Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-07-22
CHAPTER VI.
The "Getaway."

CHAPTER VI.
The "Getaway."
"HE prison warden desired to In.
stall the new machinery at
night so that he could save all
possible loss Of actual working
time OF the convicts He conferred
with his new foreman and Montgom.
cry declared the plan feasible. By
having crates and boxes built in the
carpentery division and in readiness
the work of shipping out the displaced
machinery could be rushed while the
new was being put up.
Montgomery busted himself with
these preliminaries and among the
boxes be had constructed was one
about six feet In length and oblong in
shape. He found 1t necessary to make
certain changes in the construction Of
this particular box. The top was
screwed down and an opening was
made at one end. The headpiece was
80 built that it could be closed and
made fast from within.
The last shipment out at night would
be at II o'clock. When the whistle
blew half an hour before the call for
supper Montgomery went to his cell
to wash up. The other convicts were
being marched from the shops to their
tiers and the stone walls echoed the
tramping Of their feet. Ranks were
broken in the corridors between the
cells in the dormitories.
Bill and Montgomery reached their
cell together The time was at hand
tor the attempt at escape. The bur-
glar ripped open his mattress and
drew out the gray suit
BE fast now" advised Bill. "I'll
cover the door. Get out of your
clothes and get the suit on. then slip
the regulars over them"
Montgomery had stripped of his
blouse when the signal for assembly
sounded, suddenly.
Both men started with fear. The
signal meant an inspection and had
come, as it always does, without warn
ing For a moment Bill hesitated in
kAOuSuC uCu NC dOUCO Lu0 SulL
of gray from Montgomery's hands and
swathed it about his own body under
his blouse
The men were already lining up In
the corridor. and they Joined them
The cause for the assembly was soon
made known in whispers and signs
passed along by the convicts. Some
one In the cutting room had stolen two
pairs Of scissors and bodkin, both
dangerous weapons. The cell Of every
man working In that department
would be searched.
There were only Eve men, including
Bill. in that tier who worked at tailor
Ing. Two guards searched their cell!
and the FIVE men we're ordered to steI
to the front Guards searched then
carefully. One of the searchers pulled
up Bills blouse and saw the bidder
suit of clothes. he looked up will
establishment, for he had expected n,
such find
The warden In charge of the tie
was summoned. and the suit was ex
amined carefully.
"Who Is his cell mater the warde1
asked Of guard.
mo. SOLOS," was the reply.
"And be didn't know a thing abou
It." grunted Bill surlily. "Id have beef
out by now but for that milksop in m.
cell. He's one Of these guys who say
his prayers every night. was afrai'
he would tell on me and 80 l neve
let him In on it."
Bill had saved his friend and witt
no mean sacrifice. The star and disl
on Montgomery's sleeve had helped i,
the free acceptance of Bills story.
A guard found the scissors and bod
kin In another convict's cell, and ranks
were broken and the men permitted t.
finish the washup for supper.
Bill was sent back to his cell an(
Montgomery followed him.
"Why did you do 1t, BillT' asked tn
young man. "Why did you do it
The penalty is fifteen marks for ever
month Of your minimum sentence
That means 200 marks against you
and there is an added day Of sentenc
for every three marks"
Bill had calmly taken 900 days, near
" two and half years. added time
to help his companion. But he had n
time to talk over the matter now. 81
addressed Montgomery brusquely. Tn
minutas were nrpcions
1.-THE suits gone," he said. "You'v
got to beat it for the Hackensac
meadows by freight over on the othe
shore Leave the freight at Home
stead and make for the marsh gras:
1t is six feet and more high. The
can't track you through it. You'll I'm
little hummocks Of hard ground abov
hlghwater mark. Look sharp and fin
one with a puddle Of rain water on
If you can. Be careful about quicl
sands. There's two quicksand hole
northwest of Homestead Go in tn
other direction"
The old burglar talked rapidly an
without moving his lips The word
came in whispered streak to til
ears of Montgomery. Third term me-
became ventriloquial, and the rule o
silence falls beneath their skill. $500
-. ras - , = e.. =