The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-02
THE BETTER MAN.

eagerly as the turnkey nall
dragged a besotted figure into the
cell. Hunky knew his fellow pris-
oner. knew him well.
Hunky stood by the shadow near
the cell window until the new pris-
oner lurched on to the bed and the
turnkey retired, locink the door
after him. Then Hunky slouched
across the room and roughly
placed his hand on the other mans
shoulder.
Hello, Bill Smith," he growled
and slapped the mans back. The
other looked up for a moment, in
tense fear mirrored in his eyes, de-
spite the fact that he was the big
ger Of the two. Then. with spas
modic motion of the hands, he GOV
cred his face.
Didn't think you'd run into me
so soon again, huh?" growled
Hunky. Thought you cud get me
jagged, huh, an then sneak away!
But you lost out, old sport. l al
ways knew was the better man
more of man than you
IL only turned states evidence
Hunky, because my kid was dying
and l had to get out had to get
OUT" cried the other man.
can SEN me to the pen for two
year, huh? That amt nothin', of
course, only you amt much of a
man, Hunky. An we used to be as
thick as brothers.
You'd have done the same,
Hunky."
Mike, old sport, I'd have told
the judge first about the kid, an If
he wouldn't let me go to her, then.
maybe, I'd have peached. But l
wouldn't have done it foist thing
out of the box on an old pal. But
I'm more Of a man than you. Bill.
An now you'se are delivered into
my hands!"
The other man looked up, intense
fear again mirrored in his pale
face.
Don't do nothin', Hunky," he
pleaded. I'm sick man-can't
you see I'm sick?"
"Yop," growled Hunky, as his
grip on Smiths shoulder frightened
convulsively, "but I'm goin'
to-"
He was interrupted by the sud
| den opening of corridor door. A
great cloud of smoke rolled down
the corridor, and with a gasp both
men realized that the jail was on
fire. Down the pathway raced the
turnkey, frantically unlocking the
cell doors. Mechanically Hunky
and Bill crowded up to their door,
and when the turnkey reached it,
1t was the last in the row, they
raced out into the smoke filed cor
ridor. They could not see which
way the turnkey had gone and the
smoke blinded them. Smith
coughed cOnvulsively, and then fell
on the floor.
Save yourself. Hunky," he cried.
Save yourself. old pal. I'm the
best man after ALL"
Mike" cried Hunky, huskily.
He reached down and grabbed
Smith. and dragging him eau
tiously, felt his way to the wall.
Their corridor was on the second
story, and he remembered a stair
way which he had come up. If he
could only reach that! The smoke
became worse. More than once he
felt like dropping his dead weight
and saving himself. but he hung on
savagely. At last he came to a
window and running his fist
through the glass, he thrust his
head through the opening and man.
aged to secure few fresh breaths
He pulled Smith up and the fresh
air revived the latter. CHANGING
down, he saw that the wall went
down sheer, without a break. Feel.
ing around with his hands beneath
the sill, he found a coil of rope.
By this time Smith had revived suf-
ficiently to grasp the fact that
Hunky was uncoiling the rope.
Save yourself, Hunky, old pal"
he gasped, and tried to dash back
into the smoke.
Hunky caught him and sent a