Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-02-11

| NutH tue iibl III uootiDie
sounded suddenly
Both men started with fear. The
signal meant an inspection and had
come. as IL always does. without warn
ing. For moment Bill hesitated In
thought. Then he grabbed the suit
Of gray from Montgomcry's hands and
swathed IL 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 Ia that department
would be searched.
There were only i've men. including
ing. Two guards searched their cells
and the five men were ordered to step
to the front Guards searched them
carefully. One OF the searchers pulled
up Bits blouse and saw the hidden
suit OF clothes. He looked up with
such find
The warden in charge OF the tier
was summoned. and the suit was ex-
amined carefully.
"Who Is his cell mater" the warden
asked Of guard.
mo. GO. 10S." was the reply.
And he didn't know thing about
it." grunted Bill surlily. I'D have been
out by now but for that mlksop In my
cell. He's one OF these guys who says
his prayers every night | was afraid
he would tell on me and so | never
let him In on it,"
Bill had saved his friend and with
no mean sacrifice. The star and disk
on Montgomery sleeve had helped in
the free acceptance of Bits story
A guard found the scissors and bod.
kin i'm another convict's cell. and ranks
were broken and the men permitted TO
finish the washup for supper
Bill was sent back To his cell and
Montgomery followed him
why did you do it. Bill?" asked the
young man why did you DO IT,
The penalt. is l.irca magiS for vty..
month of your minimum sentence
That means 300 marks against you
and there is am added day OF sentence
for every three marks"
Bin had calmly taken 900 days. near.
y two and a half years added time
to help his companion But he had no
time TO talk over the matter now lie
addressed Montgomery bruSquely The
minutes were precious.
The suits gone" he said You've
got 10 beat it for the llackensack
meadows by freight over on the other
shore. Leave the freight at Home.
stead and make for the marsh grass
lt is six feet and more high They
can't track you through it You'll lind
little hummocks of hard ground above
highwater mark Look sharp and find
one with a puddle of rain water on II
if you can. BE careful about quick
sands. There's two quicksand holes
northwest of Homestead Go ia the
other direction"
The old burglar talked rapidly and
without moving his lips The words
came in a whispered streak TO the
ears of Montgomery. Third term men
became ventriloqulal. and the rule of
silence falls beneath their skill
He reached under Montgomery mat
tress and pulled out left hat slip
this under your blouse" he said
He dipped over his own mattress
and his quick fingers tore open the
under sheet OF ticking He found five
ten dollar bills sewed together as one.
Put this in your kick" he told Mont
gomery. You will need it, Don't ask
any questions. There amt time
had it slipped in from the outside IS
In two minutes more they would say
goodby to each other il the escape was
successfully managed.
Don't forget the old man. kid" BIZ
said solemnly. II don't know how
much il counts hut you might think of
me nj night when you say your pray.
ers. If you make out all right. get
personal IN the Herald and sign il
Kid The Butcher is on his good be
havior and gets the paper regular
He'll watch for il and let me know
Any kind OF code you make up we
can dope out la here
The bell sounded for mess formation
Bill held out his hand. and Mont
gomery took il i'm both OF his
The open head of tie oblong box in
the machine shop lay between the legs
Of the table at which convict No CO..
l0S made his record of machinery re
ceived and machinery shipped from
the prison Apparently il was ready
TO be taken from the prison
Four men were staggering out of the
shop with n Grated machine when the
convict nj the desk asked how many
more pieces their wagon could take.
"One more" replied one OF the men.
Can yon handle this long box to
finish the lOadY