River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-07-02

CNCdO LII AA0h ~ 60
1t Is six feet and more high They
can't track you through it You'll find
little hummocks of hard ground above
highwater mark. Look sharp a nnd
one with q puddle Of rain water on IT
if you can. Be careful about quick
sands. There's two quicksand holes
northwest of Homestead. Go in the
other direction"
The old burglar talked rapidly and
without moving his lips. The words
came in a whispered streak to the
ears of Montgomery. Third term men
became ventriloquial. and the rule of
silence falls beneath their skill.
He reached under Montgomery's mat
tress and pulled out a left hat slip
this under your blouse" be said
He tipped over his own mattress
and his quick fingers tore open the
under sheet of ticking He found five
ten dollar bills sewed together as one
Put this in your kick he told Mont
gomery. You will need it. Don't ask
any questions. There amt time. !
had it slipped in from the outside"
In two minutes more they would say
goodby to each other If the escape was
successfully managed
Don't forget the old kid" Bill
said solemnIy. Il don't know how
much 1t counts, but you might think OF
me at night when you say your pray
ers. If you make out all right. get a
personal in the Herald and sign 1t
Kid The Butcher IS on his good be
havtor and gets the paper regular
He'll watch for 1t and let me know
Any kind of code you make up we
can dope u In here"
The bell sounded for mess formation
Bill held out his hand. and Mont
gomery took it in both Of his.
= = + = y
The open head of the obIong box in
the machine shop lay between the legs
Of the table at which convict No co.
1903 made his record of machinery re-
ceived and machinery shipped from
the prison Apparently it was ready
to be taken from the prison.
-Four men were staggering out of the
shop with a Grated machine when the
convict at the desk asked how many
more pieces their wagon could take.
Zone more replied one of the e
''Can You handle this long box TO
finish the lOadY'
Its just right to finish up with for
the night"
"AII right. Take it ont when you
return. | may be out of the shop. 1t
is time to turn in | will put 1t down
on my list as having been sent"
Montgomery was alone in the Don
and at his desk. Outside he heard the
clatter of the heavy shoes of the truck
men approaching. He bowed over his
desk for a moment and then disap
peared. A gray form wriggled feet
first into the box. and the end under
the desk suddenly closed with a slight
click.
The truckmen entered. shOUldered
the cofinlike case and. finding it light
err than they had expected, FASTENED
their steps that they might quickly
finish with their job for the night
They passed out of the shop to the
quadrangle. heaved the box to the rear
of the loaded truck and roped 1t on.
1t was nearly II o'clock. and the
stars were obscured by clouds. Arc
lights made the quadrangle as bright
as day and iIlumined the high walls
and every nook and corner. Sentries
in their little octagonal boxes stood
with their rifles In hand, keeping q
sharp lookout.
A team Of powerful horses tugged
at the burden, and the load Of machin
cry was started out: At the gate the
head truckman told the guard that
his job was done for the night and
gave him a slip containing the list of
pieces intrusted to him to deliver at
the Ossining freight station.
In another half minute convict No.
60, 109 was outside of the wall of Sing
Sing. He braced himself with his
knees and elbows when the truck Jolt
ed owe rough places In the road.
Bill had told him that he would find
a path down the cliff a half mile north
of the prison. It would lead to the
railroad tracks. He was to find it and
get away from main roads.
Montgomery counted on n hour be-
fore his tier guard would demand an
explanation of his absence at the ma
chine shop and then give the alarm.
He estimated the distance by the
speed of the horses and at the proper
moment released the end of the box.
He drew himself forth and tumbled,
with a sidewise twist to the soft, earth
road. On hands and knees he scram
bled into the shadow of some bushes
and took his bearings.
The road was deserted and the
houses all dark. The only sound was
the creaking of the load of machinery,
which rapidly became fainter and
fainter. He plunged down the path
and at the bottom of the cliff turned
and ran to the south through the little
tunnel under the prison.
There were six miles to cover to Tar