The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-08
THE EVENING STORY
Winners Escape.
by Colin S. Collins.l

ouhI on an island in the lake
rom which it took its name long be-
1o..e tne campers discovered what a
IoVely place the lake was. At the time
u It's building Hammond had been so
Ihlies from the nearest town of any size
Gnu ohty a spur track ran down to the
s REPRESENTATIVES 81 .ne lake, connecting with the
nat pottomed boat that ferried the
Irelght 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.
Inc campers objected to the presence
OF the penltentiary, 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
underlined by the thought of a possible
jail delivery
NO stone walls surrounded the island
Only here and there a guard hut dotted
the white expanse of the stone pier,
whicn had been built entirely about the
Island, ready to shoot at any prisoner
VINO might rashly try to escape. Few
tried. IL was a good two miles to the
nearest shore. and in the winter the
White expanse of ice made a back
ground against which 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 on the
new wing. They could not wave back,
she knew, but she liked to believe that
this sign from the world outside cheer
ed them in their work. The guards all
came to know her and the trim little
racing motor boat. They presented
| arms with a grin as she sped past the
WALL and Nancy had the feeling that
they answered for the prisoners.
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 bring
| ing back the roses to her cheeks, and
James Barlow would have run a pipe
| line to the lake if necessary to bring
| about that result. He had refused his
consent to the marriage of Nancy and
Fred Wilmer, but he felt vaguely trou-
bled 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 tendency
| to wildness on Winners part that had
| led to his refusal, and could he have
| found Wilmer he would have reconsid-
| cred 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 daydreams of the time when
| they two should share a boat again.
| So real was the imagined presence at
| times that now, as Nancy puffed 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 a mustache. and there was
no mistaking his face. She even fancieo
that she caught CLEAN of recognition
| in his eyes, as he passed with hrnl
| tread She shut off the power and
| turned to look after the men in the
striped suits. 1t came as shock tc
| her that Wilmer was wearing the
stripes. She was certain that he had
| done nothing to deserve Imprisonment
1t 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 incarcera-
| ton.
AS she did so there was a sudden
commotion in the line. The even tread
| of the lockstep was broken, and Will
mer, with a 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 af-
| ter the escaping convict. while two
| of the prison boats, which happened
to be close at hand, started in pursuit.
Nancy was quicker yet. Thowing 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
s'Why didn't YOU let US know that
| Won were in trouble?" she demanded,
as the boat, once more under control
| hummed toward the shore. we
would have helped you out. You
know that, Fred
nIained. "I was going to look you up
after my escape. but it's case of
| business first"
the mountain % she asked. Make
| for that, and 1 will bring you otner
| clothes this afternoon.
"Your father might object to loan
ing his clothes to convict, suggested
Wilmer with laugh.
II don't care whether he does or
not" said Nancy, braveiy: You are
in trouble. and he will have to see
You out of it. He has lot of political
| influence, and he can get you a par
| DON" ~ x.,,,
mer. eagerly. HE t. Id me that you
said that you no LANCER cared for me
that you had asked him to dismiss
"And that was why you stayed
away?" she cried
Wilmer nodded an assent. Nancy
pretty lips made a white line where
| they were compressed together. Sne
ta5 not a little of the Barlow stub
| bornness. .-.;,. .,
IT don't care if you are convict
she said, bravely. Il love YOU ana 1
| am going to marry you. d1dn
want a man who ran away from
For The girl he wanted, but this puts
| oh