Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-28

! since his early. scanty. prison breakfast
OF bread and cofrceless coffee: rest he
must have. for he was worn out: and
IT must be rest In shelter II no was not
to open his eyes upon the red mouth
OF a bloodhound.
The house WAS set in little grove
OF trees The ligh, FROM the window
shonc upon wooden pump and n horse
block OF Hat sandstone. In the back
ground he could see the indistinct out :
line OF Il barn.
From the side pocket of his coat the
man drew an iron bolt. some ten inches
long. lie Sraspcd IL by the threaded
end holding il behind him. lie peeked
into the lighted window The shade
was partly drawn. but he could see Il
woman sittiu,; sewing by Il small table
on which was an oil lamp: two small
children were playing on the floor.
lie could see nothing in the room to
indicate the presence OF II man.
He slipped the bolt back into his
pocket and Knocked boldly at the door
For Il moment there was silence: then
he raped again. gently. not TO alarm
the woman. lie heard steps.
Then IL voice asked: who is there?'
he answered softly: ~ hungry man."
"Wha, do YOU WANT
"A bite to eat and place 10 sleep
in your barn" lie tried To speak in
his most inCrntiating accent. but It
seemed to him that he croaked. His
voice was rusty with disuse, but there
was something compelling in 1.-THE
appealing note that sometimes softens
the hardest The woman opened the
door
He could not see her face well. as her
back was towards the light. but his
own figure caught the fun illum!na-
ton The woman rccoiled n step ut
what she saw before her. The man was
bareheadcd; his hair was cropped.
making the big bones of his face stand
out: his eyes were wild and hunted.
His clothes We're torn. wet and mud
ded--and his clothes were stripes
The woman had started backward as
though 10 close tho door. hut she did
not.
You are a convict-you have es-
capped from the peniteniiary" she
questioned.
Yes. he answered. humbly enough.
The sheriff is hot on my heels. but
I've lodged up from the creek. and I
don't think he can trace me. HS had
dogs-rm human heine-huntcd with
dogs For the love OF God. mann. give
me something to eat and lot me sleep
in your haymow.''
What is your name she said. look
ing at him oddly.
"Bryne. MAIN.
The woman seemed strangely en-
cited. Wal; 4 moment" she said.
The man skunk back into the shadow
AS she turned away, and his hand fell
10 the bolt But she WAS back quick
ly. and alone. with n great piece OF
bread and another of meat in one
hand in the other she carried lighted
lantern.
He followed her without word as
She led the way 10 the barn She un-
locked the door pointed TO the NOV,
and handed him tho food. She did not
speak again. hut went out. locking the
door behind her.
Hr!ne ate raveuousiy. sitting up in
hay 1t WAS sitting in the barn: the
sheer weight OF the fathomless dark
ness seemed TO crush him into the hay.
He could not rid himself Of the feeling
that he was in coffin. Then he heard
the bay of the hounds again.
lie crept breathlessly to the inner
side Of the NOV. and felt for crack
in the side OF the barn. He could not
see, but he could hear the dogs. then
the horses, then the voices OF the men.
They We're riding across the meadow.
Then they turned the corner %. the