Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-07-15
CHAPTER v.
P1annino-

FLAMING.
n 70. LOS began to count the
IN hours and days to the prob
l able moment when be 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 we'll
out in the country. 1t would depend
npon the rural system for its delivery
AS it Travelled on its way. be let bis
mind follow it with many tender and
yet distressing thoughts OF Der who
would receive 1t.
Two days passed and the looked for
letter came. 1t was delivered to him
o. KID by the deputy in charge of
the correspondence department. He
studied the handwriting on the en-
velope. 1t 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 at the signature and
read the name Of Margaret Wadhams
friend and 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,
"Sbe tells me to write you only a
bright letter." wrote Miss Wadhams,
but l think 1t is my duty to tell you
that your dear mother has broken
very rapidly and | 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
an appeal to the higher courts. She
was eager to do this. but ! prevailed
upon her to see Mr.. WesterveIt, the
kyack lawyer, first Mr.. WesterveIt
said that the lawyer was a robber of
widows and the poor and that he
would not let her get out of his hands
until she had sold her very clothes.
He took up the matter without fee,
like the kind man that be is, and
said it was utterly useless to take an
appeal. He said that there was no
chance of o6fsetting the evidence
against you unless the real slayer OF
the Waterman was found.
"She keeps the clothes you wore
when you were little boy always
near her. She has the picture taken
Of you at the county fair, and it is a
great comfort to her"
No. 6O,1O8 again put aside the letter
and sat staring at the steel wall of his
cell while he fought to master bis emo
ton. For moment he thought fran
tically Of trying to break out Of prison
and hurrying to her If be could get
little start be could swim the Hudson
and make his way home in time to
kneel beside her bed. clasp her thin
hands in his and comfort her and
breathe his love to Der 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.
Fill had swung himself up into his
bunk Montgomery looked up and saw
his little eyes watching him keenly.
There was compassion ilIumining the
countenance Of this creature with
pr"Enathous jaw and sloping brow.
Trouble at home, kid?' he asked,
his harsh voice mel]owing with the
kindly spirit that prompted the ques-
ton.
No. 6O.10S nodded his head. The
open letter in his hands told the tale.
Gee, | wish you knew how to cuss.
KID sighed the burglar. when things
come hard on me get rid of it all with
good. long. healthy swear. 1t 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.
'"They used to call me Roaring Bill
'Awkins.'" Bill went on Being az you
don't know how to swear artistic and
satisfactory. I'll just swear for you.
No. don't object. I'll think 'em to my.
self and not say thing out loud"
He swung down from his high pallet.
There was still half hour before the
lights would be cut off, and this was
the best possible time for violating
prison regulations.
You stand at the door and keep a
sharp lookout. KID" he said II want
to take peek at this newspaper you've
won by good conduct
The discovery of this violation by a
guard would have cost Montgomery
his white disk and the loss of forty five
marks. He gave a sigh Of relief when
the lights went out and Bill could no
longer imperil the disk and chevro0 on
his sleeve.
The boy was half asleep when Bill
leaned over the edge of bis resting
place and whispered: kid. I've got a
scheme that's wonder. You know
what told you, about getting a suit of
clothes for the getawayr'
"YeS."
/ II got 1t all doped out"
"HOw will you manage it2'
&"Never mind" He chuckled under
bis breath. And al for hail Say.