The Washburn leader., 1915-07-02
Keeper and
Convict
By JOHN Y. LARNED

were SChOOlmateS. NOC only were lucy
schoolmates, but little chums. They
left the grammar school and entered
the high school Mt the same time. From
the high school they went out into tho
world to fight the battle Of life. Rug
giles drifted into the political arena
and after an election, during which he
had done good work for his party, re-
ceived the appointment of head of the
state penitentiary.
Barnes became merchant In q
small way. He finally formed a part
nership with man who swindled him
out Of all he possessed. A quarrel en-
sued that ended III scufile, during
which Barnes threw his opponent.
whose head struck some hard sub
stance, and his skull was fractured
He died, and Barnes was sent to the
penitentiary to serve term of ten
years.
When Ruggles and Barnes met, after
not having seen each other for several
years-thc one as keeper. the other as
convict-both shed tears.
"Tom," said Barnes, "l'm sorry you
are my jailer. l cannot serve out my
term, and am bound to try to escape.
And wish to say to you now that
expect you to do your duty by the
state like IN honorable man. You may
kill me while trying to capture me
when try to escape"
Don't try the escape game, Ed. 1t
seldom, II ever, pays. And In this case
1t would be hard on US both. should
certainly do my duty, and you know
where that duty would lie. TO me you
are only one Of hundreds of prisoners
for whom am responsible"
Barnes made an effort to serve out
his sentence without any attempt to
escape. But one day an excellent op-
portunity offered itself. He was in the
yard Of the prison near a gateway.
which was opened to admit cart. A
storm came up, and the gatekeeper was
blinded by a cloud Of dust and light
ming Barnes slipped out and ran like
a deer.
He ran into house not far from the
prison, where he found woman. 1t
is difficult to repress sympathy with
one bounded for his life or his liberty.
and the woman furnished him with q
suit of her husbands clothes, and
Barnes persuaded her to give him a
revolver. But Ruggles at the head Of a
force was after him, and the convict
was seen leaving the house. He had
good start, and when they reached him
i he was on rising ground behind a stone
wall ready to defend himself. Rug
giles ordered his men to keep back, tell
ing them that he would go forward
and endeavor to persuade the prisoner
to surrender. He walked forward till
he heard Barnes call out:
Don't come any farther. Tom. I'm
desperate!'
"Give yourself up. Ed. I've got
dozen men down on the road. It will
be suicide for you to resist, and to hurt
you would be an awful thing for me-"
II can't go back to that life. I'd
rather die"
There was a grim silence between
them for few moments: then Barnes
added:
"Go back and send your men to take
me. don't want to hurt you. and I'm
going to use up the six shots In my re-
volver"
II wouldn't send my men where I
can do all there is to be done. If any
one is to he killed in your recapture
prefer that it should be myself"
''That's not right. I've got to die;
you haven't. Don't shoot your old
chum or compel him to shoot You.
You'll give me better chance for my
life by sending one Of your men, or all
of them for that matter"
"You know I couldn't do that
might as we'll resign my post and lose
myself in another country. But it isn't
my position that I'm thinking Of; it's
my honor. The state trusts me to car
ry out the will Of the people, and I'm
bound to do so. II you were my own
brother or my own father would be
obliged to take you all the same"
II see how 1t Is, Tom. We're forced
by fate into this position. II you'll
agree to kill me I'll step out and give
you a shot"
"No; you'll have to defend yourself.
must do my duty to the state. bur
I'm not the state executioner."
"Wcll. I won't be captured, and yu
won't accept my life. I don't see that
there's anything to be dode but for ~,
to say 'Goodby.'"
you'd better surrender, Ed. Wit.
time of for good behavior you'll On,
have about six years to serve"
"Six years Of such life Is far WORSE
than DEATH"
IF you won't surrender promise mc
that you'll defend yourself to the bes.
Of your ability; that you won't spare
me. If you let me kill you you'll force
me to live a life of regret that would
be worse than your six years Of i'm
prisOnment"
II wish I could stand It to do the
rest Of the time. It would save you"
Promise"
There was q delay, after which
n.w~oo kA>A - -~.0S 49, A.,