The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
A PARADOYICA[ PLAN
ax HOPE HOPKINS.

Just previous to the opening of the
American Revolutionary war young
Marylander named Edward Mower
having ruined himself financially at
cards-gambling was very fashionable
in those days-enllsted in British
regiment stationed at Baltimore. When
the war came on Mower, whose sym
pathies were with the colonies. desert
ed and joined the patriot army. Taken
prisoner Mt the battle Of Monmouth. he
was recognized as former British
soldier and q court martial ordered to
try him for desertion.
While Mower was waiting trial he
was lodged in Jail at Trenton. One
morning his cell door was opened, a
young woman Of about twenty years
of age entered, and the door closed be-
In surprise.
II have been admitted here for five
minutes conversation with you." she
said, "by order Of the commandant,
having claimed that you are relative
Of mine, and l wish to give you some
Information to be used in your de-
fense."
"But never saw you beforey' ex.
claimed the prisoner. what informa-
ton can you have for me?"
''None that will save you from con.
viction. am told by those who know
fh0f xryfl1 h1 oh ~ -, 81
you to escape. Here are some pellets
containing drug that will make you
Ill. Take one every hour for three
hours. l wish to secure your removal
to a hospital where I may he better
able to serve you"
strangerY'
She was silent for moment, looked
at the floor, then said. do as l tell
you and ask no questions"
Mower was making another effort to
discover the cause Of this remarkable
incident when his cell door opened and
the girl was summoned by the guard.
AS soon MS she had gone he swallowed
one Of the pellets she had given him
and in IN hour swallowed another.
The guard when he came to leave the
prisoners noon meal found him CIV
ing unmistakable signs Of illness.
Mower was carried to hospital.
AS soon as Mower got better he
swallowed another pellet and another
and another. renewing the doses every
day. He overshot the mark. taking so
many that one morning he was thrown
into commissions which ended In un-
consciousness. When he came to him
self again he found his body covered
from head to foot with q sheet. He
was about to throw 1t off when he
heard footsteps and few moments
later the voice of hospital steward
say:
HE died in commissions"
"When? asked the surgeons voice.
Half an hour ago."
The footsteps were heard passing on.
Soon Mower felt himself lifted by two
pairs Of arms and carried out from
the warm to the cold air and laid on
some hard substance. Then he heard
a bolt shot and all was still. Throw
ing the covering of his face. he saw
that he was resting on table in va
cant room. Beneath him on the floor
was corpse. He was In q dead
house. There were two windows in
the room. and from the light coming
through them Mower knew that it was
day. He dared not move for fear of
attracting attention. He heard the
town clock strike every hour from II
to 3. Then It grew dark, and he deter
mined to examine his surroundings.
The windows overlooked shed, be-
yond which was back yard, and at
the farther end Of this were trees. He
waited till all the lights on the prem
ises were eXtinguished. then stepped
out Of window on to q shed beneath,
let himself to the ground and run to
the back Of the yard. Climbing a
fence. he found himself In the back
yard Of other premises.
Mower was In night clothes and
dared not enter street lest he at
tract attention. He waited. shivering,
till late hour, then, making sure
that no one was near, passed through
the yard and stood looking up and
down the street on which the prem
Uses faced. Hearing the watch ap-
proach crying eleven o'clock and all's
WE'LL" Mower waited till he had pass.
ed, then ran like deer till, reaching
the town limits. he found himself In g
wood. Seeing house standing by It.
self and assuming that the inmates
were patriots, he knocked and told his
story. He was furnished with clothing
and piloted by one Of the family to.
ward Morristown, where he entered
the American lines.
Mower rose to the rank Of major II
the American army. The mystery OF
his escape was unsolved till the end Of
the war. Then one day he received
an anonymous letter from Baltimore
in woman's handwriting announcing
that II when he had occasion to visit
that city he would call at certain
house he would be furnished with
some information that would Interest
him.
Mower lost no time In making the
journey. called at the house designat
ed and was there received BY the lady
who had visited him In prison. The
pleasure expressed In her face. a blust
and shrinking. gave him the key t.
her motives. She had seen him wher
she was girl Of fifteen and had giver
him her heart.
Your taking so much Of the poison
she said. spoiled all my. plans. had
arranged another method for your es
cape from the hospital. but before
!. could nut II into onoratiou ,.3,s. kaI