Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-10-13
NUMBER Al

compelled to stop and rest He did not
dare lie down for fear that fatigue
might close his eyes in sleep.
When bis feet had cooled and his
breathing had become normal again be
climbed to the top Of great rock and
looked toward Ossining. In the velvet
distance he could see the prison lights
high on the cliff above the village sta.
ton. Below the cliff he saw tiny lights
twinkling. and at first he thought them
Hrefies. His years within prison walls
had destroyed his sense Of perspective.
he studied these will-o-the-wisp lights
and soon realized that they were from
lanterns swinging In the hands Of men
hunting him.
The fugitive turned, threw back bis
head and began to run He increased
mis- speed gradually until he struck a
gait he thought be could hold for an
hour without rupturing q blood vessel
The torn skin on bis heels fell away
under the chatting Of the heavy leather
and exposed the quick Of his flesh
Blood began to ill his shoes, but rs he
ran he kept telling himself that he
could well afford to suffer ten times
the torture II he reached his goal-his
liberty.
He felt as II he had discarded his
number and was once again james
Montgomery. human being. out In
the open. the ground beneath him and
the river running beside him. 1t was
early summer. and the cool night air
was sweet with the fragrance OF
breathing flowers and fields
Ahead of him showed the northern
boundary lights Of Tarrytown- Once
he looked over mis- shoulder as he ran.
but he could not see the lanterns OF
the hunters He was beginning to
gather stronger hope OF ultimate es.
cape when the will-o'-the- e-wisp lights
showed ahead OF him He stopped
short In his tracks
1t was evident that the Sing Sing OF.
ficials had telephoned the police Of sur
rounding villages. 70 his left was the
open country. but with villages every
three or four miles and from each vii.
lage perhaps a squad Of men with
lanterns, forming circle to close In
on him.
To his right were the river and the
country beyond. Il country be knew rs
only one could know who rOamcd 1t In
Doyhood He lost no time IN deciding
Montgomery ran to the rivers edge
and stripped Off the heavy prison
shoes. He peeled of the blood soaked
socks and from one OF them took the
money Bill had given him. This he
tied In an end Of his shirt under the
blouse Then he hid the shoes and
socks under a pile OF rubbish and wad-
ed out into the river
The clouds still covered the stars
overhead. and the river WAS black as
a river OF ink. AS the water reached
his armpits be threw himself forward
and began to swim with quiet, un'
derhand stroke for the other shore.
The tide was flowing out and he be-
gan to cross diagonally 10 get the full
advantage Of the current. He bgnred
that with a steady stroke. he would
land just south OF Nyack and In the
great, friendly shadow OF Grand View.
Reaching the middle OF the river. he
changed his stroke Until now he had
kent his shoulders under water. SWIM
ming underhanded Now he used the
fast and powerful overland swing ot
the arms. resting himself from time to
time by rolling oD either side and US
ing the easier side stroke.
He reached the net poles and paused
to get his wind. but he was on again
In a moment and soon made the shore.