The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-09-14
NINTH EPISODE
"When Jail Birds Fly"

WHICH, jail DluO IlJs
Peter Hale was led away to cell
and found himself, as the detectives
thought most fitting, in a cell adjOin-
ing that of Dick Annessley, his part
ner in exploitation, who knew nothing
of Peters adventures after his escape
from the wilton.
Their cells were neither good nor
bad, they frOnted on a corridor along
which they could see wOrkmen pass
ing and through the bars of which
they caught occasional glimpSeS Of the
turnkey and other prison officials.
What they could not see was the
figure of a dark lady who the next
noon stood watching half a dozen
maSOns quitting work for luncheon.
This lady seemed to catch an inSpira-
ton from these men in white, for sud-
denly her eyes lit up and she fingered
till she saw the turnkey walking in
her direction.
ooh, is this the prisOn" she asked
He touched his hat, Eyes, ma'am, all
along there"
"And are men really confined in
those cells"
"Surest thing you know, maam."
"And don't they let you bring them
| any presents or anything?"
The turnkey scratched his head
"Well, that depends; it might be ar
ranged"
Suppose I give you a package to de
liver to a man named Annessley, viii
you do it?"
"Oh, couldn't do that, ma'am," a.
he said this his glance fell on q small
package which the dark lady HEX
toward him."
She smiled. mo, that's not the pack
age want you to give Mr.. AnnesSley
that's Just the arrangement you spok
abOut-you1l find nice tidy sun
in there and can promise you that n
one will be the wiser"
The turkeys hand went out towar'
the package-"Of course" he re
marked, ~ suppose it's nothing harm
full or against the law you're sendin
them, is it?"
"Oh, nothing like that" she al
swered, "come with me, and I'll Civ
you the package now"
"Better wait till this evening, ma'an
thatIl be safer. Suppose l meet 70
vou Just outside, how'll that do?"
The dark lady nodded-"at sever
thirty"
But neither Mr.. Annessley nor M
Hale had the remOteSt idea that an,
one was interested in their case-M
? Annessley indeed thought with dism
} foreboding of the effect such new
|, would have on his city editor.
Neither could think Of Bentley wit
? out longing to get at his throat: the
could imagine how he was chuckllT
\ ut their discontinue and they for
saw that he would waste no time
marrying Philippa.
} Mr.. Bentley had, in fact, decided
\ give Philippa a piece of his mind, al
when he faced her after her Strani
7 disappearance from the Elm rect0ry
J was In no gentle mood.
! ~ can't understand" he said cold
: chow you could play me such tri
, rs that-running away just at the m
ment the minister came in to mar
/ us. 1 must say I think you owe I
! On explanation"
I "Oh, don't talk to me that VIZ
! Rridgey, l won't stand 1.-THE idea
+ when waited and waited and wait
! for you-and then chased all over
t city and the suburbs, too, trying
! find you, and following your 81
/ notes"
! "What?" cried Bentley.
+ eyes. Don't pretend to be surprise
j. she replied, fire In her eyes. did
I YOU send me a note directing me
+ meet you at Grays Inn?"
t 81 did not" said the amazed BE
ley.
'Didn't you leave another note
me at Gray's Inn directing me to
to the st. Nicholas hotel, and tell
that surprise awaited me there!
"Never," cried Bentley.
"Well, here are the letters-r'
them-and imagine me two hours Fl
the city-nearly distracted-look
for you. tell you | came home I
ing myself all the way that ne
could love a man who treated me
that"
y Bentley gazed at the notes-then
looked at Philippa.
'The Masked Stranger" be s
"that,s who did all this-but dear T
-. ,ono fhorp'II he no mistake