Smyrna times., 1908-12-30


been built on an island in the lake from
which it took its name long before the
campers discovered what lovely place
the lake was. At the time of its build
ing Hammond had been fifty miles
from the nearest town of any size. and
only a spur track ran down to the
shore of the lake, connecting with the
fiat bOttomed boat that ferried the
freight cars over to the island. Now
the south shore fairly bristled with
camps and huge hotels. Even on the
north the beach and the numerous lit
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 it's forbidding iron bars
across the windows That the peniten-
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 unterrifed by the thought of Il
possible Jail delivery.
No stone walls surrounded the island.
Only here and there a guard hut dotted
the white eXpanse of the stone pier,
which had been built entirely about the
| island ready to shoot at any prisoner
| who might rashly try to escape. Few
tried. 1t was good two miles to the
nearest shore. and in the winter the
| white eXpanse of ice made Il back
| ground against which convict would
become a fair target or the guns.
Nancy Barlow liked to run her boat
in close to the wall and wave her hand
to the prisoners sullenly working on
| the new wing They could not wave
back, she knew. but she liked to believe
| that this sign from the world outside
| chPercd them in their work. The
| guards all came to know her and the
trim little racing motor boat They pre-
sented arms with a grin as she sped
past the wall, and Nancy had the feel
ing that they answered for the prison
ers.
| Her little motor WAS the fastest boat
on the lake. and she spent her days
speeding up and down the placid sur
face She consumed vast quantities
of petrol. but the outdoor life was
bringing back the roses to her cheeks.
and james Barlow would have run a
pipe line to the lake if ,hecessary to
bring about that result. He had re-
fused his consent to the marriage of
Nancy and Fred Wilmer. but he felt
vaguely troubled when he saw how the
girl had dropped. She was all he had
left in the world, and he could not lose
her too. 1t was as much this as a
tendency to wildness on Winners part
that had led to his refusal, and could
he have found Wilmer he would have
recOnsidered his determination.
But Wilmer had dropped from sight
and none Of his old acquaintance
knew what had become of him.
Nancy had learned to handle a motor
under his guidance on the lake the year
before. and her devotion to the boat
was in part due to that fact. AS she
guided the little craft among the chan
nels he had shown her. she liked tC
dream day dreams of the time wher
they two should share a boat again
So real was the imagined presence 81
times that now, as Nancy puffeG pas
the prison island and looked on thC
parade ground. she rubbed her eyes a.
she noticed the leader of file of con
victs making their way along the edg,
of the wall.
1t did not seem possible that it coulC
be Wilmer, but, as the little file cam,
nearer, she was certain. Wilmer haC
never worn a mustache, and there WA
no mistaking the face. She even fan
cied that she caught a CLEAN of recog
milton in his eyes, as he passed will
firm tread. She shut off the power an,
turned to look after the men in th
striped suits. 1t came as a shock 1
- her that Wilmer was wearing til
stripes. She was certain that he ha
> done nothing to deserve Imprisonment
1t must have been all a mistake. an
he had been too proud to call upon hi
friends for aid. She turned her boa
: determined to visit the. prison office an
, lind out something about the cause
which had led to his inc6tceration.
AS she did so there was a sudde
J comrhotion in the line The even trea
( Of the lockstep was broken, and Wi
mer, with a sudden dash, had knocke
down the keeper and sprung into I'll
water
Al score of keepers rushed to III
water wall and emptied their rife
~ after the escaping convict. while tu
r of the prison boats which happened
be close at hand started in pursui
Nancy was quicker vet Throwing d
l full speed, she faced the fire from Il
" shore and from the first Of the tv
boats. In moment she was be>it
A. Wilmer helping him into the launc
Then she sprang to the wheel aga
and headed for the mainland.
''Why didn't you let us know th
you We're in troubleT she demand,
as the boat. once more under cont.
hummed toward the shore 1--WE wou
have helped you out You know tn
Fred"
"Only got here Yesterday" he (,
nloinad tfT u-ac oofnor 20 Iool- xrc,, ,