Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-08-24

L
| The negro came over to him. and
bent down
| Il was layin' on a board what I'd
! worked loose at one end" he whis-
j pered hoarsely. back OBJ de bench,
| but | couldn't jerk it out wild out
something ter pry 1t up wild"
Where Is IT."
Right we're, Massa Jack"
It was a heavy twelye-inch plank.
part Of the flooring. and the second
from the Sidewalk Keith managed
to get grip next to the black fingers,
and the two pressed it up far enough
for the white man to run one arm
through the opening up to his shout
der and grope about below.
There's two-foot space there" he
reported, as they let the board settle
silently down into position THE back
part Of this building must be set up on
piles. reckon we could pry that
plank up with the bench. Neb, but it's
liable to make considerable racket.
Let's hunt, about first for some other
weak spot"
They crept across the hoor. testing
each@separate board. but without dis
covering place where they could ex-
ert a leverage. The thick planks were
tightly spiked down. Nor did the
walls offer any better encouragement.
Kesth lifted himself to the grated
window. getting glimpse OF the
world without. but finding the iron i'm
movable, the screws solidly imbedded
In the outside wood. He dropped to
the floor. feeling baf1led and discour-
aged
1T will have to be the plank back
of the bench. Neb." he announced
briefly. wiping the Precipitation from
his face Get down there. and work
1t as loose as you can without making
any noise. while keep my ear to the
door and listen for any Interruption. !"
They took turns at this labor. dis
covering q loose nail which gave an
opening purchase at the crack. thus
enabling the insertion Of small wood.
en- block. and insuring space for a
good finger grip when the right time
came. A sleepy Mexican brought In
their dinner. and set It down on the
bench without a word. but on his res
turn with supper, the marshal accom-
panied him. and remained while they
ate. talking to Keith. and staring
about the room. Fortunately. the sin
gle wipdow was to the west. the last
rays Of the sun struck the opposite
wall, leaving the space behind the
bench In deep. shadow Whatever
might be the plans OF Black Bart
and his cronies. Keith was soon con-
WINGED they were unknown to Hicks.
who had evidently been deceived into
thinking that this last arrest had
created no excitement.
That's why we picked yer up so
early" he explained. genially. Bart
said II we got to yer afore the boys
woke up they'd never hear nuthins
bout It, an so thar wouldn't be no
row. He didn't even think tharid be
emmy need O. keepin' special guard
ter-night. but reckon Il won't take
no such chance as that. an IN have
couple e deputies prowlin round fer
luck When Carson does wake up.
she's hell
He lett them TOBACCO and pipes, and
went away evidently convinced that
he had performed his full duty. The
two prisoners. pahing smoke-rings into
the air. heard the heavy clang Of the
iron bar falling into place across the
door. and sat looking into one anoth.
er's faces through the deepening twt
light IN the mind Of both black and
white reposed the same thought The
negro was first to break the silence.
Pears ter me. Massa jack. Ike
dis yere Bart pusson am Nigh anx-
ious ter hab no suspicious raised. :
anybody but Hicks would see