The Washington times., 1908-08-16


pIeXiOn shaded by the pallor OF prison
nfe. He came on. bit by bit. CHANGING
nov and then over his shoulder in the
direction OF Princetown. lying far of
there in the haze and simmer Of the
setting sun. and every time he iuoked
back he set his teeth together with
more desperate resolution, and went
on his way mOrl dOggedly-
In the hut Lindsay's heavy slumbers
turned 10 troubled dreams. The ex-
haustlou was wearing itself out. and
the brain was beginning to reassert
itself He dreamed that he was run
ming. on. on. on. somewhere out OF
reach of something that tracked him
down. lie was not sure what It was
that pursued him-dogs, men. Wild
beasts, demons.
Hut something was in pursuit, and
ne must fiy. He sped forward with
the speed of deadly fear. but already
Hs could hear the hot . reath and hear
the paintings and growlings and
screenings OF the things behind. lie
stirred, moaning IN his sleep. and
tossed about restlessly.
At that moment the convict came
tolling up the hillside tP the ruined
hut. lie haq seen It from afar of
and had made for II with the intention
of resting IN IL for a while ere he
waat onward. II his mind. too. there
was some faint hope that he might
there find something that would fur
Their his escape-oId garments. cast
away by the shepherds, a piece of
sackiaR. anything that would hide or
replace the damninR broad arrow.
II only he could get away to 4
haunt Of his own in Plymouth
place that he knew OF and could de-
pend on-aH might go well, but how
was lie 70 get there ia that hateful
dress? All day. since ne had man
aged 20 slip away from the guards
notice, he had run along by the Wild
est ways he could ind. and so far he
mad been successful.
But now he was IN sore need OF rest.
The windings in and out by the Black
brook and the Swincombe, the scTamb-
Iings over rough places on the tors
the struggling through Fox Tor Mir
the continual advance IN the burning
sunlight OF hot midsummer day had
tired him out.
As he earae to the hut he looked
around. searching the landscape with
desperate eyes. As far as the eye
could reach there was nothing IN the
way Of human life 10 be seen IN all
that wide expanse Of waste and moor
It was desert swept by the fading sun
light.
The convict stOIe up TO the unshui-
tered window place IF tire hut and
drew his eyes tc a level with II 10y
.srasuing the rough Intel with his
fingers. For moment he gazed With
I'm. then he dropped back and stood
rneditating with a new light IN MS
ewes and a new derCeness In mis- heaTI
He mad seen something that gave MIN
new hope
The pict,Ire which had presented At
self 10 him IN the partial gloom OF the
ruined hut was che that woui1 nave
made no inlpressiCn on the mind q
any other man
He had seen a -naa dying asleep on
rough couch Of furZe' and brackeh-a
man who was evidently fugitive or
a tramp. so unkempt and travel
stained was his clothing lie lag with
his hack 10 the window, and now ana
mon he moved and groaned In MS
sleep. But the convict had NOT see"
his face: his eyes regarded no'hihs
bat the clothes
To the convict. these clothes, poor
and worn as they were, meant every
tbing-freedom. liberty, HE useii-
However ragged they might be, they
.-are not stamped with the hatsfhi
badge Of penal servatude. In them "
man might pass other men unchd.-
ar, ,si. In the garb Of shame VIII
he wore that was impossible.
He must have those clothes
4a climbed up to the window again
and again looked IN on the sleeper
Tfndsav's sleep had changed again.
fror, the restlessness Of dreams TO the
.o,,rdness Of slumber; he lay still so
stu that ne might have been dead.
raa convict hesitated no longer. lie
zte,ped down from the window ana
looked about him with fierce, resoiute
a,-es A little distance away lay
stout niece Of wood that had once
forn7ed the Intel Of a doorway. The
,on,-ict went over and picked il up.
There was a strong iron staple firmly
axed IA one end of it. and he exam
ined that with determined fingers.
Then he balanced the thing in his
hands. nd when he was satisfied with
the swing Of It he turned toward the
door of the hut.
IL was gloomy and silent within;
there was scarcely the sound Of the
sleeping mans breathing. He lay face
downward on the bracken, his head
half resting in the crook Of one arm.
his whole attitude that of profound
unconsciOusnesS
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CnrhnH for Ernndnm