 X score of keepers rushed te the water wall and emptied their rifles after the escaping convict, while tw, of the prison boats which happened tt be close at hand started in pursuit Nancy was quicker vet Throwing ef full speed. she faced the fire from tn, shcrc and from the first of the tw, boats In moment she was hesid, Winner. helping hlm into the launch Then she sprang to the wheel again and hea,ia.d for the mainland
 Why didn't you let Us know that you were In troubler P she demsn,i.,. as the boat. once more under control hummed toward tho shorc. We would have helped you out. You know that Frcd''
 .'only sus here yesterday" he ex' plained. '.f WAS going to look you uy after my escape. but n Is ease oi business first.
 You know the little cave up on the mountains" she asked. Make foI that. and win bring you other clothes this afternoon.
 Your father might object to loanins his clothes ta convict" suggested Winner, with laugh
 si don't care whether he does o' not" said Nancy hrayely, You are ir trouble, and he will have Co see you cut of It. He nas lot of political In lluenee and he eau get sea pardon. , Then you do cans' asked Winner eargeriy. He told me that you said that you ao loager cared Tor me, that you had askcd hlm ta dismiss me-
 And that wss why yoa stayed