El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-10-25
n At AJOR MILLBANK, governor OF
IXH the great fortress prison on the
By Ivan P. Gore.

n ~ =
hill, flung down his book and,
springing to his feet, listened intently.
Beyond the walls of his cozy cottage
the wind roared and hurtled across the
SparSely covered plain, but above the
storm, family at first, could be dis
tinctly heard the dull clang of the
alarm bell, which told rich and poor
alike that once again a fellow creature
had taken his life in his hands and,
trusting to a forlorn hope, had made a
bolt for liberty.
The governor, swore long and deep
~ beneath his heavy mustache as he
listened. At any time he would have
been deeply incensed at the escape of
his charges, but, today, especially, the
knowledge that his picked and careful
ly trained assistants had been caught
mapping filled him with fierce anger;
for, just across the hall of the tiny
bungalow which he had inhabited be-
yond the prison walls ever since mis-
marriage, his only child lay fighting
for life, while the young mother
watched the struggle with fearless
eyes
AS he crossed the passage. the door
Of the sick room opened and his wife
came out. One glance at her told him
that she, too, had heard the warning
bell, and his anger increased as he
noted the fear in her wide open eyes.
Douglas" she whispered 1.-The belli
One of them has escaped.
There, there, my DEAR" he patted
her hand reassuringly-"you have
nothing to fear. Soon-an hour or two
at the moSt-we shall have the ruffian
safely in the punishment cells"
You are going to leave me- Doug
las!' she exclaimeds as turning from
her. he began to struggle into his
greatcoat
My dearest girl, L must
But little Jack, he is no better,
and the grey eyes filled with tears
and the major noticed with a heart
ache that the white hand which lay
upon his arm had become very thin in
the past few days
Come, come, sweetheart, you are
worn out with nursing and imagine
that the boy IS worse than he is. Stod-
dart is certain to look in again during
the evening, and he'll stay with you
till I return"
He spoke cheerfully, but, in his heart
he knew that, in spite of the urgent
message which he had sent unknown
to his wife, the hardworked country
doctor might easily be prevented from
calling until the morning, and for a
moment he hesitated between the duty
which was calling him out into the
storm and the love which urged him to
stay at home.
Left alone, Mrs Millbank sat down
by the bedside of the little sufferer
and composed herself to wait as pa
tiently as she could for the doctors
coming.
Hour after hour passed. Night came
on-pitch black, save for the vivid
I>,f
still the doctor did not come. "Oh
Cod" She muttered, as with hands
nearly as feverish as the child's. she
smoothed the ruffled pillow, send the
doctor soon, before it is too Later
Another hour dragged heavily by,
then suddenly she sat bolt upright. ev
cry nerve tingling as she strained her
ears to listen. Yes, again 1T came-a
distinct though gentle knock upon the
outer door. The long prayed for doctor
had arrived at last, and, with muf-
fled cry of joy, she stumbled down the
dark passage. With fumbling hands
she turned the key and drew back the
bolts.
Thank God you've come" she whis-
pered, as dark figure entered; L
feared
The words of welcome died upon her
lips. giving place to a stifled cry of
terror, as a rough hand was placed
over her mouth and a strong arm push
ed her roughly back into the passage.
Move, utter a cry, and it will be
your lastw hoarse voice Kissed into
her ear. Then the newcomer turned
and rebarred the door. You are alone
in the house, Ell? Yes. 1 know you are.
From my hiding place 1 saw your hus-
band-curse him-go to join in the
hunt after a fellow creature. They