Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-02-04

| "She keeps the clothes you wore
when you were a little boy always
near her She has the picture taken
OF you at the county fair. and II is a
great comfort to her.
No. G0.I0S again put aside the letter
and sat staring at the steel wall OF his
cell while be fought to master his emo
ton. For n moment he thought fran
tically of trying to break out OF prison
and hurrying to her III he could get
a little start he could swim the Hudson
kneel beside her bed clasp her thin
hands IN his and comfort her and
breathe his love 10 her 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
Bill had swung himself up into his
bunk. Montgomery looked up and saw
his little eyes watching him keenly.
There was compassion illumining the
countenance of this creature with
prognathous jaw and sloping brow.
Trouble at home. kid?" be asked.
his harsh voice mellowing with the
kindly spirit that prompted the ques-
ton.
No. GO. 10S nodded. his head. The
open letter in his hands told the tale.
Gee. wish you knew how 10 cuss.
kid" sighed the burglar. when things
/ ha I'd \ a o. . a.,
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 smile to
his lips.
They used to call me Roaring Bill
'Awklns. Bill went on Being "A you
don't know how TO swear artistic and
81 tisfactory. I'll just swear for you.
No. don't object I'll think 'em to my
self and not say a thing out loud"
He swung down from his high pallet
There was still half hour before the
lights would be cut of. and this was
the best possible time for violating
prison regulations.
You stand at the door and keep II
sharp lookout. kid" he said. Il want
to take peek at this newspaper you've
won by good conduct.
The discovery OF this violation by
guard would have cost Montgomery
his white disk and the loss of forty-five
marks. He gave sigh of relief when
the lights went out and Bill could no
n.
| his sleeve.
The boy was half asleep when Bill
| leaned over the edge OF his resting
place and whispered: kid. I've got
scheme that's wonder. You know
what told you about getting suit OF
clothes for the getaway
Yes"
IL got it all doped out"
How Will you manage itr"
Never mind" He chuckled under
his breath And as for a hat! Say.
kid. can get any kind OF hat you
want TO wear But I'll tell you about
il in the morning"
No G0.10S and Bill Hawkins were
out OF their hunks next morning before
the changing of the bell Bill grinned
very knowingly as they pulled into
their baggy gray suits. He crooked his
right index finger and held 1t before
! the boy.
See that?" he asked
Yes" replied Montgomery. wonder
| ing
1T is exactly one inch. that second
III. fs@,.
your suit. Turn around"
Montgomery turned, facing the door.
and RilI stepped behind him BE felt
the hnger joint pressing against bis
shoulders as Bill took the dimensions
for the piece or the coat he was to
| fashion surreptitiously As he work ed
be explained his scheme In whisper.
The color OF the cloth is all right"
he said. but it is the baggy shape of
the coat and pants that gets an es-
capped convict in Dutch. I'll remember
these measurements and swipe the
stun and cut it in the shop. I'll do
one piece at a time. In the cutting
room there's Isaacs. The Butcher on
my right and Idaho Shorty on my left.
They'll be blind. They won't say
thing TO anybody. aud they won't see
a thing. I'll smuggle In - suit piece
by piece and swipe the - sting stuff.
needles and thread" He finished the
three dimensions OF the first piece OF
the coat he was to make and was salts
fed
"One piece at time" he said to
himself. when | get EN- all done I'll
sew 'em together by hand right here in
this handsome little one room dat.
When the suit is ready you're to put II
on under your prison clothes. Then
when you get on the outside you can
peel of. stick hat OH your head and
beat IT," he laughed softly to him
self
And as for hats" he whispered. I'll
get one swped. an old castoff kelly