The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-20

Gerry outside the prison where a "trusty"
whom my husband had befriended, would
claim them and smuggle them into Neds
cell.
1t IVES g Wednesday had my last call
from Ned, Through one Of those myster-
ious underground channels which keep
the inmates Of every prison in such close
touch with the outside world, my husband
had learned that on the following Tues
day. which was Q visitors day. the war
den and several other prominent officials
of the prison were to be away attending
a political meeting. That was the day he
had set for his escape provided our friend
Leary could deliver the necessary disguise
in time.
had my doubts about Red" Lcary,
who was good hearted enough and meant
WE'LL but was prone TO be careless about
keeping appointments. To my delight,
however, he was on hand next day and he.
got permission from the natron to see
me. When asked him If he had every
thing in readiness he burst into a torrent
OF eager explanations.
It's all out there in the buggy, Sophie"
he said, tied up in a bundle that you'd
take for anything but what 1t is Every
things there and everything's right Why
even the shirt and collar are Ned's right
size. and. say. bet they'll feel good after
rubbing his neck for months against that
rough prison stuff
The Prison Bell Sounds Alarm
Leary was a takative fellow ana he
was going on with detailed description
Of the wig and false beard which he had
had made to order for the occasion. when
DR.. Collins and the matron appeared at
the end OF the corridor where we were
sitting. l signailed Med" to keep quiet
and led him over to window.
There, under pretext of showing him
some geraniums I was trying TO coax into
bloom, hurriedly explained where he was
to leave the things and sent him away on
the errand which meant so much to Ned
and me.
The next Tuesday was the longest. most
nerve-racking day of my life had slept
little the night before All night long my
mind was turning over NEEDS plans-how
by feigning sickness he would get permits.
sion to leave the shop and go to his cell:
how he would change his clothes and put
on the wig and false beard Red" Lears
had bought; and how, just as his fellow
prisoners were being marched in TO their
MONDAY meal, he would mingle with the
little crowd OF departing visitors, sur
render his forged pass at the gate and
walk out of the main entrance of the
prison a free man.
had approved every bit of this plan
In fact | myself had mapped out large
part OF 1t. Yet now, when ! considered
on what narrow margins it's success de-
pended felt It was foredoomed to failure.
Ned would be caught in the act--he would
be put in solitary confnement-perhaps
he would be shot dead by some vigilant
guard
arose unusually early that Tuesday
morning and worked unusually hard-to
hide my nervousness
Nothing out OF the ordinary happened
no relieve the awful tension. Early in
the morning heard from one OF the other
prisoners that the warden and his assist.
ants had gone away for the day This. of
course. conceded with Ned's plans, but 1t
brought me little relief, for feared that
perhaps the officers left in charge might,
In the absence OF their superiors, be un-
usually careful in guarding their convict
charges
Noon came and went and still i heard
nothing to relieve my anxiety. mo news
is good news" | keTt saying to myself
and In this case the old adage really spoke
tne truth. If there was no excitement
about the prison it was good evidence that
Ned's absence had not been noted. And
II they did not discover his absence until
tney came 10 lock the prisoners up for
the night all was well, for by that time
/ knew Ned would be safe in his old
haunts on the East Side. in New York City.
But there still remained the dscourag-