The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-10-08
FOUR YEARS TO SERVE
ny JOHN ,. ROE.


from the conVicts ~ they fled into the
foundry. He knew their meaning; for
weeks @ revolt had been brewing. and
strangely enough, this time the guards
had no mixing Of Il. The secret had
been well kept
No. TIA was In for 20 years. and he
had served 10. At any time now be
might be Daroled BY the pardons
board. But the spirit for freedom
was strong in him. He had long since
ceased 70 reason. TO be much more
than Q dumb brute. He knew the
odds were fearfully against him But
outside the sun was shining, and
the birds were building. A mad hun
ger for freedom assailed him.
Only one man in the foundry was
ignorant Of what was transpiring
That was little 1897, . boy Of twenty
serving q life sentence for the muir
der Of the man who had insulted his
sweetheart. He had been there only
six months. No. TIA could read him
like q book. He knew the sudden out
breaks Of frenzy, the hopelessness, the
longing TO see the girl, the certainty
that she would forget him as life In
creased and memories grew fainter
Poor little 1887
The signal was to be the opening
Of the outer gates 10 admit the pass
age Of the TRUSTEES. with their carts
OF Stag. No. TIA listened intently.
Creaki CFeakI CreakI
A simultaneous yell. The men ran
toward the doors. brandishing their
red-hot bars Of steel. The Warders
shrank away In terror. They were
hopelessly overpowered. No. TIA was
being carried along in the press. At
his side. caught also In the crowd OF
men, he saw the boy.
He moved like a man in . dream
He heard whistles blowing, he heard q
revolver spit spitefully and saw man
near him pitch up his arms and tum-
BILE forward.
They were in the outer court. The
gatekeeper, an old man with white,
pointed beard, was trying to close the
gates. No. TIA saw . crowbar descend
crashing upon his skull. The gate
keeper fell forward. The men were
in the open and racing down the road
No. TIA came to q realization Of
what had happened. because, rs the
crowd separated. he was no longer
thrust forward among them. He
stopped, gasDing. At his side was the
boy. His long pAralyxed brain began
to work.
Down herel" he gasped, indicating
q dry ditch beside the road.
He looked back quickly. They we're in
. little depression which hid them
from the prison, or anyone on
guard there. There was nobody In
sight. No. TIA dropped fat among
the tGngle Of brisrs, dragging the boy
with him.
Were hidden here" he said
They'll never look for Us 30 near
And they'll get those other fellows Al
sure ~ = gun"
Slowly out Of the distance came I
freight train. II rolled at a slow pRc'
along the meadow banks. II woulC
cross the road that forked with tina
leading to the prison. and that wal
only q couple OF hundred PAGES away
, They could make It unobserved b.
, running along the gully. And Their,
, was ample time.
No. TIA looked at the boy. He locke,
like = striped caterpillar In his hide
, Gus convict garb. He himself. a.
nrst.class prisoner. wore the workin
, garb OF any laborer.
= strip, kidl" he said.
I The boy began suddenly to tear o.
!. the stripes, In q few minutes III
;. transfer had been effected.
, You'll make the town by nigh
4 fall" said TIA. They won't cate
+ you II you Jump on before you reac
4 the yards"
{ But your" stAmmsrOd the boy.
. -four years more" answered IT.
/ easily. Il could DO that bit on m
. head. Hurry, kidl"
No. TIA watched him % he raj
. He saw the train approach, slowin
o 80 Il went up the incline. saw the DO
Q scramble under q car. He held hi
r breath Involuntary. But nobody ha
/ witnessed that sudden fash out of II
gully into the daylight The trai
went on.
No. TIA sat still In the gully, H
watched the mounted men ride bacl
shSphsrdinG their cAptivsS. AS the
came toward him TIA stepped int
the read. A mounted man dashed I
- him.
Al. put up your whip" said n
Il ran because waa scared. ~
been waiting for yoa."
He took his place in the dsjeotC
crowd. A few minutes later thS
passed through the outer gates. whel
an old man with his head in . bG
daGe cursed them volubly.
No TIE felt his heart leap in a
breast n was not murder. them Ar
his only oflsnss Was against the prise
rules. They could take away his to'
ysars OF copper" but they could gi'
him no more. You cannot imprison
man for breaking the prtaon rnlaa