The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-31

I'm DOlIen. Ana Sne drew away HUH the stove and mopped her face.
 Souri took hold and showed pleas ing aptitude at baking corn bread and boiling some coarse meat which sim mered in a pot on the stove. Presently the jailer came in. and talk ing some food lifted a trap door and lowered a meal to those below in the black hole.
 ''Hyar's a gal" said his wife. ''ez bankers ter do some cooken fo' me"
 ''Ain't got nothen ter pay with"
 Don't want no pay" said Souri, 'trze starven. Want sump'n ter eat"
 "Waal, y won't git much hyar." said the jailer, ''but reckon it's good huff fo' niggers."
 So Souri was allowed to help, but there was no understanding that her services should extend beyond the pres ent moment
 She was leaning over the stove when Mark was brought back. He had just been sentenced. and there was hag- gard, hopeless look on his face as he passed the girl without noticing her.
 In the afternoon Souri saw that she must make work for herself or there would be no excuse for her to stay about the place. So. without saying a word. she took a pail of water and scrubbing brush and began to scrub the f1oor Then she suggested to Mrs. Triggs that she sweep her bedroom. The woman concluded that. as it had not been swept for more than month, Souri thoughts well' do it, especially as the girl seemed to be willing to do all this work for a little boiled meat and corn bread.
 "Ye' don't look right smart, Miss Triggs," said Souri, after cooking the supper and eating her share, "'n don know whar I gwine t git any break fast less come n cook fur y'."
 Mrs. Triggs succeeded in getting her husbands consent to Souri coming back in the morning, and the man went out to the gate with her and told her if the guard did not pass her in to send for him.
 She was at the jail bright and early and got in on telling the sentinel that she was Mrs. Triggs' servant. She cooked the breakfast, and when she saw Triggs about to carry Marks meat and corn bread into him she offered to do it, but Triggs paid no attention to the offer and carried 1t in himself.
 Then she asked Mrs. Triggs when she did her washing. and as the old woman had no regular time and not many clothes Souri offered to do what there was. When she went out to hang up the clothes to dry Jakey was in the yard. She called him to her and in a whisper made herself known. Jakey, who was wondering what had become of the message he had sent. was both overjoyed and astonished. He turned two or three somersaults on the ground and otherwise demonstrat- ed his childishness to Mrs. Triggs. who at that moment appeared at window, but not before Souri had told Jakey to inform Mark of her presence.
 Again at noon she offered to take in his dinner, but without success. She was at her wits end for an excuse to stay about till supper time, but think ing that Mrs. Triggs' wardrobe might need mending she offered to undertake the task, and spent the afternoon over the old woman's threadbare garments.
 All this while Souri was thinking of plan for Marks escape. She learned that he was to be hanged in a few days and knew there was little time: The most natural plan under the cir cumstances occurred to her-a plan by which more prisoners have made their escape than any other one method walking out before the guard in wo- mems clothes Souri determined, if she could secure an entrance into Marks room at any time after dark, she would give him her dress and sun- bonnet and leave him to make an. at tempt. Then she began to think over plan to gain an entrance at>a speci- fed time.
 In the evening her patience was re- warded. Marks supper was standing on the stove. Triggs was not in the jail and Mrs. Triggs went down the stairs outside to get something she wanted in the yard.
 Souri caught up the supper and walk. ed straight past the guard into Marks room, with it. Mark, who had been informed of her coming by Jakey. was expecting her. When he saw the mu- latto girl he grasped her hand.
 "Sourf! God bless youi" he said in a low tone.
 "I ain't got no time ter talk. I'm watchin fur chance ter give y my clothes ter go out with.'
 But what would you and Jakey do?' he asked hurriedly.
 "Th' ain't goen ter hang boy or a gal. Pertend ter be sick termorrer n ask fur some medicine. Mebbe they'll send me ter git it.,
 With that she went out. When Mrs. Triggs came in she was bending over the stove.
 "Whar's the Tanks supper?" she asked.
 "Oh, 'twar gitten cold, n toted hit in ter him.
 Souri made herself so useful that she was permitted to stay about the Jail the next day. She managed to keep an indifferent mien to all about her. but within there was a tempest. The next morning Mark was to swing, and prep arations were being made for the pur- pose. If tbare war only time," thought Souri. T thought help him away. but