The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-28
The Man Who
Was Fixed"
By ALAN EiINSDALE

~ "'h WIS young mau-SOOn AFTER
tie war between the states-I went TO
Kentucky. Kentucky had been a slave
state, and there were number of
negroes who had been freed. These
were thrown on their own resources,
and many of them had hard time to
make living.
One day | missed some clothing from
my room, and the janitor of the build
Ing in which | lodged disappeared at
the same time. The police were set in
motion TO find the janitor-rete Mar
tin. They succeeded. and he was
brought to trial. | being his accuser
lie was convicted and sent TO state
prison for two years.
Soon after his conviction | received "A
! call from his former master. who said
! that it had been reported TO him hy
Fete'S associates that as soon as he got
/ out OF prison he would Fix" me for
having sent him up The gentleman
also told me that the convict was the
I only slave lie had ever owned of whom
lie was afraid Misery loves company.
and my misery was lighteucd toy being
J told that Pete had threatened to "nN"
/ the judge who sentenced him as well
a. his accu>cr ! thanked the gentle
( man for his warning ana told him that
+ | would bc uiI nay guard
Nevertheless when the time of dau
ger came forgot all about the matter
| had made memorandum OF the date
of expiration of the convict's term,
hut, learning that they all get time off
for good bCha vior, | had considered
tile memorandum worthless aud put II
away, forgetting it. It happened that
in looking over some old memoranda |
kept in a piseonhole Of my desk | hit
upon the date of Petes release on the
very day his fun time expired
Throwing ii into n wastcbasket,
put the matter out of my mind But
1t came back again that night when
was In bed about 20 go to sleep. Sup
pose | should awaken In the middle of
the night and see the powerful figure
of the negro standing over me. could
not get rid of this dread and the next
day purchased revolver, loaded II
and placed 1t under my pillow.
One morning on taking up my paper
| saw that Judge Montague. who had
sentenced Pete. had been called to his
door at 10 o'clock at night and shot
through the heart by a man who had
disappeared without having been seen
by any one except his victim. The nc
count given indicated that not the
slightest Chew TO the murderer was ia
the hands OF the police.
went 10 the states attorney and
told him my story lie at once in
qnircd Of the warden Of the prison In
which Pete had been confined and
learned thai tie convict had gained no
time for good behavior, but had been
released ou the cX"lration of the term
for which he had been sentenced. 1t
was considered probable by the uttor-
ncy ana 10y me that Pete was the
Judges murderer and equally probable
that he would carry out his threat to
fix" me as well.
The police were instructed TO look
the fact that he was wanted or that
there was amy clcw to Judge Monta-
CUES murderer. As for me. was L.
take every possible means to be ready
for Pete should he carry out his threat
concerning me The chief of police
wished To send a man to sleep In my
house. but concluded that this would
be more trouble than it was worth
got out my revolver. which ! had dis
carded. saw that il was in order anc
loaded and had n telephone apparatus
placed on n table beside my bed.
one night after all in the house were
asleep there came ring at my door
hell I telephoned the polce-by pre-
yiouS nrraneemcnt-that | was benz
called up late at night, then went 10
window aud called out that ! woul'
comr down as soon as could get ol
some clothes \ few minutes afte
my telephone message the policeman
near my house was nj my door Bu
whoever had rung had disappeared.
II my visitor was Pete lac did no
come again. Several months pasSe
4
without my being molested, ana ! wa
beginning 10 think that Pete had cor
. Guided that il would be wiser Tor mn
h 10 forcgo his revenge upon me VINE
one night was awakened by the mas
=, of a dark lantern in my eyes. b'
lieyed there were burglars In IN
house Taking the telephone ihstr'
ment under the cover to deaden IN
- sound. / called Police" giving N
street aud number
knew that there would be no was'
Il Of time by the police, aud ! hoped y
h remainin. quiet the burglars wouiu :
% on doing their work. At the sam
- time. selling my revolver. SID nois
: lessly out Of bed and. feeling my wa
i Ia a closet. left the door ajar so TIA
could see out had not been thel
~ louc before heard a tread In the ha
..s.,.r,afshfufF bed