The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-09-25
Winners
Escape.
BY COLIN S. COLLINS.
Copyrighted, 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

Lake Hammond penitennary had
been built ON an island IN the lake from
which it took it's 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 q spur track ran down to the
shore of the lake, connecting with the
fat bottomed boat that ferried the
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 its 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 unterriied by the thought Of a
possible Jail delivery
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 a back
ground against which a convict would
become fair target for the guns.
Nancy Barlow liked to run her boat
in close to the wall and wave her hand
to the prisoners sullenly working Oh
the new wing. They could not wave
back, she knew, but she liked to believe
that this sign from the world outside
cheered them In their work. The
guards all came to know her and the
trim little racing motor boat They pre-
scented 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
pipe line to the lake If necessary 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 bow 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
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 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 to
dream day dreams Of the time when
they two should share boat again.
So real was the imagined presence at
times that now, as Nancy pulled past
the prison island and looked on the
parade ground, she rubbed her eyes as
she noticed the leader Of a file Of con-
victs making their way along the edge
of the wall.
1t did not seem possible that it could
be Wilmer, but, as the little file came
nearer, she was certain. Wilmer had
never worn mustache, and there was
no mistaking the face. She even fan
cied that she caught CLEAN Of recog-
milton in his eyes, as he passed with
firm tread. She shut off the power and
turned to look after the men in the
striped suits. It came as q shock to
her that Wilmer was wearing the
stripes. She was certain that he had
done nothing to deserve imprisonment
It must have been all a mistake, and
he had been too proud to call upon his
friends for aid. She turned her boat
determined to VISIT the prison Office and
find out something about the causes
which had led to his Incarceration.
AS she did so there was q sudden
commotion in the line. The even tread
of the lockstep was broken, and VII
mer, with sudden dash, had knocked
down the keeper and sprung into the
water
A score of keepers rushed to the
water wall and emptied their rifles
after the escaping convict, while two
Of the prison boats which happened to
be close at hand started I'm pursuit.
Nancy was quicker yet. Throwing on
full speed, she faced the fire from the
shore and from the first Of the two
boats. In moment she was beside
Wilmer, helping him into the launch.
Then she sprang to the wheel again
and headed for the mainland.
"Why didn't you let us know that
you were in troublev' she demanded
as the boat, once more under control,
hummed toward the shore 1--WE would
have helped you out. You know that.
Fred"
"Only got here yesterday" he ex-
planned. IT was going to look you up
after my escape, but it Is a case of
business first"
"You know the little cave up ON the
mountain?' she asked MAKE for
that, and will bring you other clothes
this afternoon"
"Your father might object to loaning
his clothes to convict" suggested