The bee., 1908-03-19
The Escaped
Convict
ny HUGH PENDExTER


| tiOn pleased him In vague way, out,
on the whole, his whirling thoughts
left him in a chaos, and as he crouched
and sought to crowd his gray-garbed
form into the very earth he could
only gasp, Free! free!"
Then horrible dread began to filter
through his mind. From the moment
he dropped over the high wall until
he found himself covering in the
bushes he had no recollection Of whs'
he had done, or how. The hiatus
teemed with possibilities. What If he
had dashed madly through the streets
and had taken the hillside in view Of
all? Even now the hard-faced keep
srs might be closing in.
Could 1t be possible they we're not
there-were not holding back in wan
ton mockery? Again the changing Of
the bell bruited abroad the news Of
his escape, and as its discordant warn
ing rose and sank on the breeze he
shuddered and hungrily eyed the
dusky depths of nearby pine grove.
But he must wait until night had blot
ted out the meadow.
For six months he had paid the
price Of another's crime. 1t seemed
as II the bell must understand and
cease its ringing.
81 never burned no buildin's," he ex-
postulated huskily. Il never, / tell
ye. An yet they jugged me, inner
cent man. An my wife an boy was
tn only ones ter believe in me-"
His emotion so overcame him that
after a wild-eyed pause he shrieked
aloud. as If for the first time remem-
bering the plight Of the two left un-
protected.
Il must be careful" he repeated
over and over again in a strangled
monotone. Yes, he must be very care
full for little while; then he would go
back and pay the remainder of the
price-for his incentive was so heart
rending that once he had finished his
errand he cared little what wrong men
did him.
1t was only the day before that he
heard-the news. 1t seemed ages. He
was working In the broom shop at the
time, and the warden ushered In a
batch Of visitors. He hung his head
on recognizing a man from his viii
lage, and the man, not observing him,
bleated his name and asked his
whereabouts, and in the same breath
said that-here he did not catch the
name-was dying. He leaped from
his bench and asked which one
which one? His sorrowing wife, or
the little boy?
Then he was hustled OF to his cell,
his soul sick unto death and his face
so distorted by misery that even the
guard, hardened to all phases Of hu,
man despair, sought clumsily to cheer
him. Which one was dying? His wife,
so trusting. his only friend? Or was
IT the youngster, who wept when they
led him away?
This awful half intelligence gave
him superhuman strength, daring and
cunning, and enabled him to accom-
plish the almost impossible feat OF get
ting away from the prison in broad
daylight. The same strength that had
brought him to the hillside should
take him home TO the death-bed.
But first he must get rid of his pris-
on suit. 1t was the last hour of the
day before he dared to venture from
his hiding place. Without delaying to
pick and choose, he skirted the near
est farmhouse and gained the barn.
He had no light, but after a long re-
connaissance he found himself in the
harness room, with a thread of a
moonbeam feeding through the cob
webbed window. Some clothing hung
on thaS hooks. He took pair Of over
alls and jumper
Caution now whispered that he must
avoid the highway. but the horrible
dread Of being too late held him TO the
road, always making for the north. He
would have dared the daylight and
plunged on. only now he realized that
his legs we're growing limp. and he re-
membered that he had eaten nothing
since the noon before.
To obtain food he mus. steal it; but
he did not see his chance until a man.
carrying two pals crossed the road
and entered barn ahead of him.
Making a detour, the fugitive ao-
preached the building from the rear,
where he found a small door ajar.
Luck smiled on him a bit, for a wo-
mans querulOus voice caused the
mixer to leave his task The intruder
gained with noiseless steps the line
OF champing cattle and seized a pail.
1t was half full until It reached his dry
lips. For the rest of the day he re-
NAMED hidden near an orchard.
He was dizzy and faint when he
again faced the broad. full moon, but
his exhaustion kept his thoughts shift
ing about and possibly saved him from
full measure Of mental anguish. At
midnight a market gardeners heavy,
hooded wagon swung In from a cross
road In front OF him. It's driver half
asleep in the high-backed seat. The
fugitive caught the tai-board and drew
himself in. He rode all night. unde.