Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-11
The Argus Daily Short Story
A Well Planned Escape.-By Darlington Ford.
copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary PresA

the key. from which duplicate could
be made. When he was ready to OPP
crate he rushed into the warden's Of
fee and told him he had heard some
thing like a shot In the other end Of
the prison. The warden went to the
door and listened Hunter while the
mans back was turned slipped the key
he wanted from its nail and hung an
other in its place. Then Hunter left
the office. saying that he would go and
see il there was any trouble. When
he returned he had a wax impression
of the key and. watching his opportu-
nifty. exchanged the real key for its
substitute.
Meanwhile Boyle had procured n
ladder. which be had concealed in a
convenient place to be used by Maxson
In climbing the wall There was a
second wall which the prisoner would
need to climb. and Mrs. Maxson had
arranged with his two friends. Wood
run and Somers. to be outside this
second wall at the time Of the escape
to throw a rope over for him TO climb
upon. He was to make known his
presence by throwing a stone over the
wall.
There were 80 many contingencies
TO the success OF the plan that Boyle
and Hunter were loath to go on with 1t.
Hunter would haze backed out had is
not been for the earnest pleading CT
Mrs. Maxsoo. It was all she could do
to hold him to his purpose. When all
else failed she agreed to double the
amount of his reward: That decided
him. Nothing remained, but to appoint
a certain night when Woodruff and
Somers should be ready at the outer
wall and the attempt should be made.
The night arranged for was very
dark. high wind bowling furiously.
This was in some respects an advan-
tage, for the operations of the conspir-
ators were less likely to be heard.
After midnight Boyle gave Maxson a
suit Of clothes. let him out of his cell
and conducted him to the prison yard.
Boyle knew just where guards and
watchmen were stationed and how to
avoid them. In the yard they found
Hunter. Boyle withdrew the ladder
from its hiding place and put it up
against the wall
1t was far too short
1t looked as If, after all the planning
and pains, the attempt was to be a
failure. There was no possibility of
the prisoner getting on the wall. His
assistants were wild with terror They
had as much at stake as the man they
were trying to set free. To return him
to his cell would be to incur again the
risk they had taken in getting him
out. They must put him over that
wall.
For heavens sake. Hunter" gasped
Boyle. what shall we dog"
''I'll go to the dining room and get
table"
go quick"
The table was brought and stood
near the wall. The ladder was placed
on it. but it was still too short Max
son climbed 1t, but could not get his
fingers on the wallis top.
STEADY" called Boyle In a loud
whisper. and he and Hunter. who
were both strong men. raised the lad
der the height of their shoulders.
"a little more!'' called Maxson.
By combined effort they raised it
as high as they could reach, and the
prisoner got on to the wall.
Boyle and Hunter were still in terri
BILE danger of discovery. Until they
had removed the table and the ladder
and had returned to their duties they
were not safe But they accomplished
it all. Their work was done. Each
had a promise of what 70 him was
small fortune.
Maxson must take a jump in the
dark. What was below him. how far
it was to fhe ground. be did not know.
and he could not see. He might break
his neck: he might break limb. The
latter alternative seemed worse to him
than the first. for IL he were unable to
walk he would be recaptured. placed
in close confinement and would doubt
less die in prison. He must take the
risk. Hanging by his fingers. he let go
and dropped. He struck soft ground
and. though Jared. was not injured.
What there was about him was not
under the heavy clouds scud-