Bisbee daily review., 1914-09-25
CHAPTER W
Planning

I'M hours and days to the prob
 able moment when he would
 receive an answer to his first letter from prison
 His home was hardly more than twelve miles away from Sing Sing, but it was across the river and well out in the country. It would depend upon the rural system for it's delivery. As it travelled on its way, be let hls mind follow it with many tender and yet distressing thoughts of her who would receive it.
 Two days passed and the looked for letter came It was delivered to him o. K'd by the deputy in charge of the correspondence department He studied the handwriting on the en- velope. It was not in the old fash. toned script of his mother, and his hands shook as he drew forth the letter and unfolded it
 He glanced ht the signature and read the name of Margaret Wadhams. a friend und neighbor of his mother . She wrote that his mother had been very ill and that her eyesight was fail ing rapidly. She could not see well enough to write and had asked Miss Wadhams to do the writing for her.
 'She tells me to write you only a bright letter." wrote Miss Wadhams. but I think it is my duty to tell you that your dear mother has broken very rapidly and l believe that she has not many more days to live Her heart was crushed by the blow that fell upon you and that was only in. tended for you. James. She Is patient and prays constantly that some day your innocence will be established.
 Garrett. the New York lawyer who defended you, wrote to her and urged her to mortgage the house and raise enough money so that he could take on appeal to the higher courts. She was eager to do this, but l prevailed upon her to see Mir. Westervelt, the Nyack lawyer, first Mir Westevelt said that the lawyer was a robber Of widows and the poor and that be would not let her get out of his hands until she had sold her very clothes. He took up the matter without a fee, like the kind man that he is, and said it was utterly useless to take an appeal He said that there was no chance of offsetting the evidence against you unless the real slayer of the watchman was found.
 1 "She keeps the clothes you wore | when you were a little boy always near her She has the picture taken of you at the county fair. and it Is Q 1 great comfort to her"
 ] No. G0,108 again put aside the letter and sat staring at the steel wall of his cell while he fought to master his emo ! ton. For a moment he thought fran. tically of trying 10 break out of prison and hurrying to her. If be csuld get little start be could swim the Hudson and make his way home in time to kneel beside her bed, clasp her thin hands iu his and comfort her and breathe his love to her as she passed Into the valley of the shadow. He glanced about him as if in the hope that God would bring some miracle to pass and that the steel walls and bars would melt and the stone crumble.
 bA4i unh DIV uhE uAulhEll up AALu uAn bunk. Montgomery looked up and saw his little eyes watching him keenly. There was compassion illumining the countenance of this creature with preparations jaw and sloplng brow.
 Trouble at home, kid?' he asked. his harsh voice mellowing with the kindly spirit that prompted the ques- ton.
 No. 60.10s nodded his head The open letter fin his hands told the tale.
 Gee, I wish you knew how to cuss. kid" sighed the burglar. ''When things come hard on me get rid of it an with a good, long. healthy swear It does me an awful lot of good"
 The boy shook his head. but the earnestness of his cell companion brought the faint flicker of a smile to bis lips
 ''rhey used to call me Roaring Bill 'Awkins, Bill went on. Being as you don't know how to swear artistic and satisfactory, rI just swear for you. No, don't object I'll think lem to my self and not say a thing out loud"
 He swung down from his high pallet
 There was still half hour before the lights would be cut oh. and this was the best possible time for violating prison regulations.