Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-02-18
lContinned from last week

The rain began to fall. and the hrs,
splashing OF it against his body was as
q flow OF ointment to the sores OF Job
after a food Of stale words from his
comforter Bildad, the Shuttle.
UR from the distant ocean the clouds
rolled in great black folds. ripped rag
gedly in white streaks as the lightning
played and as the thunderous voices
proclaimed that a hot sky and smil-
Ing sea had brought forth a summers
storm.
The gale Increased as the afternoon
waned. and as his cloth reservoir filled
he squatted beside il. making fast the
sticks that held the corners and care
fully guarding it. Twice he leaned
over and drank thirstily when 1t filled
and began to overflow.
He was cropping for more sticks OF
driftwood to strengthen his reservoir
supports when a white object in the
marsh grass struck his eye.
In the cleaning OF a stormy twilight
he could not make out just what the
object was. and he parted the grass
and leaned nearer. He recoiled with
a little cry OF horror. He had looked
upon the face Of drowned man.
For several minutes he stood naked
and shivering, awed but not frightened.
Then he parted the grass again. reach
ed down and dragged to his little is
land the abandoned tenement OF a
mans soul.
James Montgomery knelt beside the
body and prayed And as be prayed
there came TO his mind the thought
that none other than his merciful Fa-
Their in heaven had sent TO him this
outcast OF life. He had brought with
him an Offering OF a suit OF clothes.
In the pitch black OF a night OF storm
the fugitive put upon the dead man the
blouse with the white disk and white
star Of honor and the baggy trousers.
In the soaked and muddicd suit Of
working clothes he took in exchange
Montgomery knelt for final prayer
In parting with the dead and then dis
appeared in the marsh grass toward
the nearest shore lights.
AS the men directing the bands OF
hunters reported by telephone from
hour to hour that no trace of the es-
capped convict had been found the
warden Of Sing Sing extended his zone
OF search. Inspector Ranscombe was
reached by telephone at his New York
home. He gave orders for search OF
all railroad yards. and the Oak street
police station was instructed over the
telephone to send a man 10 the little
fat In oliver street and rout out Mike
Kearney.
At headquarters the lieutenant i'm
charge OF the detective bureau inform
ed Kearney that there was no reason
for haste
THE inspector just telephoned for
you to wait here until he comes" he
said Jim Montgomery. the yegg you
sent up for life. escaped from Sing
Sing last night and
"What?" gasped Kearney.
The tone OF his voice was that OF
How'd he get out;"
Here's morning paper. IL VIII
give you all the details"
Kearney read the story carefully and
then went to the Identification bureau
and secured all the records I'm the case
M the police against James Montgom-
cry. The inspector arrived at o O'Clock.
and KearBey was summoned before
him Immediately.
We'll. Mike" hailed the inspector.
what do you think OF the departure
of Mr.. Montgomery?
Kearney shrugged his shoulders
He amt the first yegg to get out" he
said. "They got plenty OF money and
don't mind spending It. The papers
say be was the best machinist In the
prison. guess he'll be using electric
drills on safes around the country"
He was only a boy as remember
him" suggested the Inspector. "anc
somehow he impressed me ms truthful
although the evidence convicted him
e. ne c=szz=