El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-06
TRAPPED
T. E. Bridges.

n HE gang was busy at the usual
! task-clearing stone and ditch
ing. OF course, they worked as
! slackly as they could Convicts al
ways do; but, IN spite OF Marvin
] prophecies of I'll, they were all quiet
and well behaved. They talked among
I themselves in that curious silent
speech which every old vag learns, and
which he can use without the slight
est motion Of his lips.
Gregory knew that they talked but
did not interfere. No Warder who
] knows his business ever does.
suddenly one of the men whom ne
Was watching glanced up at the sky,
land Gregory saw him nudge his com
paniOn, who also looked up.
Gregory turned and cast a quick
glance in the same direction
To his surprise, the balloon had left
its mOOHngs, and was sailing across
the prison farm. Already IL was with
in a few hundred yards, and, waited
by the light breeze, looked as though
it would pass almost over head.
A weighted guide rope trailed from
the car, keeping the great gas bag
within a couple OF hundred feet OF the
ground
Warren, the principal warder, called
across TO Gregory.
shout to them to get higher, Mr..
Gregory. They've no business to come
close over the farm"
Gregory made trumpet of his
hands and hailed the occupants Of the
balloon.
They shouted back, but he could not
make out what they said.
BY this time the balloon was within
a hundred yards Of the spot where the
gang was working. One Of the two
men in her was pulling in the trailing
rope but the only result seemed to be
IN hr-fw - 10 ma p
IT'S ali right, Mr. Warren" said
Gregory. They'll clear US by so
The words were barely out, Of his
mouth, before a man in the gang
dropped his spade and made a sudden
lightning-like dash for the end of the
on the sDur of the moment Gregory,
thinking he could cut the fellow OIL
sprang after him
For a moment he almost hao ms
hand on the mans collar. But Du-
canes long legs gave him surprls-
ing turn of speed, and he gained the
trailing rope Of the balloon yaLu
ahead Of the young warder anu max aA-
ing a flying leap. seized II three yafuS
up and twisted his legs in It.
Come down, YOU fOol- shouleu
Gregory, Selling him by the leg;
What Ducane was up to ne could n roy
imagine. ne surely did not suppose
that army officers were going to help
him 10 escape @,
Ducane, however. hung on with all
his might. and next moment 10 Greg
Orv's utter amaZemenL shower "
sand came rafting about his ears, ana
the balloon leaped upwards.
More by instinct than anything else
Gregory clutched the rope below Du-
cane The next thing he knew was
that he had been jerked off mother
earth and was dangling In Inld-alr'
with the prison field receding beneath
him at an uncomfortable speed
He heard shouts from DeAOWs Ine
sharp. swapping crack of carbines, then
more ballast came whistling by, ana
the balloon rose more rapidly. A nor
rible dizziness forced him to close his I
ewes for a moment When he opened
them again he found that Ducane was
sWarming up the rope towards the car, I
while a man leaned over the edge OF
the basketwOrk and shouted encour-
Where had he seen that face be-
force IN a moment he remembered !
It was the crOOked-nOsed stranger who |
had spoken to him on the previous !
In flash Gregory UNDERSTOOD This 1
was no military balloon, but part OF [
pre-concerted plan to procure Ducane's I
escape
heart. for suddenly he realized that II |
Ducane reached the car first, his /
friends would probably cut the rope |
at once as the quickest means OF get
ting rid of himself.
Setting his teeth. he began to climb /
desperately The rope WObbled, and 1
swung; but he had no time to think OF Z
anything. but catching up Ducane, and 4
before the fellow reached the edge ]
Of the car he had clutched him by the /
leg with grip like that Of a steel 4
trap
Ducane vas too tagged out to strug-
gle, and he and Gregory together were
ragged over the rim of the car and
.umbled in a heap into the bottom
7 didn't ask you to bring your
friends with you. Ducane." said the
ineering voice Of the crooked-nosed
nan. and before Gregory could re-
gain his breath the fellow had pinned h
lin, and, snatching up a bit of cord I
lad made his wrists fast
Il didn't invite him to come" re-
lied Ducane. sitting up and looking at
gregory, with slight smile on his
hin lips.
anne another voice sulkflv.
It was the broSen-noEed mans as
istant, hard faced person OF 80.
we can't carry four We didn't ask
ne screw to come Chuck him over
Duesne glanced over the side
w Ell. were out Of sight OF the
lectlvely, ana 1 don't want to put
lregory through It unless we have 10
Won't she carry US four as far as
arnmouth2"
suppose we've got to try as that's
he way you feel about IL" re1iie5
ukyn. with very bad grace.
For some time LUkyn did nor snest-
lough Ducane and the broken-1ose5
ian carried on whispered CONVERSE
on.
Then the balloon gave sudden ]
werve and spin.
Lukyn uttered a sharp exclans+f,-,
~ w naI ne matter: asked Ducane.
IT. We shan't touch Tarnmor,1Pt,, :.
splied Lukyn sourly. IN
we must try to droD somevybare
.ong the coast said Ducane. 1--WE +
efore they get after u.s.
I Ly II nave warned every place in +