The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-10

A guard, with gun pointed at Jim's
heart, stood i'm his way, Jim stopped
shot out like a man sliding for base Ia
"a ball game and tackled the guard by
the legs Bowling him over. Jim bound
ed on. There was the sound of an eN-
pIosion Even now it rang in his ears.
The door for which he vas making
was blown open. The guards were taken
aback But jim, knowing what had
caused the explosion. had dashed on,
determined to make that yawnlnS gap
in the wall
The others followed him. He rushed
down the corridor. Shots few after him.
causing him to move faster.
YeIs came from the other prisoners
at the table, and Jim knew that many
of his followers had been stopped or
shot. on he plunged with fear of moth
ing. He must get free. That was all
For a second he tottered on the
brink 1t was a long jump through that
hole, as high as the prison wall A shoJ
bit through his ear.
That decided Jim. He jumped-jump-
ed into bIackness without knowing what
law at the bottom, without caring what
was at the bottom, so long as he once
was free
Then he landed IN a heap
There was q shouting above,
He was bruised and hurt. But there
was not a second to lose. He had pick
ed himself up. and found that he hao
Jumped over the prifon wall
AS hg ran he heard another body fall
behind him. But that had different
sound. and a shot had been registered
a second before the fall.
Jim realized that he was the only
man in the nineteen that had escaped
It was MS own reckless. devll-may-cdIe
action, with no thought OF death, that
had saved him. He was reckless, had
cared for nothing. and now he was
free
The others cared. and they were back
there in prison, except those that had
been shot down with bullets through
their heads.
Having reached this point in his
thoughts. Jim staggered 10 his feet ana
rushed on again toward the MONS
place Of the money. He knew that ne
had made. remarkable time, and that the
neapIe in Marshall were not yet suL-
fcientlv aroused to reach the water tank
in season to catch him.
There was 2 train due at about that
hour. AMI ne hoped TO conceal himself
somewhere in il.
Sore ana bruised from his high jump.
the escaped prisoner dashed on co1
through tie woods near the track, leap
ed the rails, and stood still a moment
later beside the tree that had been his
goal
Thank GodI His attentive ears made
ont the sound of an approaching train
He knew that it was q freight by It's
rumble, and also he was aware that
the cars would stop near the tank Wllie
the engine took water.
He was playing in wonderful luck. IT
was his absolute disregard OK death
that had saved him all through Now
he was on the eve OF success
He would climb up TO the hole IN
the tree. get the money. and then board
the freight. He would trust 10 luck
for clothes
They mattered little. He was pos
sessed with the idea Of freedom
Catching a foothold on the trunk Of
the tree. ne reached up to the hole. his
fingers just missed 1t and Jim realized
that he would have 10 climb a little In
order TO secure the treasure.
The train was pulling in. He could
make out the STARE Of the headlight
turning the curve.
Jim wrapped his arms and legs about
the shaggy trunk and hoisred himself
about six inches at the hrsL pull
AT that point he stopped His blood
CONCEALED. He had heard a twig crack
below, and almost beside him. Then
be made out the form Of q man with a
rife, ready 20 aim al the jaubird he had
/ discovered in the trees.
Jim knew that he had lost. His es-
cape had been i'm vain