Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-26
'Ihe Gates OF
Silence"
BY META SIMMlNs,
Author Of flushed Up"
TODAY'S INSTALLMENT.

rible than death itself.
With a cry Betty started 10 her feet
A rough hand was on her shoulder; an
CRY, unfriendly faces surrounded her.
This is 8 womans trick. You'll pay
for this, the pair o. you. Where's he
gone. and what did you give him to go
in2 That convicts rg-out was blind -
She stared stupidity. Jack had got away
or was he still in hiding in that inner
room? Surely that was not possible. since
the sounds that came TO her ears stu
told her that the very furniture was being
smashed and broken, as though In their
anger and chagrin they imagined their
quarry might have taken refuge in
chair leg or the casing OF bed
Rough words, threats contemptuous
stirring Of the PROSTATE body on the floor
and then the tramp Of departing feet.
Betty Lumsden was left alone with the
woman who was without sign OF life. and
vet lived; the woman inca pable of move
ment or Of speech.
And only as the sound OF their going
grew more faint coming less distinctly,
winnowed by distance, did the wonder
obtrlde itself in Betty's mind. triumph
ing even over distress and pity and sp-
preh What was the conclusion OF
that broken sentence Deborah Remington
had nung across the kitchen TO the
warder? What was that silence It was
impossible to keep that silence, alas; that
now seemed sealed inviolate forever,
Running running through the dark
ness. The madness Of flight had taken
Rimington by the throat once more IN that
moment OF freedom in Betty's ROOM when
he found himself there by the window
open almost 10 the ground, and had
dropped through II and discovered the
Observation-Disclosures the cottage was not
surrounded, that the chief warder's whs.
tie had called the men of. and that now
once again a bold dash and he would be
out in the open-under cover, perhaps,
before they had exhausted even the slight
hiding place the cottage afforded.
The food and drink and warmth-nore
than this. the unexpected Joy Of Betty's
presence there, so amazing and incredible
that even now II was like the passing OF
a dream-had put new life into him, new
courage. He had caught up a cloak from
the bed-a great circular cloak that Betty
had brought with her TO protect her
against the changeable climate Of the
moorland II would not completely cover
him-unha ppily, those grotesque stock
ings would still be visible but at least
he would not be an instant target for all
eyes, and above all, he would have some
protection against the perishIng cold.
With the desperation Of hope. Riming-
ton stumbled through the darkness in
what direction he hardly knew, and as
he went. heard distantly the view -halloa
Of the pursuers
His speed increased but the ground was
becoming difficult More than once he
stumbled. and saved himself from a fall
only by staggering sprawl that lost him
time and breath-lessened the space be
tween him and those that followed, whose
footsteps sounded nearer now.
No hope Of reaching cover, since to
axe cover here would be but TO sit down
and wait for capture and to run on. a
black blot against the Wilderness OF the
frost powdered ground, that was madness
too
They had sighted him-was n possible
never TIL that moment? He heard the
shrlllng Of the whistles. heard the words
Of command to halt and surrender, and
still he ran--blindly now He heard the
air behind him cut with the singing
message OF bullet and still he ran; "a
second short whizzed past him, and
third
That had not failed Of its mark. ri
struck him sharply He stumbled-stag-
gered on-fel He heard the noise of
voices growing louder, the tramp of feet
and then darkness closed his senses and
the world Of pain and fear was hotted
put
Back In jail.
When Remington recovered conscious
ness he found himself lying in the prison
lnhrmsry, sick and faint-his body, as II
seemed. q living pain. For some time he
lay there, hardly realizing what had hap
pened, But presently the movements
about him-the rough touch OF the or
derby. words that took long time to
filter through TO his consciousness and
Observation-Disclosures in over him-recol-
lection and despair
shot in trying 10 escape. dragged back
in iEnominy 20 the prison after freedom
Of forty eight hours-forty-eigh hours
that mad meant special work special
anxiety and special hardships for every
one Of the prison officials. What would
the punishment melted out to him for this
be- The official punishment-the unofri-
cial punishment Of his captors. each Of
whom would now owe him a personal
Erudge?
He had enough experience Of the Of
hcers 70 realize that II prison life hru-
Rallied their charges. II also. TO a GER
tain extent, brutaHzed them, and II re-
ouires very little taste Of an absolute
sutocracy TO develop the tyrant in
man.
He turned his face 20 the wall and
Sursed the fate that had sent the bullet
wide Of the fatal mark
But the wound, though II had success
eully winged him. was only a superficial
one. The doctor, friendly no longer.
treating him. as the did the chaplaIn
with unveiled suspicion, FASTENED TO as
sure him OF that Nor were others in
authority less ready to show him that no
had forfeited all claim TO consiaeration
An escape SO determined-so nearly sur.
cessful-the irony Of the phrase bit into
Rlmington's soul-was an offeuse NOT
lightly to be condoned The governor
had already suffered something OF The
pangs OF losing the { 500 that would have
been forfeited by the successful escgpo
and regarded him with no leuient eve
From no quarter did Rimngton fan to
hear Of the bitter penalty We must be-
expected TO pay
To Be Continued in Next Issue