Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-12-17

caught the anxious glance she gave
her husband.
Go out and see II Williams In
| sight yet, Alice" said the man. "He
ought to have been here an hour ago
I only hope nothing has happened to
the poor old fellow" ,-.
Mike dropped on hands and knees
behind the angle Of the wall a. the
door opened, and the woman stood on
the threshold looking out down the
empty snowclad valley.
Somehow the pathos of the bare lit
tie Christmas tree and the anxious
family appealed to his hardened old
soul, and when the door closed again
he rose to his feet, and instead OF iol'
lowing out his first intention and en-
tering the house to demand food and
clothes. climbed the wall again and
made of down the valley.
III Williams coming this way,
thereu be a road of sorts" he said
to himself.
And sure enough there was.
Though covered deep in snow, he
found that there was path down
the valley, which he had little doubt
would lead eventually to the main
road to town.
He had gone another mile when
dark patch in the snow straight ahead
attracted his attention, and he caught
his breath sharply as he stopped be-
sids 1t.
For it was man lying fat on his
face. and, Judging by the snow which
almost covered his body, he had been
there in the same position for some
time. Beside him lay a halfhlled
sack, also covered with snow.
Mike gave a sharp glance around.
The moonlight horizon was still
bare. He stopped and turned the man
over.
Dead" he muttered. Dead and
cold!" as he laid his hand against the
chill cheek.
For a moment he stood staring at
the dead mans face, which was that
of little old man, wizened and beard.
ed, and very much Of Mikes own type
and build.
Then, like a flash, it came to the
convict that here at last was his
chance, and a thrill shot through his
weary frame.
He'll not need thin buds any
more," he muttered, and, dropping on
his knees in the snow. began with
trembling fingers to strip the dead
man of his clothes.
They were worn and old, but to
Mike as precious as broadcloth, for
once he was rid of his convict garb
he had multiplied his chances of es-
cape hundredfold.
The gruesome task was soon COM
pleted, and the luckless stranger al
most covered with snow. Then, reck.
less of the bitter frost, Mike stripped
of his own slops, and in less than
five minutes stood up to all outward
appearances an elderly, harmlesslook-
ing laborer.
Not till he had completed the whole
change of costume down to boots
and hat, and had buried his broad ar
rows deep in a neighboring drift, did
Mike bethink himself Of the sack.
He snatched it up eagerly. hoping
it might contain food. His last meal
had been eight ounces of prison bread
and a pint of cocoa, and that nearly
twelve hours ago. He was desperate.
ly hunger.
The mouth Of the sack was tied
with a string. Mikes fingers were
so numb that he could not unite the
knot. But there was a knife In the
pocket of his stolen suit, and he quick.
" cut the cord, and turned the con.
tents Of the sack out upon the snow.
A small drum, bag OF lead SOL
iiers, a cheap doll, a box of wax
tapers, and one of crackers. and a
couple of packets of sweets. Not an
article of the lot which had cost rs
cents, and the value of the whole not
i've dollars.
Mike stood and stared A. them. The
box of soldiers had fallen open. He
stopped anf picked up the little paint
ed figures, and replaced them care
fully.
80 twas poor ould Sanity Claus"
ne muttered. And the children will
be waiting on him. Twas hard luck
ntoirely."
Again he bent down and quickly
bundled everything back into the sack.
He laid this by the dead body. and
turning on his heel, walked rapidly
away.
The last fragment of cloud had
blown away over the southern hills
and the moon made the snow-clad
moor almost light as day. But the
crust was now hard enough to bear
he convict's weight, and he travelled
quickly across the frozen surface, cast
ng sharp glances to right and left as
1e went. He was going down hin,
low, and the farther he went the
:hinner grew the depth Of snow. and
he palmer was the path. He felt
sure that he was nearing the main
-oad to Ashampton. He could not be
more than four Of five miles from the
Town now, and with his knowledge of
matters 1t would be easy
encrxh to stow away in a truck, and
wing under tarpaulin be carried
scores of miles away from the hated
prison. Besides there was money
IN his trousers pockets. Only lit.
tie. but plenty to buy food and drink,
a clay pipe, and plug of tobacco.
Mixes mouth watered as he thought