Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1920-08-19

Each Time Read Anew the Penciled
Lines Ny Heart Rejoiced.
aad brought back with him a hastily
pencilcd rote which often in my cell
| read and re-read
Dear Nr. Nelson.
I'm - sorry to hear Of your tr"u-
hle and tie absurd charges against
sou. I'll DO whatever you wish. OF
rourSe. trust you absolutely, II
anything ] can tell will aid You at any
time. | am ready II speak-co>t what
I may. know you are innocent and
must soon he freed. Hoping 10 see
sou,
with all confidence.
b. B."
Each time | read anew the penciled
ines. my heart rejOiced. Come what
nay. l felt sure that Barhara'> heart
Nas mime. | jnyed Ia know that come
out II prison To her though | migtf,
she would he glad To see me-. Joyful
V would | have gone 10 the electric
chair rather than have her fair name
IN the least srnirched by scandal in
.rying to defend me. She alone could
prove an alibi for me, but no n
must ever know il.
What would IA Scandal-l0ving world
.he had been alone with me in my
apartment neal midnight? II only by
The sacrifice Of her good name could
go free. then let me stay In my cell.
Lat me even go 10 the electric chair.
| would not have my life at the loss
If my beIoved's reputation.
one other thing | had kept from my
Iawyer-my discovery of the passage
way between the walls In my great
uncle's apartment. II | could not get
German To believe in this secret pass
age. which | was convinced had some
connection with the mysteries and the
w~hisperings at the Granddeck, there
was little likelihood that McGregor
would believe my tale either. Given
one single hour in my quarters at the
Granddeck and ] would have discov-
ared whittier it led and who used It,
but once a man Is charged with muir
der, his hands are tied. 1t was fu-
tile for me TO mention II again, even
10 the detective or TO my lawyer, until
such time as | could show it to them
and convince them that | knew what
| was talking about.
While ! was debating the situation
In my cell, a keeper opened the door.
You're wanted downstairs" he an
bounced.
"What Is IT." | asked, wonderingly.
you've got a visitor
who" | questioned eagerly. Could
It, wondered, be Barbara Had my
| sternly repressed longing TO see her
In some way communicated Itself to
her through the ether and impelled
her to throw caution TO the winds and
come to the prison 10 see me?
~ don't know" the keeper answer.
ed. ITS a man. | don't know who
he is"
A man. Who could it bei In all
the monOtonOus time | had been be
| hind the bars, only two men had come
to see me, German and McGregor. II
could not be either Of chem, for both
were well known to the prison attend
ants. AS ] FASTENED down the Ions
corridor past the dismal row Of barred
doors, ! was revolving in my mind the
possibilities Of my callers identity.
Who could 1t be; Spurred on by
my curiosity, I FASTENED into the 'oun
sci room. There sat my great-un,l'
Rufus.
He looked In much better physica
condition than when | had last see
skin was Drowned from exposure t,
the sun and wind, and his eyes wer
| clearer and brighter. As ] studied hi
face ] could trace no vestige there o
the terrible fear that had seemed I,
obsess him on the last occasion Of on
meeting.
For a moment We eyed each Othe
without speaking. ] was wondering
and well ! think ! might-whethe
the suspicious ! had at times In regar
TO him had been wholly without four
dalton. Could It be possible that ia
crafty, misery old chap was the ma
ter mind at the bottom Of all IN
mystery and plottingf Az my previou
suspicious came up In my mind Dc
termined 10 be wary In what ! sal
TO him. The fires Of anger tOwar
him began TO kindle within me az
looked at him. I felt that II vas hi
fault that ! al locked mp here.
Meanwhile he had been studying IN
His keen old eyes had surveyed IN
from head to foot, returning 10 res
1xedly on my face, rs though he Wa
' trying to read my thoughts. ] wor
dered what was passing In hi
mind. Was he inwardly chortlin