Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-10-22


No. 10. The doctor told me he had
got away this afternoon"
''Oh, you're the friend that's staying
with the doctorl" replied the man.
Were guarding this road. but there's
no use in it, No one ever tries to es-
cape this way. They all take to the
hills. Good-evening, sir"
No. 10 felt the sharp eyes of the
other guard upon him as he hurried
on. There was an eager whispering
between the men behind him, then a
quick exclamation.
1T can't possibly be-" said the man
who had addressed the fugitive. you
must have been mistaken in the
voice"
quick command interrupted him.
mo. 10, halt"
No. 10 glanced over his shoulder,
and ran down the road, the two men
in pursuit. He had a 50-foot start of
them, and he was running for his free
dom. Two pistol bullets whizzed past
him. then all was still save for the
sound of running feet.
On they went in the starlight, fol-
lowing the curves of the road, past
rocks and stunted trees. Here he was
safe from the fiashlight at east. Once
the guards took short cut and
gained few feet on him. With an eff
fort he quickened his pace, and again
widened the distance between them.
He rounded low hill, anC the dark
outlines of the wharf and the build.
ings about it were before lin. That
was his goal, that rickety Did wharf,
but what protection could itoffer him?
He glanced eagerly about To the
right the waters OF the bay apped the
rocks, to the left a hill Dse, sheer
and steep. There was no ,hoice, he
must keep to the road.
The men back of him ra steadily
and easily. He kept his pao with diff
ficuhy. The overcoat weihed more
heavily as he advanced; lad of exer-
else began to tell on him, aud he felt
his strength going. Step b. step the
guards gained on him, till he could
hear their hard breathing.
Halt" cried one. "Stp, or I'll
shoot"
Still he stumbled on. AS h reached
the rough planks of the whsf bull
let went through his hat.
CLOSE enough, that time, "a guard
exclaimed. The next one VII bring
him down. Can't let him drown, and
he's crazy enough TO try eve that"
He stopped as he spoke, an aimed
at the staggering figure ahea. The
crash of the weapon was fol,wed by
rending of wood, and hollow,
sounding splash under the plaks. The
wharf lay clear before them.
Got him that time, but his gone
through the wharf There some
nasty holes out there, and th boards
are half rotten all round thn," said
the one who had fired the sbt.
Hurry up cried his colpanion.
He'll yell when he comes uptTsey're
all as afraid of the water as ras"
They ran carefully forward, foAthe
wharf was dangerous. AS they neted
the spot where No. 10 had gone don,
they saw large. Jagged hole.
This is the place" one whispeid.
He ought to be up by this time"
They waited silently at the openik.
I The expected call for help did 1t
/ come. There was no sound save T.
ceaseless signing and gurgling OF u
water. Presently one of the guar
lay down and pered into the darkne
below. The black water rose and fei
with strange gray lights on it. like I'll
reflection of white faces far below. I'll
shuddered as he rose.
Hes had plenty of time to come uf
il he's going to-" said one, "if hav
not
Yes" whispered his companion
maybe he's"
Il guess he is" answered the other
Come, let's get out of this"
They walked hurriedly back owe
the road they had come AS the
turned the first curve, dripping fis
ure drew itself slowly ont of the hole
The man chafed his hands, stiff fror
clinging to the pile in the cold water
There was a bullet hole in the Slew
of the warden's overcoat. Luck
| stumbled when he shot," he thought
The warden's overcoat did the Who'll
thing"
An hour later the guards reporte
the shooting and drowning of No. 1!
The morning papers presented senss
tional accounts OF IL, and orders wer
given to withdraw the men who ha
been set to watch the ferry boats a
they landed in the city. No. 10 was N
more.
The wardens time expired and h
was once more a private citizen. III
walked slowly through the outskirt
of the city, enjoying his freedom
Nature had put too kind heart
him to fit him for prison Office
Life in sight of the prison walls ha
been irksome to him. What must
be within them?
His thoughts were interrupted b
the sound of clipping on the other sid
of garden wall There was somethin
familiar in its rhythm. He stopped an
listened One, two, three, four, Nv,
the shears went, then from one I
ten The Ginning ceased A ma