The Washington times., 1909-05-19

! stood by the front entrance to the jail.
The sheriff laid the supper dishes on a
table and turned to the young man.
Want to set outside a while?" ne
said - always let the prisoners do
that when they behave themselves. and
they most always do"
Of course, Jim was glad OF the pros
pect Of a short time in the delicious
night air, and he listened cheerfully TO
the sheriff's somewhat conventional
yarns Of prison life. He was a good
listener and the time passed rapidly.
Bill had just reached the crisis of
an unusually uninteresting tale when
the chunk. chunk of an automobile horn
came from the direction. of the main
street
Editor Banley out for his night run
10 Madrid and back observed the
sheriff, interrupting himself. He's
got the only automobile in town.
Where's Madrid?' asked Jim, thins-
ing that a knewleGee of the country
| about might some cay prove useful to
him
Ten miles down the state road. It's
on railroad. too. like Chanton. but it s
funny that town amt never built up
much.''
The sheriff rambied on and mean
time the car came nearer and nearer.
At last Bilrs story came to an end and
at the same time two brilliant lights
appeared in sight beyond the corner
of the nearby county clerks office rhe
automobile seemed to slow down and at
last, Just IN front nf the jail, ii came to
stop.
'.Haw.',s called out the sheriff, "nak-
ing me call, editor. or has the ma
chine gone wrong?''
There was silence outside, where
upon the sheriff laughed.
Better get a horse,' he cried, "Come
on, Alton" he added, Tets see what's s
the matter"
Eager TO divert his mind from the
morbid thoughts which now possessed
1t. Jim gladly accompanied the good
natured sheriff down the path to the
street where stood the silent machine.
Cant for the life of me see what S
the matter. sheriff." said Editor BanIey
as they approached him
Let me examine it. sir" volunteered
Jim. I've worked in a garage and
knew all about a car"
Want to know!' exclaimed Sheriff
Bill, proud of the knowledge of one of
mis- guests
1t took Jim but a few moments to
discover the trouble. and he was al bout
to rectify ii when there came to him an
inspiration He must get away This
was the only automobile in towni
Il want a wrench. sheriff." he s2id.
Let's see that one" as Banley fshed
in his tool compartment.
NO. that won't do exclaimed Jim,
examining the one produced. "Oh, Z
know, there was one here in my cell.
in the corner I don't know how It got
there' but it's exactly what I want"
III get it sheriff" volunteered Ban
ley. 'and viii be mighty"
No, I'll go I got the keys and I
never give them keys up" replied the
sheT1n, as Jim had expected he would.
He started Off, muttering to himself, "a
N-.e14ch in a cell; nice thing"
Slowly he walked toward the IAN.
while Jim. pretending to gutter about
the machine. watched through the dark
ness.
The moment he was inside the door.
as near as Jim could guess. Alton
started the machines engine. Jumped
into the car, in the very face and eyes
of the startled editor. and was of o1wn
the State road.
You'll find it at Madrid" he shouted
back over his shoulder.
From the jail came the sheriff, run
ming, but all he saw was a cloud Of
dust now nearly half a mile away.
Jim, the clutch in high speed. was
enjoying himself for the first time that
day, and as the car rushed along over
the good road he blessed the cone=rva-
tism Of the folk Of Chaaton for their
failure TO invest in more than one Quito
mobile,
His pleasure was not marre5 by
the knowledge that it would be alb
solutely impossible for him to take
the train at Madrid, should there
prove to be any at that time of night.
for he had another plan. And so the
excitement Of the escape and the
ride got in his blood.
Jim was just Sowing down, having
covered about nine miles, as the lights
Of the station ahead of him showed,