The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-10
CHAPTER xxx.
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" " across the fields. a convict
in prison stripes crouched
behind a hedge, half mile from the
sail The sound CONCEALED his blood and
ne trembled in fear
He was the only one Of nineteen men
that had intended 10 escape who had
succeeded IN getting away safely. The
Cuupowder had done it's work The
men who had helped on the outside had
set time fuses without being caught.
Boom
The convict was about to start on,
having recovered his breath. when the
growing, sullen boom of the cannon
made him drop as though he were shot.
He crept close inside the hedge and
waited. He was trembling fellow,
with huge eyes and an emaciated face
on which was written deathly fear
4 moment later he was on his feet
and running on madly again. Ike a
hunted rabbit. He passed q house. The
people had rushed 10 the doors at the
sound OF tire cannon
Everybody was aroused. The country
al around knew and recognized the
signal.
A convict had escaped.
That convict was Jim Holden
He ran on. ever on, lodging black
forms that suddenly doomed in the dark.
only 20 ind that they were trees, and
stopping now and then for breath. The
confinement had told on him. He could
not stand such violent exercise.
Again he dropped down beside a tree,
his breath coming SHARPLY and his eyes
peeung around without cessation.
AS ne lay there, his whole body heav-
ing with the sharp shocks that shook
him each time he drew breath the
escaped convict saw before him wildly
the picture OF his escape.
He had been watched closely. They
had been marched out 20 supper, nine
teen men. Every one OF them knew the
chance was 10 come that night AZ $50
There was a strange feeling through
out that part OF the prison The guards
noted II and were uneasy.
Jim had finally made up his mind 20
run the risk He did not care if he
was killed. TT was 10 be his last night
ia the common part Of the Jail; after
that. ia solitary confinement, there
would be no possible chance 10 escape.
His days were numbered. and he was
determined 10 take the hazard. in order
that he Hss.nt do one good deed before
he died ani deliver the money 70 Mrs
Snow.
The picture vanished. he struggled 10
his feet, and ran on when he dropped
again from fatigue he uae but a mile
from his goal.
That goal was a tree by The water
tank. and in q hole FIN the tree was
the money he must deliver. and re-
vClver 70 help him deliver it,
He wished now that he had told Besz
20 send some clothes % the place. too.
He had nor thought OF that before
How was be 20 escape I'm The prison
stripes
Flash
The convict dropped fat TO his sto1n-
ach as a bright CLEAN shot down
through the field across which he was
running
II was the searchHght from the jail
The big ray covered the field sys-
temstiCslly, one part a. q time. uu
lay oH The ground without amy sort
OF protection II 7he light discovered
him re WAS as good as caught
G.sncluE around H the darkness De
MADE cut mound On front of him AND
crsvlal quickly toward ~. & zr5al fear
OF The light exposing I-u while he was
Crawling behind This mound HozzeEze1
E1a but De went on, with nothing tut
nerve 10 sustain him
Flash
Almost caught Tins time. hut ue
dropped behind tae pile Of stones and
though The Eear-aiIehl lowered uesl
that very rle f1T some uua nothing
was revealed or the prisoner
In "a lCH minutes t.a uEat was with
drawn lo aaothrr part of the country
and Jm Eueu that he Uas safe.
IN a. second be was ou DAB. frrr dash
ing to7srd -aa llr. near laa aal.. l.aa
He gave slr within quarter al mUa
of the place and fopPed down beside q
fence no lsECl EIa breath
The picture came back pa alm again
Tie saw the nineteen men going ta tl
supper iu single 6Ie. 30 man ate much
Ncfalne was Iellahed. Tho guards Hcre
uneasy Tile meal finished the order
came no march again
That was the time. ~ was hau-past
sz. The minute had arrived. Like p
madmau. having nothing no lose but the
nine days of captivity. jam had sprung
toward the door that shut Off tle wing
In which the nineteen men were impus-
oued
The bomb had not vet been exploded
but IN Was time. and jim could not
hold himself any longer.