The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-19

- URING the following two or
three days checkers was the
accepted game,
The men chose teams anc
played a championship contest The
stakes of the game varied from pack
age of state" a side to two oranges
or bananas for the winner.
Meanwhile the fascination OF the
prison paper waned. The condemned
wing was too busy with checkers 70
think OF anything else.
Phil played with the others, and was
interested in trying 10 win the cham
piOnship.
one morning as Daring was just get
ting ready for a game with Bloke
Brady, who had proved 20 be one of the
best players. two guards entAed TIE
room and approached Pills cell
There they stopped, and one OF them
read a short paper to the astonished
pTssoT5r.
II stated that his execution would
take place two weeks from that day,
and that the death watch would be set
the following week.
Daring took the news calmly. and
when the guards had left hush fell
over the little room.
100 bad. editor" remarked Tommy.
Its something all of US have got 20
expect sooner or later Phil replied,
philosOphically.
After an hours silent thought he Had
control of himself again. and Joined in
the game Of checkers. he was deter
mined 70 keep up his spirits IN spite OF
everything.
Again he turned to the prison paper
Tor sOlace, and brought out a pessimis-
tic, cynical edition that had a great
deal &c say aOout the jury.
Bob had said nothing aloud since the
guards had told Phil OF the Cate set
for his execution.
Phil wondered how mis- cousin would
take the news. Evidently from Bob S
afN FrasH a Hal
The next morning Phil received a
drawing from Bob for use in the paper
II was a crude sketch and the short
hand symbols in the groundwork were
poorly disguised Rut the attendant
was the only man who saw them, ano
he was not suspicious.
Daring read this message in the
aPhiI-Now there is a chance for you
send me the file. il can be done easily
IN challenge you 10 game Of
checkers. d banana a side YOu lose the
game, put your pocket comb IN the
banana and the guard viii bring II
TO me
Then III take out the eomb-ale, play
you a return game, lose, and send you
back my comb in the same banana
1t Will be easy and there IS 40
chance for you now. BOB
'''rhe same idea I had Phil cried
10 himself III would bc easy enough
10 get the file 70 him without detection
but do ] want to-
That YVES the point about which
young Daring debated with himself al
that morning.
He could not make ND his mind. II
Bob got out he would marry Alice
Phil could never stand that.
He noticed with grim satisfaction
that Bob had said nothing more about
trying to help him If he escaped. That
was consistent with the fellows char
scter.
Suddenly the attendant presented him
self at Phn's cell
In his hand were three or four let
tiers.
''These have been waiting for yor
I'm the Office for some time. he said
as he handed them in. They are very
careful about mail ia this corridor, you
know But the captain says you car
have them now"
Phil took them greedy.
The first one ne tore open was from
Mr.. Rogers telling him that he would
BE- unable to handle his case any
longer.
that was old news. DIT. Lyons had
already told him Of the sudden change
In his lawyer.
Next came a letter from the physi-
clan. II was fun OF friendship, but
rather sOmbeF I'D tone, as he had nC
hope The doctor had written IL jus'
before Bob had been placed in the eel
across the corridor from Phil, and d
told of old Eben's death and mentioned
the viii that was believed to be in eX
tEtence. but had not been found.
TIE letter stated that the courts haC
upheld Mr.. Rogers in failing 10 eXeCut,
the viii IN his cIarge on account OF thi
Imprisonment OF the nepheWs of JOIN
Stevens, and the fact that old EbeI
had said that there was later Will II
existence.
The doctor said that on account o
Bob's trial Alice had come to see thing
aAIerently and would never considel