Putnam patriot., 1912-06-07
By VAUCHAnKESTER

II DolIeu On the Otnef side. he muttered, the full measure of Peg loe's perfidy revealing itself to his mind. He was aghast. It was a plot 10 discredit him. Pegloe's hospitality had been inspired by his enemy, for Pegloe was Fentress' tenant.
 Again he attacked the door: he be- Heved it might be possible to force it from it's hinges but Pegioe had done his work too well for that. and at last. spent and breathless, the judge dropped down on the edge Of his bed to consider the situation. He was without clothes and he was pris- oner, yet his mind rose splendidly to meet the difficulties that beset him. His greatest activities were reserved for what appeared to be only a sea son of despair He armed himself with a three-legged stool he had found and turned once more to the door, but the stout blanks stood firm under his blows.
 Unless I get out of here in tine I'm ruined mani" thought the judge. After this Fentress will refuse to meet mel"
 The window next engaged his at- tention. That, too, Pegloe had taken the precaution to fasten, but a single savage blow of the stool shattered glass and sash and left an empty space that framed the dawn's red glow. The judge looked out and shook his head dubiously. It was twelve feet or more to the ground, risky drop for gen tleman of his years and build. The judge considered making a rope of his bedding and lowering himself to the ground by means of it; he remem- bered to have read of captives in that interesting French prison, the Bas- tile, who did this. However, an equal ly ingenious but much more simple use for his bedding occurred to him; 1t would form soft and yielding sub stance on which to alight. He gath cred it up into his arms, feather-tick and all, and pushed it through the window, then he wriggIed out across the ledge, feet first, and lowering him. self to the full length of his arms, dropped.
 He landed squarely on the rolled-up bed with a jar that shook him to his center. Almost gaily he snatched up a quilt, draping 1t about him after the manner of a Roman toga, and thus lightly habited, started across MT. PegIoe's truck-patch. his one thought Boggs' and the sun. It would have served no purpose to have gone home, since his entire wardrobe, except for the shirt on his back, was in the tav- ern-keeper's possession, besides he had not a moment to lose, for the sun was peeping at him over the horizon.
 Unobserved he gained the edge Of the town and the highroad that led past Boggs' and stole a fearful glance over his shoulder. The sun was clear of the treetops, he could even feel the lifeless dust grow warm beneath his feet; and wrapping the quilt closer about him he broke into a labored run.
 Some twenty minutes later Boggs' came in sight. He experienced mo- ment of doubt-doubtless Fentress had been there and gone! It was hideous thought and the judge groaned. Then at the other end of the meadow near the woods he distin- guished several men, Fentress and his friends beyond question The judge laughed aloud. Tn spite of everything ne was keeping his engagement, he was plucking his triumph out Of the very dregs of failure. The judge threw himself over the fence, cor ner of the quilt caught on one of the rails; he turned to release it, and tn that instant two pistol shots rang out sharply in the morning air